FBI Background Check from Rome: Everything You need to Know

Rome has a local office for almost every document. Then you get asked for an FBI background check from Rome, and the Questura says no, the US Embassy says no, and you learn this document only comes from West Virginia.

Whether it's for a visa, a job, an immigration case, or a license, stay calm. You do not need to travel to the United States. You do not even need to leave your area. This blog explains who needs it, where to get fingerprinted in Rome, how to apply, the cost, and how to handle the apostille and translation.

The FBI Identity History Summary, which everyone calls it as FBI background check, is the United States' national criminal record check. It is issued by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, and it shows any arrests or criminal history tied to your fingerprints in the FBI's federal database, or confirms that no record exists.

Two things worth understanding here are:

• First, it is a federal document, the highest level of background checks that the US issues.
• Second, it is based on fingerprints, not your name.

That is why every path to this document, no matter where in the world you are, starts with getting your fingerprints taken.

If an Italian authority, a foreign embassy in Rome, an employer, or an immigration office has asked for your US criminal record, this is the document they are asking for.

Italy has its own criminal record certificate, the certificato penale del casellario giudiziale, issued through the local Procura offices. It is a perfectly good document for Italian records.

Your first instinct may be to try the U.S. Embassy in Rome or contact the Questura di Roma or a local Carabinieri office. The Embassy’s published notarial services do not list fingerprint collection for FBI Identity History Summary requests. Availability at Italian police offices may vary, so ask the specific office whether it will collect ink fingerprints on an applicant-provided U.S. card before travelling.

Beyond these options, there are two practical paths. You can coordinate the card and fingerprint collection yourself, or arrange a trained mobile associate. For a direct Identity History Summary request, the FBI provides the FD-1164 Identity History Summary Request form. Some providers or submission routes may use an FD-258 applicant fingerprint card, but you should confirm the correct card with the route you plan to use.

Beyond these two, you're left with two real paths. You can download the FD-258 or FD-1164 card yourself and try rolling your own prints, or you can have a trained associate come to you and do it properly on FBI-compliant cards.

DIY vs Mobile Fingerprinting: Which one should I Choose?

Also Read: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Background Check

Step 1: Get your fingerprints taken.

This is the only part that has to happen physically, and now you know how you can get the right fingerprint on the right card the right way. Always go for mobile fingerprinting as there is less chance of errors, and it saves your time and effort. Most rejections are linked to this stage, so choose wisely.

Step 2: Arrange all the needed documents

A lot of applicants in Rome get confused at this stage. They keep asking the wrong people about what documents to carry, and sometimes the name or address mismatch leaves them to research for days.

The only document you need for an FBI background check from Rome is the right fingerprint card, which is FD-258 or FD-1164.

Step 3: Choose how you want to submit.

You have three options, and they differ mainly in speed and effort.

How Much Do You Have to Pay for FBI Background Check from Rome?

The FBI fee is $18 per request for either method. Fingerprinting and courier charges from Rome are extra. Check the current FBI fee guidance before applying.

How Long Does It Take?

The FBI does not guarantee one fixed timeline. Also include the time taken to courier your fingerprint card from Rome.

Where Do You Send the Fingerprint Card?

Send it to:

Step 4: The FBI processes your fingerprints via the card.

Once your card reaches the FBI, your fingerprints are checked through the Next Generation Identification system against records in its national criminal history repository. If the prints are unclear, the FBI may ask you to submit a new card.

Step 5: Receive your Identity History Summary.

You will get a digitally signed PDF, a mailed paper copy, or both, depending on how you applied. If it says "No Record," congratulations, that is still the official document, and it works exactly the same.

Note: The FBI will not correct a poorly taken fingerprint card after it arrives. One small mistake can mean sending a new card from Rome and starting the wait again, so getting the fingerprints and submission details right the first time can save you weeks.

Mostly Yes, but it totally depends on which country you are submitting your FBI background check document.

Case I: Submitting to an authority in a Hague Convention country (Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, and 125+ others)?

Your FBI check will likely need a federal apostille from the US Department of State. Because the FBI is a federal agency, no state-level apostille will do. The process means completing Form DS-4194 (download it here), paying the $20 per document fee, and mailing the package to the Office of Authentications, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Mail-in processing takes several weeks, so plan for it.

Case II: Submitting to an Italian authority?

Expect a certified Italian translation on top of the apostille, and here is the part that trips people up: the translation happens after the apostille, and it should cover the apostille page too, not just the FBI report document. Italy is particular about this, and partial translations get rejected.

Globeia handles fingerprint collection in Rome to US submission, tracking, apostille, and translation. The best part is that each stage can be coordinated through one process.

1 Book through the SmartForm.

Pick your service, your location in Rome, and a time that suits you. A quick Face ID verification confirms the appointment is really you, and then it is locked in.

2 Get Fingerprinted and coordinated step for submission

Once the appointment is confirmed, the fingerprinting, quality check, and US handling are managed as one connected process.

Note: Globeia coordinates the secure transfer and U.S. submission of the completed fingerprint cards. The FBI independently reviews the fingerprints, conducts the record search, and issues the Identity History Summary. Government acceptance and processing times remain outside Globeia’s control.

3 Your Letter of Authentication.

Every appointment includes Globeia's QR-coded Letter of Authentication, a tamper-proof record of how and by whom your prints were collected.

Note: It is a Globeia-issued document, not issued by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the FBI or any government authority.

4 Track your progress.

You follow the status through the SmartPortal instead of wondering across time zones. The Globeia FBI Identity History Summary service page explains the connected fingerprint, submission, and tracking workflow.

5 Get your Results

Once the FBI completes the fingerprint-based record search, your official Identity History Summary is issued. Depending on the application method selected, you may receive the result electronically, by mail, or through the coordinated service portal.

6 Apostille and translation, if you need them.

If the receiving authority requires additional preparation, Globeia can coordinate a federal FBI apostille through the U.S. Department of State and arrange certified translations in more than 50 languages. These services prepare the document for the stated destination requirement, but the receiving authority makes the final acceptance decision.

Start here: FBI background check from Rome with Globeia

More people than you would expect:

• Americans living in Rome applying for Italian residency, citizenship, or a long-term visa, since Italian authorities want to see your US record.
• Italians and dual citizens who spent time in the US for work or study and are now applying for visas elsewhere, like Canada, Australia, or the UAE.
• Remote workers and digital nomads whose foreign employer or visa process requires a US federal check.
• Finance professionals in Rome who need FBI-based screening for US regulatory registration.
• Students and researchers heading to programs that request a nationwide US background check.
• Anyone adopting, marrying, or relocating through a process that asks for an FBI Identity History Summary specifically.

Getting an FBI background check from Rome comes down to three things: good fingerprints on the right card, a bit of patience while the FBI does its part, and knowing early whether an apostille or translation will be asked for later. Start before your deadline feels close, because international courier time and government processing do not bend for anyone.

And if you want the whole thing handled, from your living room in Trastevere to the FBI and back, Globeia is already here in Rome. Book your appointment and let us take it from there.