Why Americans Moving to Portugal Need an FBI Background Check and Apostille

For Americans moving to Portugal, obtaining an FBI background check is a crucial step for securing visas, residency, or citizenship. Whether you’re applying for a D7 visa, Golden Visa, work authorization, marriage, adoption, or educational opportunities, Portuguese authorities require an officially apostilled FBI background check to verify your criminal history.

This FBI background check provides a comprehensive record of your criminal history across the United States, including convictions, arrests, warrants, and court records linked to your fingerprints. By using this fingerprint-based system, Portugal ensures that incoming residents meet the country’s legal and safety standards. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process - from applying for the FBI check to obtaining the apostille, so your move to Portugal is smooth and compliant.

For Americans moving to Portugal, an FBI background check is a crucial requirement to verify that applicants have a clean criminal record in the United States. Portuguese authorities rely on this federal-level verification to ensure incoming residents meet safety and legal standards. Knowing when and why you need this document helps streamline your visa, residency, or citizenship application, avoiding delays or complications.

Visa and Immigration Requirements

Many Portuguese visa categories specifically require an FBI background check:

• D7 Visa: Retirees or individuals with passive income must provide a federal FBI check to prove eligibility.

• D2 Visa (Entrepreneur Visa): Entrepreneurs moving to Portugal for business purposes need a verified FBI background check.

• Digital Nomad Visa: Remote workers must show a clean FBI record for visa approval.

• Golden Visa: High-net-worth individuals investing in Portugal must provide a federal-level background check.

• Family Reunification and Marriage: Americans planning to reunite with family or marry in Portugal may also be required to submit a background check.

Residency and Citizenship Applications

Both temporary and permanent residency applicants need an FBI background check. Citizenship applications require a completely clean federal criminal record, which the FBI report officially confirms for Portuguese authorities.
Employment, Adoption, Volunteer Work, and Other Legal Uses

• Employment: Roles in sensitive sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, or security require a federal criminal record verification.

• Adoption: Americans looking to adopt in Portugal must provide an FBI background check to demonstrate suitability.

• Volunteer Work: Working with vulnerable groups - children, the elderly, or disabled individuals, often requires a verified FBI check.

• Professional Licensing: Certain professional licenses or certifications in Portugal may require a background check from the U.S.

• Higher Education and Study Programs: Some universities or educational programs may request a federal criminal record for admission.

Post Style and Multi-Purpose Uses

FBI background checks are also commonly used in post-style applications, such as for government, immigration, or professional clearances. This emphasizes the multi-purpose nature of the document - it’s not only for visas but for any official verification requiring federal-level criminal history validation.

Globeia Simplifies the Process: For Americans moving to Portugal, Globeia offers a streamlined service to obtain both your FBI background check and apostille. You can also opt for a package that includes translation, apostille, and verification, making the entire process faster, easier, and hassle-free.

The FBI background check, officially called the Identity History Summary or "rap sheet," shows your complete criminal history from a nationwide database. This document provides Portuguese authorities with official verification of your legal standing for visa and residency applications.
National criminal history summary
The Identity History Summary compiles your law enforcement interactions from all 50 states and federal databases. Your report includes arrests, charges, and convictions from your entire lifetime. The document may also contain information about federal employment, naturalization proceedings, and military service records.
Each entry shows the submitting agency's name, arrest date, specific charges, and disposition details when available. This federal-level report gives Portuguese authorities the thorough coverage they require, unlike state or county reports that only show partial information.
Fingerprint-based identity verification
Your fingerprints are the foundation of an FBI background check. They're placed on a standard FD-258 or FD-1164 form used for applicant purposes. This biometric system eliminates identity errors and provides reliable confirmation of your background.
The FBI authenticates your results with its official seal and a division official's signature. This authentication step is essential for the apostille process that follows.

How long is the report valid for Portugal?
Timing matters when you get your FBI background check for Portugal. The document stays valid for exactly 90 days from its issue date for visas. Portuguese authorities enforce this timeline strictly for all visa and residence permit applications. Plan your background check request carefully to match your visa application schedule.

Getting an FBI background check while living outside the United States is manageable with the right approach. You have three main options for obtaining this document for your Portugal application, each designed to fit different needs and timelines.

Option 1: Mailing Option
The most common route is applying directly to the FBI. You'll need to complete the Applicant Information Form and get fingerprints on an FD-258 card. Mail these documents with the $18 processing fee to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. This method typically takes 3-5 weeks for processing and delivery, depending on your location.

Option 2: Apply Online via the FBI eDO Portal
You can apply quickly using the FBI’s official eDO portal. Create an account, submit your details, and pay the fee online. Then mail your fingerprint card to the address provided. You'll receive your background check electronically, with status tracking available online.

Option 3: Apply Through a Trusted Third-Party Service
Using a reliable third-party service like Globeia is the easiest and most convenient option. They handle the entire FBI background check process on your behalf. Simply fill out your details, upload your ID and scanned fingerprint card for review, and then mail the original to their U.S. office. U.S. citizens and green card holders typically receive results via email within 24–48 hours. While this option may cost more, it eliminates the hassle of dealing with paperwork and multiple steps.

