How to Get an FBI Police Clearance from Portugal: Your Complete Guide

An FBI police clearance, also known as an Identity History Summary, is an official document issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States. It lists any criminal history associated with a person, based on fingerprints submitted to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.

This document is commonly required for:

• U.S. employment or professional licensing.
• Immigration or visa applications, including green cards.
• Study abroad programs or adoption.
• Relocation or residency requirements for foreign countries.

If you are a person living outside the U.S., such as in Portugal, and wish to obtain an FBI police clearance, you will need to plan properly. The FBI requires requests to have the proper fingerprint submission, correct forms, and payment. Also, if you will be using the document internationally, you may need an apostille.

This guide explains the various options for obtaining an FBI police clearance from outside the United States, the requirements for each, and the pros and cons of each option. 

Before applying for an FBI police clearance, it is important to understand the official requirements to ensure your request is accepted without delays.

1.Fingerprint Submission

• The FBI requires a full set of fingerprints on the official FD-258 card/ FD-1164.
• Fingerprints must be clear, legible, and free from smudges. Errors or incomplete prints can result in rejection.
• Fingerprinting can be done at local law enforcement agencies, authorized private fingerprinting providers, or via mobile services that travel to your location.

2. Application Form

• Complete the FBI Identity History Summary Request Form accurately.
• Ensure all personal details, including full name, date of birth, and aliases, match your fingerprints exactly.

3. Payment

• The FBI charges a processing fee, which can be paid by credit card, debit card or other method of payment.
• International applicants must ensure the payment method is accepted by the FBI.

4. Submission Methods

• Requests can be sent by mail directly to the FBI Authorities in the United States.
• Some applicants use FBI-approved electronic submission channels for faster processing.
• Through an Accredited Agency/Service Provider (e.g., Globeia).

5. Optional Apostille or Certification

• If the FBI police clearance will be used outside the U.S., such as in Portugal, an apostille may be required.
• The apostille certifies the authenticity of the FBI-issued document for international use under the Hague Convention.

Understanding these requirements helps ensure that your FBI police clearance request is completed correctly the first time and avoids unnecessary delays or rejections.

Step-by-step process

• Download and complete the FBI Identity History Summary Request Form from the FBI website.
• Get your fingerprints taken on the official FD-258 fingerprint card (rolled impressions of all 10 fingers, plus flat impressions).
• Prepare payment, payable by credit card form, money order, or certified check drawn on a U.S. bank.
• Mail the completed request form, payment, and fingerprint card to the FBI’s CJIS Division, USA.

Pros

• Cheapest option (only the FBI fee).
• No intermediaries - you deal directly with the FBI.
• Accepted worldwide as the official FBI clearance.

Cons

• Long processing and mailing times (several weeks or more).
• International mailing risks (lost documents, customs delays).
• Higher chances of Fingerprints getting rejected (if self-taken).
• If fingerprints are rejected, you must restart the process (extra costing).
• No built-in apostille service - requires a separate request through the U.S. Department of State.

The FBI partners with approved “Channelers” who electronically submit your fingerprints and application to the FBI. Instead of mailing paper forms, fingerprints can be scanned digitally, and results are often returned much faster (sometimes within days).

Finding approved providers

• A list of authorized FBI Channelers is available on the FBI’s official website.
• Not all channelers serve international applicants - you’ll need to confirm whether they accept requests from outside the U.S.
• Channelers cannot provide apostille services. If you need the clearance for use abroad, you’ll still need to send the FBI-issued result to the U.S. Department of State for apostille.

Specialized providers assist applicants abroad by managing the entire process. They can:

• Collect your fingerprints (sometimes via mobile fingerprinting services).
• Ensure fingerprint cards are completed correctly to reduce rejection risk.
• Submit your application to the FBI or an FBI Channeler.
• Handle apostille or legalization if your FBI clearance will be used outside the U.S.
• Provide certified translations if required by local authorities.

Example: Some providers, such as Globeia, offer an end-to-end service: mobile fingerprint collection, submission to the FBI, and optional apostille and translation. This can save applicants from mailing documents overseas themselves.

For applicants abroad who want a smooth, end-to-end process including fingerprinting, secure submission, and apostille, using a trusted third-party provider like Globeia is often the most reliable and stress-free choice.

Let us learn about some tips for a smooth application process:

• Understand cost vs. risk: It may appear inexpensive to apply on your own, but if your fingerprints are rejected, you will have to start over and pay again. The chance of rejection is much less using a third party service.
• Use a professional fingerprinting service: Certified technicians know exactly what the FBI wants, resulting in fewer mistakes and quicker approvals.
• Use a company that provides full support: Third-party companies can manage submission, apostille, and delivery services so you only have to make one request.
• Avoid delays by using a delivery platform that tracks: Using any courier is better than delivery without tracking, but also think about using a courier service that gives you live updates about where your documents are, so you aren't wasting time wondering where your delivery is at.
• Be organized: Maintaining a record of everything in digital format - fingerprint cards, payment receipts, forms; this way, even if there is a problem, you are able to respond quickly.

• Getting an FBI police clearance from Portugal may seem daunting, but knowing your options can help simplify the process. You can apply directly by mail, go through an FBI-approved online process, or use a third-party service provider which will take care of your fingerprinting, submission, and apostille for you.

• If you apply yourself, you may save money at the outset. But if it involves mistakes, delays with mailing to the FBI, or rejected fingerprints, you could end up submitting more than once, and adding more time to your overall process. Choosing a professional provider like Globeia, can diminish these possibilities. They have all the right tools to ensure that your fingerprints meet FBI standards, and plan to help you separate the additional steps involving apostille and translations if you are using it internationally.

• In the end it comes down to what you most value - cost, time to completion, or convenience. For many applicants living abroad who are new to working with international police clearances, using a trusted third-party provider like Globeia can make their process much easier, and much less stressful. We have completed enough processes to know it is nice to go to bed at night knowing that the process you started is not only going to be accurate and officially sent to the FBI. When you get your clearance back from them you can go back to your plans of using it anywhere in the world.