One price, whichever certificate you hold: £95 per document. The difference between ACRO and DBS is not what it costs — it is which countries will accept it, and how fast it moves. Spain accepts ACRO certificates only. Original certificate required either way.
Tell us which certificate you hold — ACRO, Basic DBS, Standard or Enhanced — and which country it is going to. We will confirm whether that country will accept it before you post anything. If you have not applied for the certificate yet, ask us first: for some destinations, including Spain, only one of them will do.
Get a Free Quote → 💬 WhatsApp UsAlmost every country that issues a long-stay work or residence permit asks for a criminal record check that has been legalised in the country that issued it.
One price for police and criminal record certificates. What changes between them is the route and the timescale, not the cost.
⏱ 72 hours · original required
⏱ 72 hours + certification · not for Spain
⏱ Ask us before assuming you need this
Most people do not need the notarised route — it applies only where the receiving authority insists on it. Tell us which certificate you hold and where it is going and we will confirm the route before you post anything.
Both cost £95 to legalise. What separates them is which authorities will take them, and how many steps stand between you and the apostille.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| ✅ ACRO Police Certificate — original | Goes straight to the FCDO — no solicitor, no notary, nothing in between. Fewer moving parts means fewer days. It is also the certificate most embassies name specifically, and the only one Spain will accept. |
| ✅ Basic DBS certificate — original | Cannot go straight to the FCDO: it must be certified by a solicitor first, and the FCDO apostilles that certification. Same £95, but allow an extra day. Not accepted by Spain. |
| ✅ Standard and Enhanced DBS — original | Same route as a Basic DBS: solicitor certification, then the apostille. Employers in education and healthcare abroad often specify the Enhanced version. |
| ✅ Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI — original | Legalised through their own equivalent route. Tell us which one you hold and we will confirm the steps. |
| ❌ A DBS certificate for use in Spain | Spanish authorities specifically require the ACRO Police Certificate. A DBS will be rejected no matter how it is certified or legalised — apply for ACRO instead. |
| ❌ Photocopies, scans and PDFs | For police and DBS certificates we need the original as issued. A copy will not do — not even a certified one. |
£95 covers both ACRO and DBS. Notarisation is the exception, and only where a destination specifically requires it.
| Service | What's included | Price | Turnaround | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACRO Police Certificate | Straight to the FCDO — no certification step (incl. £40 gov fee) | £95 | 72 hours | Spain accepts this |
| DBS — solicitor certified | Solicitor certification (£20) + FCDO apostille (£79), discounted | £95 | 72 hours + certification | Not for Spain |
| DBS — notarised | Notarisation (£150) + FCDO apostille (£79), discounted — only where required | £225 | 72 hours + notarisation | By request only |
| Embassy attestation | Added after the apostille for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China and other non-Hague countries | Quote | Varies by embassy | Country-specific |
| Sworn or certified translation | Added where the receiving authority requires it | Quote | Runs alongside | Optional |
Tell us the destination and what your employer or embassy asked for. We will tell you which certificate that country will actually accept — before you apply for anything. £95 per document, 72 hours.
Or call +44 (0)20 3538 2848 — Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00
We use cookies to measure how people find us and which enquiries come from our ads. Nothing is stored until you choose. See our terms.