FBI Background Check from the Philippines: The Complete 2026 Guide

A single requirement on a visa checklist surprises thousands of applicants in the Philippines every year: Submit an FBI Identity History Summary.

Whether you’re a Balikbayan returning home, a dual citizen, a retiree, or an overseas worker, the reaction is usually the same: Why do I need a U.S. background check if I’m currently living in the Philippines? The answer is simple, an NBI Clearance only proves your criminal records locally. But if you have spent time living in the U.S., foreign authorities may require official clearance directly from the FBI. No other document or background check certificate can replace an FBI Identity History Summary.

The challenge? There are no public FBI offices in the Philppines. While the FBI maintains a private diplomatic liaison office inside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, it does not offer public fingerprinting or walk-in services. This is where many applicants get confused because they cannot find a reliable provider to collect fingerprints and guide them through the entire FBI Background Check application process from the Philippines to the United States.

Navigating the complete process from overseas on your own can feel like a maze, but with the right guidance and steps given in this blog, you can manage it without unnecessary delays and rejections.  

One of the biggest misconceptions among applicants in the Philippines is that an NBI Clearance and an FBI Identity History Summary can serve the same purpose. However, it is not true.

An NBI Clearance only checks your criminal record history within the Philippines. Therefore, it cannot confirm what happened during the years you spent in the United States.

On the other hand, an FBI Identity History Summary is a fingerprint-based criminal background check that is only issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after your fingerprints are searched against the FBI's criminal history database in the United States.

This is why many immigration authorities or employers all across the world may request an FBI Background Check to prove your criminal records of the time you lived, studied, or worked in the U.S. So, the requirement of this certificate is based on where you lived, not where you are currently applying for it from.

Since only the FBI maintains U.S. criminal records, no Philippine authority or government office can issue a document that could replace an FBI Identity History Summary.

Do you need both certificates? Sometimes, yes. If the requesting authority needs proof of your criminal record history in both the Philippines and the United States, you may be asked to submit both an NBI Clearance and an FBI Identity History Summary.

So, it is always recommended to confirm the exact requirement with requesting authority or your background check coordinator.

An FBI Identity History Summary is requested in a wide range of situations. The reason may vary from one applicant to another. Some applicants need it for immigration, others may require it for employment, retirement, adoption, or legal documentation.

Here are the situations where Filipino applicants are most commonly asked to provide it:

Balikbayans Returning to the Philippines

Many Filipinos return to the Philippines after spending several years living in the United States. If they later apply for immigration, legal documentation, or another international process, they may be asked to provide an FBI Identity History Summary to verify their U.S. criminal record history.

Dual Citizens

Filipino-Americans and dual citizens who have lived in the U.S. may also need an FBI Identity History Summary when completing any citizenship-related matters, or applications that require police certificates or criminal record checks from every country of previous residence.

SRRV Applicants

Foreign nationals applying for the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) through the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) may be required to provide police certificates from every country where they previously lived, including an FBI Identity History Summary if they resided in the United States.

Adoption and Related Applications

Applicants involved in international adoption, guardianship, and other family-related legal proceedings may be required to submit an FBI Identity History Summary as part of the background verification process.

Returning Overseas Professionals

Any professionals who previously lived or worked in the U.S. may need this certificate, especially if you are applying for licensed professions, government positions, etc.

Business, Investment, and Residency Applications

Applicants who are establishing a business, applying for investment programmes, or completing any long-term residency applications may also be asked to provide this certificate.

Applying for Immigration to Another Country

Many applicants based in the Philippines are not applying to the United States at all. Instead, they may be applying for immigration to countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or elsewhere. If they previously lived in the United States, the receiving authority may request an FBI Identity History Summary alongside police certificates from other countries where they have lived.

International Employment

Employers sometimes conduct overseas background checks and may request an FBI Identity History Summary, especially for positions involved in finance, education, aviation, healthcare, etc.

Here are the most common mistakes that first-time Filipino applicants make while applying for their FBI Identity History Summary. This is how you can avoid these mistakes:

Are you planning to apply for an FBI Identity History Summary independently from the Philippines? Before you begin, it's important to understand that the process extends well beyond fingerprint collection. From preparing your application to arranging international courier delivery and completing any post-issuance requirements, every stage needs to be completed correctly and in the right order.

Step 1: Confirm That You Need an FBI Identity History Summary

Before arranging the fingerprinting appointment, first you need to confirm the exact document requested by the receiving authority. Based on your application, you may need an FBI Identity History Summary, and an NBI Clearance, or both.

Many immigration authorities and licensing bodies expect recently issued background checks. Therefore, applying too early may result in your background check becoming outdated before your application is submitted.

Step 2: Arrange FBI-Compliant Fingerprint

The Philippines does not have an official FBI fingerprinting office. You will need to arrange the fingerprint collection through a provider who is experienced in international background checks and understands the FBI's fingerprinting requirements.