Required Documents for FBI Criminal Record Check

Regardless of your chosen method, you'll need:

• Completed application form (varies by submission method)
• Fingerprints on standard FD-258 or FD-1164 cards
• Valid government-issued ID
• Payment for processing fees

While abroad, you can obtain fingerprints at local police stations, private security agencies, or some US embassies and consulates.

Fingerprinting Requirements for FBI Background Check (from Portugal)

• Use the FD-1164 or FD-258 fingerprint card on standard white paper.
• Submit a current, original card — no copies or reused cards.
• Include your full name and date of birth.
• Provide rolled and flat impressions of all 10 fingers.
• Prints can be done with ink or live scan (must be printed).
• Get fingerprints taken by a professional technician, if possible.
• Ensure prints are clear and legible to avoid rejection.
• Include the last 4 digits of the SSN if needed on the FBI report.

Once you have your FBI background check, you need an apostille to make it legally valid in Portugal. This authentication step ensures Portuguese authorities will recognize your document as official.

What is an Apostille and Why Do You Need It
An apostille is an international certification that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention. Both Portugal and the United States are part of this agreement. Portuguese authorities will not accept your FBI background check without this certification, regardless of how legitimate the document appears.

Step-by-Step Apostille Process for FBI Checks 
Getting your FBI check apostilled requires specific steps to avoid delays:

1. Prepare your FBI background check (original or printed PDF)
2. Fill out Form DS-4194 (request for authentication services)
3. Include payment for the apostille fee 
4. Add a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope
5. Mail everything to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications

Use Globeia’s apostille services for your FBI background check for use in Portugal. They can expedite the process by hand-delivering your document directly to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Other USA Documents That Need an Apostille For Portugal
Your FBI background check isn’t the only U.S. document that may need an apostille for use in Portugal. Other commonly required documents include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Academic diplomas or transcripts
• Power of attorney documents

Each document must be apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state where it was originally issued. It’s important to check visa or residency requirements for your specific case, as additional documents may be requested by Portuguese authorities.

Translation Requirements for Portugal
After obtaining the apostille, your U.S. documents—such as the FBI background check, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and academic transcripts—must be translated into Portuguese for use in Portugal. This translation should only be done after the apostille is attached, not before. 
Portuguese authorities, including SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) and local consulates, typically require these translations to be completed by certified translators or agencies officially recognized in Portugal. Automated or uncertified translations are usually rejected, which can lead to delays in visa or residency processing. 
While some private institutions, government, and legal offices may accept English-language documents. To avoid complications, it is always recommended to confirm translation requirements with the authority requesting your documents and use a trusted, professional translation service.

Estimated Timeline for the Entire Process
From start to finish, the FBI background check and apostille process for use in Portugal typically takes around 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the method and services used:

• FBI Background Check:
  3–5 business days if using an approved channeler or third-party services, or 2–4 weeks by mail.
• Apostille:
  2–3 weeks via the U.S. Department of State or the appropriate Secretary of State office.
• Certified Translation:
  1–3 business days, depending on the document length and the translation provider.

For applicants on a tight timeline, expedited services are available through trusted third-party providers like Globeia. We can help you speed up every step of the process,  from applying for the FBI background check to securing the apostille from the correct federal or state authority. Our hand-delivery services to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. ensure faster turnaround, and we can also assist with translation and document review to make sure your paperwork is fully compliant for use in Portugal.

Tips for Faster Processing and Avoiding Delays
To speed up your FBI background checks, apostille, and other things, you can follow these tips:

• Check all forms carefully before submitting to avoid errors or missing details.
• Use tracked shipping when sending documents to make sure they arrive safely.
• Make digital copies (scan or photo) of everything before mailing.
• Start early and allow at least 4 to 6 weeks to complete the full process.
• Use a reliable third-party service if you want faster results or help with paperwork.
• Ensure fingerprints are clear and correctly taken to avoid rejections.
• Watch for emails or mail updates in case additional info is needed.

An FBI background check is one of the most important steps for Americans relocating to Portugal. The document duly issued at the federal level certifies your criminal history and is a prerequisite for applying for the D7 Visa, Golden Visa, Digital Nomad, or any other residency option. Not only that, but it is also necessary for getting a job, adopting a child, and even tying the knot in Portugal.

To be recognized as valid in Portugal, the FBI background check has to be apostilled. There are three basic ways to get the report: directly from the FBI, through an authorized channel, or through a designated third-party service that takes care of it all for you. The apostille makes your FBI report a document that is the same all over the world and is therefore acceptable by the Portuguese Government; however, you must have it translated into Portuguese by an official translator.

If Americans moving to Portugal know the right way, they can get the FBI background check and the apostille done quickly and smoothly. But if you want a stress-free option,  Globeia can handle your FBI background check, apostille, and translations in a very quick and professional manner, thereby guaranteeing smooth processing and quicker results.