Where Can I Get International Fingerprinting in Valencia, Spain 2026

You can arrange international fingerprinting in Valencia without travelling back to your home country. Your options include a mobile service that visits your address, a private fingerprinting provider, or a police station that is willing to take prints for an overseas agency. Once the fingerprints are collected on the required card, they can be sent to the relevant authority for processing.

Keep reading this blog to understand all your available options in Valencia, who requires international fingerprinting the most, what documents are needed at the appointment, and more!

Spanish offices and Valencian city services each use their own words. Below are the ones you will meet most:

International fingerprinting means giving your fingerprints in one country so that another country can search its own criminal records with them. If you live in Valencia and a Spanish office needs to see your US or Canadian record, your prints are taken here and sent to the FBI or the RCMP.

Explore Fingerprint Background Check vs Name-Based Check

Fingerprints are used because names are not reliable. People change surnames after marriage, and a Latin American double surname or a spelling converted into another alphabet can look like a different person in a database. Ten fingers cannot be mistaken for someone else.

The prints are only the first step. The record that comes back, for example an FBI Identity History Summary, usually still needs an apostille and a sworn Spanish translation before a Spanish office will accept it.

Not the same as your TIE fingerprint appointment

In Valencia, "toma de huellas" usually means the TIE appointment. The two appointments share a name but do different jobs.

TIE fingerprinting takes place at a Policía Nacional foreigners office, such as the one at Calle dels Gremis 6. You book it through the cita previa system under "Policía, toma de huellas (expedición de tarjeta)". Your prints go into the Spanish system so your residence card can be issued.

Fingerprinting for a background check takes place with a provider or, in some cases, a police station that agrees to do it. Your prints go on a card or scanner meant for a foreign authority such as the FBI or RCMP, and what you receive is a criminal record from that country.

Ask yourself these questions to see which one you need:

• Do you need your Spanish residence card printed? You need the TIE appointment.
• Does your visa, employer, school or university ask for a criminal record from the US, Canada or another country? You need fingerprinting for a background check.
• Do you already have a TIE but must show a record from home? You still need the background check, because the TIE does not replace it.
• Do you need a Spanish criminal record certificate? You need neither. You request it from Spain's Ministry of Justice.

One appointment cannot cover both, because the TIE prints stay in the Spanish police system and are not released to anyone else.

Can't the embassy in Valencia do it?

No, and in most cases no embassy can. Embassies and consulates deal with their own citizens abroad, mainly passports, emergencies, and some document certifications. Taking fingerprints on request for a criminal record check is not part of that work, and many countries run their checks through police agencies or approved private providers instead.

Many countries also have no office in Valencia at all. The nearest embassy is usually in Madrid, and some countries have consulates in Barcelona or Alicante. For example, the British consulate that covers the Valencia region is in Alicante.

About one in five people in Valencia is a foreign national, and the city ranks among the top places in the world for remote workers. That mix of newcomers, students and professionals creates a steady need for records from other countries.

Given below are the situations where fingerprints come up most.

Visas and Residency in Spain

This is the biggest reason. Spain asks adult applicants for a criminal record from each country where they lived in the recent past, usually the last five years, and two years for some digital nomad visas. It applies to non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, student and family visas.

Changing Status or Applying for Citizenship Inside Spain

The records do not stop once you arrive. Applications handled by Valencia's Oficina de Extranjería, such as arraigo, family reunification or a change of permit, can ask for fresh foreign records. Applications for Spanish nationality also ask for a criminal record from your country of origin.

Because many offices want a recent record, the one you used for your first visa is usually too old by the time you apply again. Check the issue date before you reuse it.

Jobs and Schools

International schools, language academies and employers in Valencia now ask for police checks more regularly, especially for anyone who works with children. Some schools ask for records from every country you lived in, and others only from your most recent one.

Studies and Placements

Valencia has two large public universities, the Universitat de València and the Universitat Politècnica de València, plus many private schools and language centres. Some master's programs, hospital placements and work-experience schemes ask students for a clean record, and an overseas student may need one from their home country.

Read These Spanish Student Visa Requirements Before You Apply to Study in Spain

Professional Licences and Regulated Work

Remote workers in Valencia sometimes keep US or Canadian licences that depend on fingerprints. Finance is a common example, with registrations such as FINRA and NFA, and other regulated professions asking for the same. These requests usually arrive with short deadlines and specific form requirements, so the card must be right the first time.

Moving on from Spain

Some people in Valencia are planning their next move. Countries such as Canada, Australia, the UAE and New Zealand ask for police certificates for work and residency. If one of them asks for a record based on fingerprints, they need to be taken wherever you live now, which means in Valencia.

Also Read Do Expunged Records Show Up On Fingerprinting?

No embassy takes these prints, and the TIE office is not set up for them either, so you have three real options in Valencia.

