{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "slug": "requirements",
  "title": "Destination document requirements",
  "scope": "Criminal-record instructions and explicit source omissions for named Spanish consulates, Portugal retirement/passive-income and remote-work residence routes, and Korea EPIK. This is not a visa eligibility guide or a complete visa checklist.",
  "question": "Which criminal-record rule does the destination publish?",
  "intro": "Compare each receiving consulate or program with its own criminal-record wording. Some official sources omit recency or its anchor. EPIK measures six months against the contract start.",
  "description": "Criminal-record requirements for each consulate or program, in its own wording. Some sources omit recency. EPIK measures six months from the contract start.",
  "lastVerified": "2026-10-24",
  "nextReview": "2027-01-22",
  "updatePolicy": "Recheck official sources every 90 days and after a reported change.",
  "complete": true,
  "columns": [
    {
      "key": "country",
      "label": "Destination"
    },
    {
      "key": "program",
      "label": "Consulate or program"
    },
    {
      "key": "issuer",
      "label": "Issuer"
    },
    {
      "key": "apostille",
      "label": "Apostille"
    },
    {
      "key": "format",
      "label": "Format"
    },
    {
      "key": "recencyMonths",
      "label": "Recency in months"
    },
    {
      "key": "anchor",
      "label": "Measured against"
    },
    {
      "key": "translation",
      "label": "Translation"
    },
    {
      "key": "otherRecords",
      "label": "Other-country records"
    },
    {
      "key": "windowBoundary",
      "label": "Boundary and intake notes"
    }
  ],
  "evidencePolicy": "Each value comes from the official source linked on its row. Sources checked on the date shown. Not published means the official page we read did not publish that detail.",
  "rows": [
    {
      "id": "spain-la-nlv",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Los Angeles non-lucrative visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI",
      "apostille": "Federal Hague apostille from the US Department of State; local apostille rejected",
      "format": "Original and copy; digital acceptance not stated",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Certificate age cannot exceed six months from issue. The source does not explicitly name the comparison event.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/losangeles/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-residencia-no-lucrativa.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "2026-02-11",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-dc-nlv",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Washington non-lucrative visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI; state and local police checks rejected",
      "apostille": "Hague apostille on the FBI signature; not an apostille certifying a local notary. EU-issued criminal records are exempt from apostille under this source.",
      "format": "Original and photocopy, not notarized; submit original and copy of the record, apostille, and translation",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Visa application submission",
      "translation": "Official or sworn Spanish translation. The translation needs no apostille, and the apostille needs no translation.",
      "otherRecords": "Additional records for more than 180 days in another country outside the US or Spain during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Issued within the six months preceding visa submission. Source applies to applicants age 18 or older. Preserve the more-than-180-days boundary.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-residencia-no-lucrativa.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": true,
      "fieldStatus": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "korea-epik",
      "country": "South Korea",
      "program": "EPIK teaching contract",
      "document": "National criminal record check",
      "issuer": "National police authority of primary citizenship; US applicants use the FBI",
      "apostille": "Physical national-level apostille affixed to the original CRC. US applicants use the State Department Office of Authentications; state-level apostilles on notarized copies are rejected.",
      "format": "Original physical CRC with physical apostille; digital apostilles not accepted",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Contract start date",
      "translation": "Not published",
      "otherRecords": "An apostilled CRC may be requested after two consecutive years currently living in another country. An apostilled CRC is also required from the country where a bachelor's degree was completed outside the home country.",
      "windowBoundary": "Main February intake starts August 1; late March starts September 1; late April starts October 1. Main August intake starts February 1; late September starts March 1; late October starts April 1. Use these published intake cutoffs.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.epik.go.kr/web/epik/contents/ReqDoc03",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": true,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "translation": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-los-angeles-digital-nomad-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Los Angeles digital nomad visa",
      "document": "Criminal-record certificate",
      "issuer": "Country or countries of residence; US issuing authority not specified",
      "apostille": "Not published",
      "format": "Original and copy",
      "recencyMonths": null,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Not published",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past two years, plus a responsible declaration of no criminal records during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "The source applies this document paragraph to adults. It does not publish a criminal-record recency window. Confirm the US issuer and authentication with the consulate.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.exteriores.gob.es/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Servicios-consulares.aspx?scco=Estados+Unidos&scd=180&scca=Visados&scs=Visados+Nacionales+-+Visado+de+residencia+para+teletrabajo+(n%C3%B3mada+digital)",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "apostille": "not-stated",
        "recencyMonths": "not-stated",
        "anchor": "not-stated",
        "translation": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-los-angeles-student-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Los Angeles student visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI",
      "apostille": "Federal Hague apostille from the US Department of State; local apostille rejected",
      "format": "Original and copy; altered or damaged records, including damage from removing staples, are rejected",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Source says applicants over 18 and stays exceeding 180 days. Certificate cannot be older than six months from issue. It does not explicitly name the comparison event.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/losangeles/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "2026-03-02",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-new-york-non-lucrative-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "New York non-lucrative visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI only; local and state police certificates rejected",
      "apostille": "Foreign criminal-record documents must be legalized or apostilled. The US apostille link points to State Department instructions.",
