All-in-One Packages for Spain: MAEC Sworn Translation, State, Federal Apostille Expediter Services, Intl Shipping, 7-9 Business Days Service Available, January 2026
As a quick intro, I, Dan Hickman, Ph.D., along with my wife Nikki and small team, have curated apostilles and MAEC sworn translations for almost twenty years, so, with humility, I am confident to say that you will not find a more experienced apostille expediter and translation service in the country. Not trying to give a sales pitch, but simply call or email any other apostille or translation service and you will quickly see what I mean. My goal is to save my clients time and hassle by avoiding the numerous agencies offering bundled apostille services that have very little experience or qualifications. As a former tenured college professor of Spanish and Applied Linguistics, I adapted my specialization and love for Spain into a service that helps others study, live, work and retire in Spain. I started this service in response to the struggles my students had acquiring student visas for Spain (the dreaded Spain Apostille as it is always called), and since then, I have focused my attention on streamlining and simplifying the apostille and sworn translation process. Spanish visa applicants will still need to obtain their own documents (such as the FBI background check), due to privacy regulations, and appointments will still need to be scheduled at the consulates, with BLS or in Spain; however, my team and I can take care of the complicated middle part of the visa process for Spain.
In sum, you will need to obtain your documents, we will then provide the apostilles and MAEC sworn translation, and then you submit to the Spanish consulate, BLS or to the government in Spain.
“I wish everyone knew about Dan and his service. He literally knows everything about apostilles and how to get a visa for Spain. Got my Spain apostille with sworn translation bundle done in just over two weeks. Very few true professionals like this anymore. 100% recommend to anyone needing an apostille and sworn translation for Spain.” Marc. L, Los Angeles, CA
January 2026: Summary of Bundled Visa for Spain Services Provided:
- Federal Apostille Expediter Service for FBI Background Checks
- State Apostilles for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, other state issued documents
- MAEC Sworn Translation for All Documents Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain
- Shipping to BLS, Spanish Consulates or directly to Spain via DHL or FedEx
Summary of What Makes Us Different:
- Years and Years of Spanish Visa Experience
- Only Agency to Bundle Sworn Translation and Federal Apostilles, One Packaged Service
- Professional Relationships with the Department of State
- No Outsourcing of Any Services
- Easy Payment Options Online
- Unmatched Customer Service: Call, Email or Text Access to Dan up to 12 Hours Per Day
- 100% Guarantee for All Services: Translations, Apostilles, Domestic and International Shipping
Types of Spanish Visas Requiring Our Services
- Long Term Student Visas
- Non-Lucrative Visa, NLV
- Digital Nomad Visa
- NALCAP Program Apostille
- Spain Apostille Golden Visa
- Democratic Memory Law
- Family Visa with MACE Translation
- Work/Professional or Employment Visas
- Marriage, Dual Citizenship, and all others.
“Dr. Hickman answered all of my many calls and responded to all of my emails quickly, and I had a lot of questions… None of the other apostille expediters even responded to my emails or answered the phone. Other services seem to care only about volume, but it is obvious that Dr. Hickman really cares about his clients and getting the job done well.” Abby C., Houston, TX.
Quick Links to Start the Visa Process for Spain
The following links are our most commonly requested services: federal apostille for an FBI background check and MAEC sworn translation to Spanish, which is valid at ALL Spanish consulates in the US and worldwide and in Spain, 100% guaranteed.
Please note if your FBI background check has additional pages, you need more than one apostille, or if you have additional documents to translate or apostille, please send by email for a quote, and we will send one link for all services. Dan responds to most emails in less than an hour. You can email him directly: info@sespanish.com — he response quickly from 8AM to 2PM and less quickly from 2PM to 8PM. Dan is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Eastern Time or UTC−05:00.
We provide three (3) bundled, package options for both the federal apostille expediter service and sworn translation. All three include the federal apostille and sworn translation.
1) Expedited Apostille and Sworn Translation Service Bundle: 7-9 Business Days, 2 Weeks
Click on the following button to order our most common service for Spain: Expedited Federal Apostille Service and Sworn Translation. This is the fastest expedited apostille service available.
- January 2026 Translation and Apostille Turnaround Times:
- Apostille Processing: 7-9 Business Days, 2 Weeks
- Sworn Translation: 2-6 Hours, with MAEC Sworn Translator
- Hand-delivery directly to/from the federal authentications office in DC
- We drop off and pick up in DC; you don’t have to do so.
- Fastest expedited apostille service with sworn translation, guaranteed.
- We drop off and pick up and then scan/email/ship to you, worldwide.
2) Standard Apostille and Sworn Translation Service Bundle: around 5 weeks
Click on the following button to order the apostille and sworn translation, standard service.
- January 2026 Translation and Apostille Turnaround Times:
- Apostille Processing: around 5 weeks
- Sworn Translation: 24 Hours, with MAEC Sworn Translator
- USPS 1-Day Shipping to/from the federal authentications office in DC
3) Economy Apostille and Sworn Translation Service Bundle: around 6 weeks
Click on the following button to order the apostille and sworn translation, which is the lowest cost option:
- January 2026 Translation and Apostille Turnaround Times:
- Apostille Processing: around 6+ weeks
- Sworn Translation: 24 Hours, with MAEC Sworn Translator
- Regular Mail to/from the federal authentications office in DC
Important Notes Regarding the Spain Apostille:
- All apostille turnaround times are estimated based on current arrivals and are updated on the 1st of each month. Times may differ slightly depending on a variety of factors at the Dept. of State.
- All expedited apostille services (and standard and economy) include sworn translation, which is completed by an authorized translator in Spain, certified by the ministry of foreign affairs and culture in Spain. We have two sworn translators on Spain’s global list of approved translators.
