FBI Background Check from Switzerland: Complete Guide

Switzerland is home to a large international community of professionals, students, researchers, and expatriates. For many of them, there comes a time when a foreign authority, employer, licensing body, or immigration department requests an FBI background check as part of an application process.

Obtaining that document from outside the United States is entirely possible, but it requires an understanding of fingerprinting requirements, application procedures, and any additional steps that may be needed before the document can be used.

This blog covers everything you need to know about obtaining an FBI background check from Switzerland, including fingerprinting options, document requirements, apostilles, and other important considerations.

An FBI background check, officially known as an FBI Identity History Summary, is a record issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) based on information submitted by law enforcement agencies across the United States.

Depending on an individual's history, the report may contain arrest information or indicate that no criminal record was found. Government authorities, employers, licensing bodies, and other organisations may request this document when verifying an applicant's criminal record history in the United States.

Unlike many name-based background screening processes, an FBI Identity History Summary is generated through a fingerprint-based record search.

Individuals living in Switzerland may need an FBI Identity History Summary if they previously lived in the United States and are required to provide a criminal record check as part of an official application.

Common examples include:

• U.S. citizens residing in Switzerland who need an FBI background check for residency, citizenship, employment, or legal matters
• Swiss residents who previously studied in the United States and are now applying for employment, professional licensing, or immigration programs
• Professionals working in Switzerland's banking, financial services, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or education sectors, where background checks from previous countries of residence may be required
• Applicants for Swiss or international immigration processes: who must provide police certificates from every country where they have lived for a specified period
• Individuals relocating from Switzerland to another country, which requires an FBI background check as part of a visa, residency, or work permit application

It is important to remember that the requirement is based on a person's history of residence in the United States rather than their citizenship. Former students, workers, exchange visitors, visa holders, and permanent residents may all be asked to provide an FBI Identity History Summary while living in Switzerland.

Depending on the application, Swiss authorities or foreign government agencies may also request a Swiss criminal record extract in addition to an FBI background check.

Before applying for an FBI background check from Switzerland, you will need to complete fingerprinting on the appropriate fingerprint card. Applicants generally have several options depending on their location, scheduling requirements, and the type of service they prefer.

Police and Forensic Fingerprinting Services

In some parts of Switzerland, fingerprinting services may be available through police or forensic identification departments. Applicants often choose this option when they require fingerprints for immigration, visa, licensing, or criminal record check purposes.

Discussions within Swiss expat communities frequently reference fingerprinting services offered through forensic police departments, particularly for international background check applications. Some applicants have reported using facilities in the Zurich region for FBI-related fingerprinting requirements.

Mobile Fingerprinting Services

Mobile fingerprinting services provide an alternative for individuals who prefer not to travel to a fixed fingerprinting location. Instead, fingerprint collection can be completed at a residence, workplace, hotel, or another agreed location.

This option may be particularly useful for busy professionals, families, corporate teams, and applicants living outside major city centres. Mobile services are available in several Swiss regions through specialised fingerprinting providers.

What Should You Look for in a Fingerprinting Provider?

When choosing a fingerprinting provider, consider:

• Experience with FBI fingerprint card requirements
• Availability of FD-258 or FD-1164 fingerprint cards
• Quality-control procedures during fingerprint collection
• Appointment availability in your region
• Additional support services that may be required for your application

Choosing a provider familiar with international fingerprinting requirements can help reduce the risk of rejected fingerprints and unnecessary delays in the application process.

It is possible to obtain an FBI background check from Switzerland even if you no longer live in the United States. The process involves fingerprint collection, application submission, and receiving the completed FBI Identity History Summary.

1. Complete Fingerprinting on FBI-Compliant Cards

An FBI Identity History Summary is based on a fingerprint search but you cannot submit digital fingerprints. So, you will need to get fingerprints captured on the FD-258 or FD-1164 card before submitting the request. For this, you can either go to a cantonal police station or hire a private fingerprinting provider like Globeia.

Fingerprint Quality Standards

Before you get your fingerprints, it is important to know that the FBI uses automated scanning equipment. If your prints are too light, too dark, smudged, or missing ridge detail, the system will flag them as unreadable.

Here is what your fingerprinting appointment should involve:

• Each finger must be rolled from nail to nail, capturing the full ridge pattern.
• Impressions must be made with black ink.
• All four fingers of each hand must also be captured as plain flat impressions simultaneously.

