Criminal Record Certificate online (Ministerio de Justicia)

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve PIN/Permanente, certificado digital or DNIe. Without one of these, you can’t do it online.
2. DNI/NIE or passport with the details written exactly as on your document.
3. Card or bank account to pay the tasa 790-006, unless you’re claiming the exención por menores.
4. Proof of exemption if it’s for work/volunteering with minors (letter or certificate from the organisation requesting it).
5. Email address you check, to receive receipts.

Documentation

• Identification: DNI, NIE or passport valid.
• Electronic credential: Cl@ve PIN/Permanente or certificado digital/DNIe.
• Exemption (if applicable): document proving it’s for work/volunteering with minors.
• Payment method: for the tasa 790-006 if no exemption applies.
• Representation (if you’re not the holder): libro de familia/guardianship order and authorisation/power of attorney.
• Use abroad: it may require Apostilla de La Haya afterwards (processed separately by appointment).

Step by step

1. Go to https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es/tramites/certificado-antecedentes-penales.
2. Identify yourself with Cl@ve or certificado digital and allow access to your data.
3. Fill in personal details and select the purpose. If it’s for minors, tick the exención 790-006 and attach the proof.
4. If there’s no exemption, pay the tasa 790-006 via the gateway (card/direct debit) and save the payment receipt (NRC/receipt).
5. Confirm the request and download the PDF with the CSV. Check your details and the stated purpose.
6. Is the site messing up or do you need paper for apostille? Book cita previa at https://citaprevia.mjusticia.gob.es and take your DNI and the Modelo 790-006 paid or your proof of exemption.

Time-saving tricks

1. Do it online: you download it immediately and avoid queues.
2. Check what they actually ask for: for work with minors they usually want the Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual (and it’s free). Don’t request penales if it’s not needed.
3. Pay with another card/browser if it errors. Chrome usually behaves better with the payment gateway.
4. Don’t request it too early: many places want it dated within 3 months.
5. If it’s for abroad, ask if they accept the PDF with CSV. If they require an apostilla, go straight for the paper version and save round trips.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Mixing up certificates: you request penales when they asked for delitos sexuales. Result: wasted time and money.
2. Not attaching the exemption proof: you tick exemption for minors but don’t provide proof and they reject it or make you pay.
3. Wrong data spelling (accents, compound names, document number): the system can throw errors or the certificate will show incorrect data.
4. Forgetting the apostille when the destination requires it: the PDF won’t be apostilled; you’ll need the paper and then the apostilla by appointment, adding days.
5. Assuming it “expires”: legally it doesn’t, but they’ll reject it for not being recent. You may need to redo it and pay again if you don’t have an exemption.