Mexico's federal background certificate (CNAP) for the Spain visa
How to process and apostille the Certificate of Federal Criminal Record (CNAP) in Mexico for the Consulate of Spain: digital process, SEGOB and appointments.

You arrive at your appointment at BLS Mexico with your non-criminal record letter issued by the Prosecutor's Office of your state (for example, the State of Mexico, Puebla or Veracruz) and the official tells you that it is useless.For the Consulate General of Spain in Mexico, state letters are invalid: the Certificate of Federal Criminal Record (CNAP) apostilled before the SEGOB is mandatory.Learn how to get it.
Why Does the Consulate of Spain Only Accept Federal Background Records?
Under Spanish consular law, criminal records must cover the entire national territory of the issuing country.In a federation like Mexico, a state letter only certifies the absence of crimes under common jurisdiction within a specific federative entity, leaving out crimes under federal jurisdiction or those committed in the other 31 states.
For this binding legal reason, the Consulate General of Spain in Mexico strictly requires the Certificate of Federal Criminal Record (CNAP), issued by the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) through the Decentralized Administrative Body for Prevention and Social Readaptation (OADPRS).
The CNAP Digital Procedure Step by Step
Fortunately, the Federal Government of Mexico modernized the CNAP process, allowing it to be issued online:
- Enter the official platform of the SSPC (constancias.oadprs.gob.mx).
- Enter your Unique Population Registration Code (CURP) and validate your email.
- Upload your current official identification (INE or Mexican Passport) and your birth certificate in PDF format.
- Make the payment of federal duties through the SAT capture line at a bank window or online banking.
- The system generates an official electronic document in PDF format with advanced electronic signature and institutional validation QR code.
Keep readingPhotos for the Spain visa at BLS Mexico: the official measurementsThe SEGOB Apostille in Mexico City
Having the digital CNAP is not enough: as it is a Mexican public document that will take effect in Spain, it must have the Hague Apostille.
Being a federal document, the apostille is not carried out in the state governments, but before the General Directorate of Government of the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), located at Río Amazonas #62, Col. Cuauhtémoc, CDMX.The procedure requires a prior appointment on the SEGOB portal and payment of the apostille fee using e5cinco format.
CNAP Obtaining and Apostille Circuit in Mexico
| Processing Stage | Responsible Authority | Official Cost (MXN) | Broadcast Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. CNAP Digital Application | OADPRS / SEGOB (Official Portal) | $212 MXN (Capture Line) | 24 to 72 business hours |
| 2. Federal Hague Apostille | General Directorate of Government (SEGOB) | $1,080 MXN per document | Same day or 24 hours (by appointment) |
| 3. SEGOB Apostille Physical Headquarters | Amazonas River #91, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX | Attention with digital shift | Bring printed proof and SAT payment |
| 4. Consular Validity in BLS | Consulate General of Spain | Strict validity of 90 to 180 days | Do not allow more than 3 months to pass |
Key Practical Tips
What the team recommends before you file anything:
- Strict expiration. The CNAP has a consular validity of 90 calendar days from its issuance in Mexico.
- If you live outside CDMX, plan to send your document for apostillation well in advance so as not to arrive at your appointment at BLS with the paper in process.
Required Documentation Checklist
- CURP validated in the National Population Registry (RENAPO).
- Federal Criminal Record Certificate (CNAP) issued in PDF with QR code.
- Capture line and proof of payment of SEGOB rights.
- Physical or electronic Hague apostille attached by the Ministry of the Interior.
- Verification that the document is not more than 3 months old on the date of the appointment.
Sources: Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC) de México - Órgano Administrativo Desconcentrado Prevención y Readaptación Social; Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB) - Dirección de Coordinación Política con los Poderes de la Unión (Apostilla); Consulado General de España en México (CDMX) - Requisitos de Visados Nacionales.
