{"id":5690,"date":"2026-07-23T13:05:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T17:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venfort.com\/?p=5690"},"modified":"2026-07-24T13:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T17:08:40","slug":"what-to-do-extradition-request-7-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venfort.com\/en\/que-hacer-solicitud-extradicion-7-pasos\/","title":{"rendered":"I've been notified of an extradition request: what do I do? The 7 immediate steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

An extradition request rarely gives prior notice. It can materialize as an arrest at an airport, a summons from the Central Investigating Court, or a police visit to a residence. And in the first 24 to 72 hours, decisions are made\u2014sometimes without realizing it\u2014that condition the entire subsequent procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide is written for the non-lawyer reader: for the business owner, manager, or family member who needs to understand, in simple language, what is happening and what they should do immediately. It does not replace professional advice; its goal is to prevent irreversible mistakes in the first few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A reassuring fact before we begin: in Spain, extradition is a guaranteed procedure<\/strong>, governed by Law 4\/1985 on Passive Extradition and by the applicable treaties, with judicial oversight by the National Court and, ultimately, by the Constitutional Court. No one is extradited overnight. There is time to mount a defense; what there is no time for is to waste time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Remain silent and ask for a specialized lawyer. Nothing else.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are arrested, you have the right to remain silent and to legal counsel. Use them. Spontaneous explanations\u2014\u00bbthis is a misunderstanding,\u00bb \u00abI can clarify this\u00bb\u2014end up in the file and rarely help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An important nuance: extradition is a specialty. An excellent criminal lawyer without experience in international cooperation could overlook the specific mechanisms of this procedure (the applicable treaty, the extradition ground, the pathway INTERPOL<\/a>). Explicitly ask for experience in extraditions before the National Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Do not sign any consent without understanding its consequences.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the initial appearances, you will be asked if indulge<\/strong> Extradition. There is a simplified procedure that speeds up the process if you agree to it. There may be cases where this is advisable, but it is a decision irrevocable in practice<\/strong> and with enormous consequences: he gives up on the merits of his case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple rule: never agree to anything in that first phase without having analyzed it with your lawyer, with the documentation in front of you, and without pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Play the preliminary injunction hearing well.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After arrest, you will be brought before the Central Investigating Court, usually in less than 24 hours. There, it will be decided whether to await proceedings in provisional detention<\/strong> o released under conditions<\/strong> (passport withdrawal, travel ban from Spain, periodic appearances, bail).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What weighs most in his favor is the demonstrable ties<\/strong>stable residence, family, economic activity, absence of escape attempts. If your lawyer arrives at that hearing with prepared proof of ties, your options for release improve substantially. This is why, in the face of any prior indication of risk, advance preparation is invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Reconstruct the events in writing, including dates and documents.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your memory is the main source of defense, and it degrades quickly under stress. From day one, develop a written chronology<\/strong>: What happened, when, who intervened, what documents exist. Gather contracts, emails, resolutions, payment receipts, country entry and exit stamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two practical tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n