Background Checking - Spain

Keeping young people safe is of paramount importance to the entire CoderDojo community. This section covers background checking requirements for safeguarding children and young people while running a Dojo in Spain.

Who is required to have a criminal background check in Spain?

Anyone working with children and young people in Spain is required to have a certificate from the Spanish authorities which state that they have never been convicted of a sex-related crime (with adults or children). Foreign nationals, including EU nationals, are also required to have a similar certificate from their country of origin.

It is not necessary to present the certificate in those professions that, having a habitual contact with the general public, among which minors may be found, are not by their nature exclusively intended for a minor public.

Name of Certificate: Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual

Department responsible for criminal records: Ministerio de Justicia

Information website: here (In Spanish)

Where to apply?

You can apply for a Spanish certificate either in person or online.

In Person

If you wish to apply for the Certificate issued by the Spanish Authorities in person, you’ll need to take all the relevant paperwork to the nearest Ministry of Justice Citizens Advice Bureau (Oficina de Atención al Ciudadano de la Gerencia Territorial del Ministerio de Justicia), a full list of which can be found here.

Online

Via this website here. There are two types of online applications, one with or one without digital signatures.

If you are already registered in the Cl @ ve system or have one of the different electronic certificates of the @firma platform, such as the FNMT certificate, or the DNI-e, you can complete the entire application in one go.

If you don’t have one of those, you can begin your application online, but then you’ll have to go to the office closest to your home to prove your identity.

A full explanation of these different types of digital signatures and where and how to obtain them can be found here.

How to apply?

The individual must supply the following documents:

• An application form completed by the applicant or his/her representative. Download the application form here.
• A form completed by the applicant’s/applicants’ representative if a representative is going to make the application. This form can be downloaded here.
• An authorisation form completed by the applicant if his/her application is being handled by a representative. This form can be downloaded here.
• Photocopy of the applicant’s DNI (national identity card for Spanish nationals) or NIE (identity number for foreign nationals living in Spain) and photocopy of his/her passport (in the case of foreign nationals), both stamped and certified as authentic copies (compulsada in Spanish) at the nearest central government office (subdelegación del gobierno in Spanish) or Town Hall (ayuntamiento in Spanish).
• Applicants’ details in an Excel document (copied on a CD or pendrive) in the case of multiple applications being made by a third party. The Excel document can be downloaded here.

Once your application has been dealt with, the certificate(s) will be sent to you/your representative by email.

Who can apply:

Any natural person of legal age.

In the case of minors, or with the capacity modified judicially, must be represented by one of the parents or legal guardian.

Cost, payment and turnaround times:

The Spanish Certificates are provided free of charge. If you have a digital signature and apply online, virtual copies of your certificate will be provided the same day.

Languages:

Spanish only.

Additional Information:

Citizen service telephone number: 902 007 214 - 91 837 22 95