Option 1: Mobile Fingerprinting by Globeia (Recommended)

A Globeia associate comes to your home, office or any address you choose, so you do not travel or wait in a queue. The visit takes about 15 to 30 minutes. It covers all of Valencia and nearby towns such as Mislata, Burjassot, Paterna, Alboraya and Godella, and L'Eliana, Sagunto and Gandia by arrangement.

Your identity is checked at the appointment, the prints are rolled on the correct card, and the same team can send them to the FBI or RCMP, arrange the apostille and handle the sworn translation. Nothing changes hands between companies.

Option 2: Professional Fingerprinting Service Providers

Private providers take your prints at their office, usually by appointment. Some use ink cards and some use live scan, and a few also help with the next steps. Few businesses in Valencia advertise this service for international records.

Looking for Fingerprinting in Spain? Your 2026 Guide to Getting Started

Businesses that handle paperwork for foreigners, such as immigration lawyers, gestorías and translators, are concentrated in a few parts of the city. Start your search there:

• Colón and Calle Colón (Eixample, 46004): several immigration law offices, close to the Colón metro station.
• Cirilo Amorós (Eixample, 46004 and 46010): a main street in the Eixample with more immigration law offices.
• Plaza del Ayuntamiento (46002): the city centre, close to Xàtiva metro station and many bus lines. The honorary US consular agency is on nearby Calle Romagosa.
• Plaza de los Fueros and Ciutat Vella (46003 and 46001): the old town, where several law offices are listed.
• Gran Vía Fernando el Católico and Avenida Regne de València (46005): next to Ruzafa, with offices around Maestro Gozalbo and the Gran Vía.

Option 3: Police Stations

Some Policía Nacional stations will take ink fingerprints on an FBI card if you ask, but it is not a standard service. The Jefatura Superior de Policía at Gran Vía Ramón y Cajal 40 houses the provincial scientific police unit, so it is a sensible place to ask. Your local comisaría is the other choice.

Phone before you go, because staff are not obliged to do it and may send you away.

What to ask for

• Ink fingerprints on an FBI card, with all ten fingers rolled from nail to nail and the plain impressions below.
• A second card taken in the same visit, in case one is rejected.
• Whether the officer can sign and stamp the card, if your receiving office asks for it.
• Whether you need an appointment, and which days and hours the unit takes prints.

What to bring

• Your passport, TIE or other photo ID.
• Two blank FBI-compliant cards (FD-1164 or FD-258), printed on standard white paper.
• The printed confirmation email from your FBI request, if you applied through the FBI.
• Your name, date of birth and place of birth, written exactly as on your passport.
• A Spanish speaker or a short note in Spanish explaining what you need, if your Spanish is limited.

Police stations are not a preferred choice for international fingerprinting. Their daily work is domestic, like ID cards, residence cards and local investigations. Staff may not know the card rules for foreign agencies, and the FBI rejects cards with smudged or missing prints.

A rejected card costs a lot of time, sometimes weeks and even months. And nobody at the station will follow it up for you.

Globeia is not just another fingerprinting provider. We have more than 10 years of experience in international fingerprinting and document support, and we serve clients in over 100 countries.

We also hold authorised and accredited channels abroad, including in the USA and Canada. That means one provider can handle your prints in Valencia, the submission abroad, the apostille and the Spanish translation, with no handover between companies.

4.9 Google Rating

Our clients rate us 4.9 on Google. Read the reviews to see what people in your situation say about the appointment, the communication and the result.

Convenient Doorstep Fingerprinting

We come to you in Valencia, at home, at work or in a coworking space. Your appointment takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and there is no commute, waiting room, or day off work.

Highly Trained Professionals

Our associates are trained to roll each finger fully from nail to nail and to check every field on the card before it leaves your hands. If a print comes out smudged, they retake it on the spot instead of sending it off to be rejected.

Multi-Country Background Check Support

FBI and RCMP criminal record checks are the most requested, but they are not the only ones. Through our partner network we also support police clearances for countries such as Australia, India, South Africa, Singapore, the UAE and Japan, following each authority's own form.

Letter of Identity Verification Included

Every appointment ends with a Letter of Identity Verification issued by Globeia. It carries a unique QR code and records that your identity was checked at the visit. It is a Globeia document, not one issued by a government authority, and it adds a second layer of proof to your prints.

How Globeia’s Fingerprinting Process Works

1. Fill out our fully automated SmartForm with the required details and attach your ID documents.
2. Add any other family members who need prints, then choose a time and a location in Valencia that suits you.
3. Complete a digital and secure Face ID verification, which confirms that the person being fingerprinted is the person on the ID.
4. A trained associate visits you with the fingerprint cards, high-quality black ink and the other equipment needed, and takes your prints.

Book your fingerprinting appointment with Globeia here!

Beyond Fingerprinting in Valencia

Your fingerprints are only the first part of the paperwork. Globeia also handles the steps that follow, so you can finish everything in one place.