- Federal apostilles are processed in order. The different turnaround times are due to the shipping methods we use to send to and from the federal authentications office in DC.
- Translation at the above-quoted rates are only for clear, one-page background checks. If additional criminal history pages are present, we will need to quote the total in advance.
Useful Tips and Frequently Asked Questions:
How to get an FBI background check while in the US for a Spanish visa:
If you are a US citizen or permanent resident and are currently in the US, the digital fingerprint collection network is the best option. See below for the process to get a background check from the FBI:
- Select an agency from the list of approved channlers and order your background check online, also known as the Identification History Summary (IdHS).
- Once ordered online, the channeler will provide a document with a QR code for you to print and take to a local biometrics location (most likely a UPS Store location or large US Post Office).
- Visit the recommended site and have your prints taken digitally.
- Within a few hours, you will receive the PDF version of the background check, IdHS, by email.
- Double check your junk/spam folder as the digital version of the report ends up there most of the time.
- Email the PDF to us or order/upload using the links/buttons above to start the federal apostille and sworn translation process.
How to get an FBI background check while outside of the US:
If not in the US, the following is the best way to get your prints done, and then get the apostille for your background check.
FBI background check channelers are typically not used when outside of the country, so the best option is to print the FBI’s fingerprint card, have your prints taken (rolled) at local police station, and then send them directly the FBI Biometric Division in West Virginia. Once you get the background check, you can send to an apostille expediter, like us.
The following links provide info about sending your prints to the FBI:
- General Overview about the background check from the FBI.
- Details about how to order a federal background check.
- Information about how/where to download the fingerprint form directly from the FBI’s website.
Note: the FBI is always changing policies and procedures. It is always a good idea to call the Biometricts customer service department of the FBI with questions: (304) 625-5590, which is located in West Virginia. You are more likely to reach an actual person when calling between 8AM and 11AM on weekdays.
Note: MAEC refers to the governing agency in Spain that provide certification to translators in Spain, which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC), typically referred to as simply the MAEC.
Digital version of the FBI Background Check vs. the Original Paper Copy
The original, hard-copy background check and PDF are 100% the same and both are fine for the Spain Apostille. Both are just printouts – no ink signatures. In the past, the hard-copy was signed with an ink signature, but now it is just a standard printout, which is what makes the apostille so important. The apostille will be attached (permanently) to the printed PDF and have an ink signature and embossed seal. The finished product will be 100% the same and is accepted worldwide, especially for a visa for Spain, no issues.
More questions? Just call, text, email anytime.
Dan H., Ph.D., Founder, Translator, Apostille Expediter
info@sespanish.com
(877) 374-0095 (office), (865) 235-1275 (texts only)
Yes, in most cases. Over the years, I have seen this question many times, and there is never a clear answer, but the safest option is to bring the original apostille along with the original translation. Please note that MAEC sworn translations are 100% digital signed, so you can just print them out; however, you will need the original FBI background check with the signed, embossed apostille from the department of state in DC.
A sworn translations or MAEC sworn translations are just translations completed and certified Spain by a translator recognized by the Spanish government. MAEC stands for Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperaciones, which is the Ministry that empowers sworn translator to act as such. However, this entity (sworn translator) doesn’t exist if not qualified by the Ministry so it’s just adding information but it is not a different entity. Basically, a sworn translation is translation completed by a translator in Spain who has been certified by the government of Spain. Southeast Spanish has two MAEC sworn translators available daily.
One is not better than the other. Certified is type a translation we complete here in the United States, whereas sworn translation is complete by one of our translators in Spain. Typically, the Spanish consulate in Chicago, Houston and Miami accept US certified translations, and the others usually want sworn translation. Sworn translation is always accepted at all consulates, so if you have any doubts, request sworn translation. Also, it is always a good idea to double check your particular Spanish Visa requirements.
Two weeks is about as fast as it gets for a federal apostille. The federal government can’t show favoritism toward any individual or business, so no one get priority service, and as of 2026, the fastest option is the in-person drop off and pick up service at the department of state in DC. The government assign a pick up date when the background check is dropped off, which is typically seven to nine business days later; however, that is about two weeks as the department of state is not open on Fridays.
In 2026, seven to nine business days is the fastest possible option for a federal apostille with in-person, walk-in service at the Federal Department of State in DC. Please keep in mind the department of state is not open on Fridays, so 7-9 business days is usually about two weeks. Additionally, mail in orders to the department of state take around 4-6 weeks and vary a lot based on current volume.
Yes, we provide both services: federal apostille processing and then MAEC sworn translation for Spain. The translation is completed after the apostille has been issued, which only takes a few hours.
The federal apostille is always first, 100% of the time, no exceptions, when submitting documents to Spain or any of the Spanish consulates. Once the apostille has been issued and attached to the background check, the translation is then completed. In simple terms: the apostille is always first and then the MAEC sworn translation is last.
We have two MAEC sworn translators, but Dan Hickman is the owner, and is based in the US, so he will not be the translator or record. He has two MAEC sworn translators on his team who complete all sworn translations within a few hours. In order to be a sworn translator, one must be a Spanish citizen, have an address in Spain and have earned a degree in translation from a Spanish college or university. Dan translated for Spain for many years, and when the government of Spain started requiring translation to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), he hired several sworn translators as part of his team to continue providing a streamlined, simplified apostille and translation process.
More questions? Just call, text, email anytime.
Dan H., Ph.D., Founder, Translator, Apostille Expediter
info@sespanish.com
(877) 374-0095 (office), (865) 235-1275 (texts only)