Your fingerprints must be collected on the appropriate FBI fingerprint card, either FD-258 or FD-1164, depending on your chosen submission methods. The quality of your fingerprint impressions is important because unclear impressions may result in resubmissions.

Step 3: Complete Your FBI Application 

Once your fingerprints have been collected, you will need to prepare your FBI application.

Depending on the submission method you choose, this may involve registering through the FBI’s Electronic Departmental Order (eDO) system or preparing the required application forms for direct submission. Moreover, you will also need to ensure your payment, personal information, and fingerprint card are correctly linked before the application is submitted. 

Step 4: Arrange International Courier Delivery 

After completing your application, your fingerprint card must be safely sent to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in the United States.

Applicants managing the process independently are responsible for selecting a reliable international courier, preparing the shipment, and tracking the delivery until it reaches the United States. International courier time is separate from the FBI's processing timeline.

Step 5: FBI Processing

After receiving your fingerprint card, the FBI searches your fingerprints against its criminal history database and prepares your FBI Identity History Summary accordingly.

Processing times are completely determined by the FBI and depend on its application volume and internal procedures. These processing times do not include international courier transit between the Philippines and the United States.

Step 6: Receive Your FBI Identity History Summary

Your FBI Identity History Summary is issued according to the delivery method you have selected.

Step 7: Arrange Apostille or Certified Translation (If Required)

For some applications, your FBI Identity History Summary is only one part of the documentation you need to submit.

Depending on the receiving authority, you may also be asked for a U.S. Department of State apostille, a certified translation, or secure international delivery of the final document. If you are managing the application yourself, you will need to confirm these requirements and arrange each service separately.

FBI Background Check process from fingerprints to submission, courier, apostille, and translation can be a bit confusing. The applicant is already dealing with overseas operations, completing the formalities, and running an entire process on their own feels exhausting. This is the reason why most of the Filipino applicants choose an FBI Background Check coordinator, like Globeia Philippines, who manages all these steps on your behalf.

Globeia is a professional international background check coordinator which brings the entire process together through an organized and trackable process:

Step 1: Complete Globeia's SmartForm

Complete Globeia’s SmartForm with your personal details, application purpose, and your convenient appointment time and location. You can choose any location in the Philippines, like Manila, Cebu, etc.

A secure Face ID verification is also run through the SmartPortal before your appointment completes. It helps Globeia verify your identity.

Step 2: Mobile Fingerprinting Anywhere in the Philippines

Globeia sends a trained associate at your selected time and location with the correct FBI fingerprint card needed for your application.

Fingerprints are collected using internationally accepted rolled and flat impression techniques required for FBI applications.

Step 3: On-the-Spot Quality Review

Every fingerprint impression is reviewed immediately by the professional during the appointment.

If any print appears unclear, or smudged, it is retaken before the appointment concludes, helping reduce avoidable delays caused by fingerprint quality issues.

After your appointment, you will also receive Globeia's QR-authenticated Letter of Identity Verification, that confirms identity was verified before fingerprint collection.

Step 4: Submission Coordination Through Globeia Inc.

The applicants who select Globeia’ssubmission coordination don't need to arrange secure international courier delivery themselves. Their completed FBI fingerprint card is couriered to Globeia Inc. in the United States.

Globeia Inc. coordinates the submission of your application to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.

Step 5: Track Your Application

Filipino applicants prefer Globeia as their FBI application coordinator because they don’t have to  coordinate multiple providers on their own and they can also monitor their application’s progress through SmartPortal. Globeia manages the application submission professionally.

Step 6: Receive Your FBI Identity History Summary

Once the FBI completes processing, your FBI Identity History Summary is delivered according to your selected delivery method.

Step 7: Apostille or Certified Translation (If Required)

If your application also requires a U.S. Department of State Apostille, certified translation, or secure international document delivery, Globeia can coordinate these additional services as well.

Whether you need an apostille completely depends on where you will be submitting your FBI Background Check:

If You Are Submitting It in the Philippines

If your FBI Identity History Summary is being submitted to a Philippine government authority or organisation that requires the document to be officially recognised, you may also need a U.S. Department of State apostille. Since the Philippines is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is generally accepted in place of embassy legalisation.

If You Are Submitting It to Another Country

Many applicants based in the Philippines use their FBI Identity History Summary for immigration, employment, licensing, or residency applications in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, or Portugal. In such cases, the documentation requirements depend entirely on the receiving country’s guidelines.

What About Translation?

Because English is one of the Philippines' official languages, a certified Filipino translation is generally not required when submitting the FBI Identity History Summary within the Philippines. However, if you're submitting the document to a non-English-speaking country, translation requirements may vary.

Important: Apostille, translation, and document requirements differ between countries and authorities. Always confirm the exact requirement before submitting your application.

Applying for an FBI Background Check from the Philippines involves several important steps, but it becomes much easier when you know what to expect. Whether you manage the application yourself or choose professional support, understanding the complete process helps reduce avoidable delays.

Book your appointment with Globeia Philippines and let us coordinate your FBI Background Check from fingerprint collection through to document delivery.