• Submission to Relevant Authorities Abroad - Our global operational network sends your prints to the right law enforcement agency or federal authority, such as the FBI or the RCMP.
• Apostille and Legalization - For your documents to be accepted in Spain or another country, we can coordinate the apostille or any additional embassy legalization through the relevant government agencies, in the same workflow and on your behalf.
• Sworn Translation into Spanish and More - For use in Spain, we arrange a sworn Spanish translation of your background check and other documents through trained and authorised professionals. Translation is available in more than 50 official languages, so your documents can be used anywhere in the world.

These five local points decide how smoothly your paperwork moves, and most of them only apply to people living in Valencia.

Valencia's Calendar

Fallas takes place in March, with the main celebrations running from 15 to 19 March. During this period, road closures, crowds, and changes to office schedules can make appointments and travel more difficult. Semana Santa, which usually falls in March or April, can also affect public office hours and processing schedules.

October includes two important public holidays: 9 October, the Day of the Valencian Community, and 12 October, Spain's National Day. When these holidays fall close to a weekend, they may create a longer break. Summer, particularly July and August, can also bring reduced office hours or staff availability. Your documents also may follow a different holiday calendar, such as US federal holidays, when the apostille office is closed.

Best months to start

• September to early November: Offices are back on full hours. Plan around the public holidays in October.
• Mid-January to early March: Late enough to avoid Christmas and early enough to finish before Fallas.
• Late April to June: Easter is over and the summer slowdown has not started.
• Months to plan carefully: March, around Fallas; March or April, around Semana Santa; July and August; and late December to early January, when holiday closures can affect processing.

Getting Around

If you go to a physical fingerprinting centre, Valencia is easy to cross, and you have three options.

1. Metrovalencia - The metro has 10 lines and trains run about every 10 minutes. A single trip in one zone costs 1.50 euros at the time of writing, and you need a reusable card, which costs about 1.10 euros. Xàtiva, Colón and Àngel Guimerà are the main central stations.
2. EMT Buses - The city has 43 EMT bus lines, and a single ticket costs 2 euros on board. Night buses run until about 2:00 on weekdays, and the EMT app shows arrival times.
3. Bike Lanes - Valencia has about 223 km of bike lanes, according to the city's latest figure, and the Valenbisi bike-share system covers the city. It is the quickest way across the centre for a short appointment.

To skip the travel completely, use Globeia's mobile fingerprinting service in Valencia. We come to your address, so you do not need a ticket, a bike or a parking space.

Climate and Fingerprints

Valencia is humid. Average humidity is about 65% across the year and reaches 68% in August, with July and August days around 30 degrees Celsius. Damp or sweaty fingertips leave blurred ink, and the FBI rejects cards it cannot read.

In winter the problem reverses, dry skin gives faint, patchy prints. Before your appointment, wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry them fully. If your skin is dry, use hand cream the night before, not on the day. In summer, wipe your fingertips with a dry cloth between prints.

A mobile visit indoors, away from the midday heat, also helps.

Local Post and Couriers

Correos is the default for mailing documents from Valencia. One expat reported that a fingerprint card sent through regular Correos mail reached the FBI in about three days. That is a single experience, not a promise, so choose a tracked service and keep your receipt.

Tips for Mailing Safely From Valencia

• Ask for a tracked, signed-for service, and keep the receipt and tracking number.
• Keep the card flat in a stiff envelope. Do not fold it, staple it or write over the print boxes.
• Put everything the receiving office asked for in the same envelope, such as the printed confirmation email.
• Write the address in full, with the postcode, and add your phone number for the courier.
• Check that the receiving address accepts couriers. Some addresses are PO boxes, which many couriers cannot deliver to.
• Give a return address in Valencia where someone is home, or a pick-up point.
• Avoid sending in holiday weeks, and check the tracking before you contact the office.

Countdown From Your Deadline

Start from the date your document is due, not from the date you feel ready. Count back through each stage, add a safety buffer, and the result is the day you must begin.

For your understanding, check this worked example for a document due at a Spanish office on Monday March 22, 2027. The stages apply to any country, and the times are examples, so replace them with the ones your authority quotes.

The latest start date is the deadline minus 52 days. Considering the earliest sensible start date is important because many Spanish offices want a record issued within the last three months. A record issued before December 22, 2026, would be older than 90 days on March 22, so starting any earlier than December 7 is risky.

In this example the report is issued around February 14, which is 36 days before the deadline and well inside that window.

You do not need to spend time travelling across Valencia or trying different offices to find someone who can take fingerprints for an overseas background check. Globeia brings the appointment to your home, workplace, or another suitable address, making it easier to fit fingerprinting around your routine.

Globeia helps clients prepare fingerprint cards for international submissions and checks print quality before the appointment is complete. We can also coordinate the next steps, including submission to the relevant authority, apostille or legalization, and sworn translation. If you need an FBI, RCMP, or another international check, contact Globeia to arrange fingerprinting in Valencia and get help with the requirements for your application.