2. Submit Your Application

Once your fingerprints are captured, you need to submit them to the FBI along with your application and payment. Now there are three ways to do this:

Option A: Apply Directly by Mail

You download the FBI Applicant Information Form, fill it out, and mail it with your signed FD-258 card and payment to the FBI's CJIS division in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

There’s also a submission fee you must pay using an approved payment method. The FBI only accepts:

• A money order or cashier's check in US dollars drawn on a US bank.
• A credit card, using the FBI's Credit Card Payment Form.

Recommended: Use courier like DHL, FedEx, or UPS. Do not use regular Swiss Post airmail without tracking. You need a tracking number and proof of delivery.

Option B: Apply Through the FBI's eDO Online Portal

Many applicants confuse this as a completely digital process, but that is not the case. You visit www.edo.cjis.gov, create an account, enter your personal details, and pay the fee online by credit card or other accepted methods.

After payment, you receive a confirmation email. Print this email and place it in the envelope along with your fingerprint card. Mail the package to the FBI address specified in the email.

Note: Applicants outside the United States can complete the FBI eDO application and payment online; however, fingerprints cannot be submitted electronically. The original fingerprint card must be physically mailed in the United States. International courier and delivery times should be factored into your overall processing timeline. 

Option C: Use a Private Company (The Most Streamlined Path)

Hire a professional fingerprinting service coordinator like Globeia, that handles fingerprint collection, submission coordination through Globeia Inc. in the USA, and document tracking on your behalf. Here is what changes for a Swiss applicant:

• You pay a single fee in Swiss Francs (CHF) through a bank transfer or card payment.
• The provider receives the results electronically and delivers it to you via a secure portal.
• You can track the entire process online, from the moment your card leaves Switzerland to the moment the FBI issues your report.

For Swiss residents who have never navigated the US federal system, this removes the guesswork.

3. Receive Your FBI Identity History Summary

After processing, the FBI issues your Identity History Summary. For US citizens, it may take 1 to 3 days, while non-citizens may receive the results in 3 to 4 weeks. The mailing time is not included here. These are just estimates, as processing times are entirely controlled by the FBI.

What the report contains:

• If you have no criminal history, the PDF will state “no prior arrest data found” or similar wording.
• If records exist, it will list arrests, charges, convictions, and certain non-conviction data held in the FBI's database. The report is a snapshot of the database at the moment it was run.

You will receive a secure link and PIN to download the official PDF. This electronic version is the legally valid original for most requesting authorities. Keep it safe and make multiple backup copies.

Depending on the purpose of the request, applicants may also need additional services such as document authentication or translation before submitting the report to the requesting authority.

Choosing the Right Submission Option

Applicants in Switzerland may choose different submission routes depending on their circumstances and the requirements of the organisation requesting the document.

Before starting the process, it is advisable to confirm:

• The type of criminal record document required.
• Whether fingerprint-based processing is necessary.
• Whether an apostille will be required.
• Whether a translation will be required.
• Any document validity requirements specified by the requesting authority.

Confirming these requirements in advance can help reduce the risk of delays and ensure that the completed document can be used for its intended purpose.

Check: FBI Background Check FAQ 2026

An FBI background check and a Swiss criminal record extract serve different purposes and are issued by different authorities.

A Swiss criminal record extract relates to criminal records maintained in Switzerland and is issued by the relevant Swiss authorities. Depending on the language region, this document may be referred to as:

• Strafregisterauszug (German)
• Extrait du casier judiciaire (French)
• Estratto del casellario giudiziale (Italian)

If an authority specifically requests an FBI background check, submitting a Swiss criminal record extract may not satisfy the requirement. Similarly, an FBI-issued document does not replace a Swiss criminal record extract when Swiss records are requested.

Individuals who have lived in both Switzerland and the United States may be required to provide criminal record documents from both jurisdictions. The exact requirements depend on the authority reviewing the application and the purpose for which the documents are being requested.

An apostille is a form of authentication that confirms the origin of a public document for use in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Whether an FBI background check requires an apostille depends on the requirements of the authority requesting the document. Some organisations may accept an FBI Identity History Summary as issued, while others may require an apostilled version before the document can be used for immigration, employment, licensing, or legal purposes.

For applicants in Switzerland, apostille requirements can vary depending on the institution, government authority, or foreign country involved in the application process. For this reason, it is important to verify the exact requirements before submitting any documents.

If an apostille is required, the FBI Identity History Summary must first be issued by the FBI. The document can then be submitted to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications, which is the authority responsible for issuing apostilles on FBI Identity History Summary documents for use in Hague Apostille Convention countries.

Applicants should also confirm whether the apostille must be obtained before arranging any translations, as requirements can differ depending on the receiving authority.