      "format": "Original and copy",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Official Spanish translation where applicable",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Applies to adults. Certificate cannot be older than six months. The source does not explicitly name the comparison event.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/nuevayork/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-residencia-no-lucrativa.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-new-york-digital-nomad-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "New York digital nomad visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI background check verified by fingerprint comparison; local police criminal certificates rejected",
      "apostille": "Apostille certification required. The translation needs no apostille, and the apostille needs no translation.",
      "format": "Not published",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Visa application submission",
      "translation": "Sworn or certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Additional police records after six months or more in another country or state during the past five years, plus a responsible declaration for the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Issued within six months before visa submission. The source says not applicable to students under 18; confirm that copied age wording with the consulate.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/nuevayork/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-teletrabajo.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": true,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "format": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-new-york-student-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "New York student visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI only; local and state police background checks rejected",
      "apostille": "Legalized or apostilled",
      "format": "Original and copy",
      "recencyMonths": null,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Spanish translation; certification type not specified in the criminal-record paragraph",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Required for applicants age 18 or older and stays exceeding 180 days. The source does not publish a criminal-record recency window.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/nuevayork/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "recencyMonths": "not-stated",
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-chicago-non-lucrative-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Chicago non-lucrative visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI; local and state background checks rejected",
      "apostille": "Federal Hague apostille from the US Department of State; local and state apostilles rejected",
      "format": "Original and copy",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Visa application date",
      "translation": "Certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Certificate cannot be older than six months from the application date. The source says applicants over 18.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-residencia-no-lucrativa.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "2026-10-21",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": true,
      "fieldStatus": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-chicago-digital-nomad-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Chicago digital nomad visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI",
      "apostille": "Federal Hague apostille from the US Department of State; local and state apostilles rejected",
      "format": "Original and photocopy",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years; source specifically requests records after six months or more elsewhere, plus a five-year responsible declaration",
      "windowBoundary": "Source says applicants over 18. Certificate cannot be older than six months from issue. It does not explicitly name the comparison event.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Teleworkvisa.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "2026-10-21",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "spain-chicago-student-visa",
      "country": "Spain",
      "program": "Chicago student visa",
      "document": "FBI criminal record",
      "issuer": "Federal FBI",
      "apostille": "Federal Hague apostille from the US Department of State; local and state apostilles rejected",
      "format": "Original and copy",
      "recencyMonths": 6,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Certified Spanish translation",
      "otherRecords": "Countries of residence during the past five years",
      "windowBoundary": "Source says students over 18. Stays exceeding 180 days include at least 30 days before studies and 15 days after studies. No recency comparison event is named.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx",
      "sourceDate": "2026-10-21",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "anchor": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "portugal-d7",
      "country": "Portugal",
      "program": "Retirement or passive-income residence visa",
      "document": "Criminal record",
      "issuer": "Competent authority of the nationality country or the country where the applicant has resided for over one year. The central source does not specify the FBI.",
      "apostille": "Hague apostille if applicable, or legalization",
      "format": "Not published",
      "recencyMonths": null,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Not published",
      "otherRecords": "Nationality country or country of residence for over one year, as stated with an or condition; applicants under 16 are exempt",
      "windowBoundary": "The reviewed central page does not state criminal-record recency. The consular post may request additional documents. Confirm the relevant consulate before ordering.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "format": "not-stated",
        "recencyMonths": "not-stated",
        "anchor": "not-stated",
        "translation": "not-stated"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "portugal-d8",
      "country": "Portugal",
      "program": "Remote-work residence visa",
      "document": "Criminal record",
      "issuer": "Competent authority of the nationality country or the country where the applicant has resided for over one year. The central source does not specify the FBI.",
      "apostille": "Hague apostille if applicable, or legalization",
      "format": "Not published",
      "recencyMonths": null,
      "anchor": "Not published",
      "translation": "Not published",
      "otherRecords": "Nationality country or country of residence for over one year, as stated with an or condition; applicants under 16 are exempt",
      "windowBoundary": "The reviewed central page does not state criminal-record recency. The consular post may request additional documents. Confirm the relevant consulate before ordering.",
      "sourceUrl": "https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency",
      "sourceDate": "undated",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-24",
      "method": "official",
      "plannerEligible": false,
      "fieldStatus": {
        "format": "not-stated",
        "recencyMonths": "not-stated",
        "anchor": "not-stated",
        "translation": "not-stated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-24",
      "summary": "First source-backed release. Missing checks remain explicit. No prior observations are claimed."
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-24",
      "summary": "Reviewed all pending official source rows and rechecked the three existing rows. Corrected program URLs, preserved explicit omissions, removed inferred planner anchors, and added the EPIK foreign-country CRC instructions."
    }
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/"
}