Checking these requirements at the start of the process can help prevent delays and avoid the need to resubmit documents later.

Will Translation Be Required?

An FBI Identity History Summary is issued in English. Whether a translation is required depends on the authority reviewing the document and the purpose of the application.

In Switzerland, requirements may vary between institutions, employers, licensing bodies, and government authorities. While some organizations may accept an English-language FBI background check, others may request a translation into German, French, or Italian.

Applicants should not assume that a translation is required or that an English-language document will automatically be accepted. Confirming the requirements in advance can help avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

If a translation is requested, it is important to ensure that the translated version accurately reflects the information contained in the original document and meets any requirements specified by the receiving authority.

Where an apostille is also required, applicants should verify the preferred order of authentication and translation before proceeding, as requirements can differ depending on the organization requesting the document.

For applicants who require an FBI background check from Switzerland, Globeia provides mobile fingerprinting and document coordination services designed for international background check applications.

Globeia's Process for FBI Background Check Applications

Step 1: Complete the SmartForm

The process begins with Globeia's SmartForm. Applicants select the service they require, choose a preferred appointment location, and provide the information needed for fingerprinting and application preparation.

As part of the booking process, applicants complete a digital Face ID verification step before the appointment is confirmed. This helps verify identity before fingerprint collection takes place.

Step 2: Mobile Fingerprinting at Your Location

Once the appointment is scheduled, a trained Globeia associate attends the chosen location with the required fingerprinting materials.

Appointments can be arranged at homes, offices, hotels, coworking spaces, or other agreed locations across Switzerland.

Step 3: Fingerprint Quality Review

After fingerprints are collected, every impression is reviewed for clarity and completeness.

If any fingerprint does not meet the required standard, it can be re-captured during the same appointment. This quality review process helps ensure that the fingerprint card is properly prepared before moving to the next stage.

Step 4: Submission Coordination and Tracking

Once fingerprint collection and quality review are complete, the fingerprint cards and supporting documents are mailed to Globeia Inc. in the US for processing and submission to the FBI on your behalf.

Applicants can monitor progress through SmartPortal, which provides visibility into different stages of the application workflow and document handling process.

Mobile Fingerprinting Across Switzerland

Globeia offers mobile fingerprinting appointments across major Swiss locations, including:

• Zurich
• Geneva
• Bern

Depending on appointment availability, support may also be available in surrounding regions.

Corporate and Bulk Fingerprinting Services

For organizations that require fingerprinting for multiple employees, Globeia can coordinate corporate and bulk fingerprinting appointments.

This service may be useful for:

• International employee relocation programs
• Immigration-related documentation requirements
• Employee background screening initiatives
• Corporate compliance projects
• Regulated industry onboarding processes

By arranging on-site appointments, multiple employees can complete fingerprint collection during a coordinated session at a business location.

The total timeline is different for each case but it usually takes somewhere between a few days to 5-6 weeks depending on the FBI's workload and mailing process.

The FBI states that electronically submitted requests are generally processed faster than mail-in requests, and all applications are handled in the order they are received. The FBI does not offer expedited processing for Identity History Summary requests.

Factors That Can Lead to Delays

• Fingerprint rejection: If your prints are unreadable, you start over. Add 3-6 weeks.
• Payment issues: A declined credit card or invalid money order stops processing. The FBI will return your package, adding weeks.
• Incomplete forms: Missing fields or signatures cause the application to be returned unprocessed.
• FBI workload: Volume spikes around US fiscal year-end (September) and after holiday breaks (January).

Applicants in Switzerland should consider additional time for:

• Fingerprint collection
• International document delivery
• Apostille authentication, if required
• Translation requirements, if required

If an FBI background check from Switzerland is needed for a time-sensitive application, it is advisable to begin the process as early as possible and confirm all document requirements before proceeding.

It turns out filling out a form for an FBI background check from Switzerland is easy but the logistics involved in getting your application to the FBI in the USA is the most difficult part. The fingerprints, the submission, the apostille - all steps can be hard to get right, especially when you're doing it for the first time. But this is where a clear understanding and even some professional help can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Whether you need an FBI Identity History Summary for immigration, employment, licensing, or another official matter, understanding the requirements in advance can help reduce delays and avoid unnecessary complications. Before starting the process, confirm the exact requirements with the requesting authority, including any validity, authentication, or translation requirements.

By preparing the correct documents and choosing a fingerprinting solution that meets your needs, you can complete your FBI background check from Switzerland with greater confidence and efficiency.