How to Get an FBI Background Check in the UK?

If you are a U.S. citizen, green card holder, or former U.S. resident currently living in the United Kingdom, chances are you have already encountered a frustrating question, how do you get an FBI background check in the UK when you are thousands of miles away?

Whether you need it for a UK Skilled Worker visa, a teaching role abroad, permanent residency, or a business license, the FBI Identity History Summary, commonly called an FBI background check, is a document that proves any criminal history held by the FBI against your fingerprints.

This guide walks you through everything, from what the check is, who needs it, how to get fingerprinted in the UK, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause costly delays.

An FBI Identity History Summary, the official name for what most people call an FBI background check, is a document generated by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. It cross-references your submitted fingerprints against the FBI's national criminal database to produce a record of any federal criminal history in the United States.

This is different from a DBS check, which is the UK's own Disclosure and Barring Service check for UK criminal history. Many roles in the UK, particularly in education and healthcare, require both a DBS check for UK history and an FBI background check for U.S. history.

You may need an FBI Identity History Summary check if you are:

• Applying for visa and immigration: Visas and Immigration requires a criminal record certificate from any country where you lived for 6 months or more. If you lived in the US before, that means you need an FBI Background Check.
• Applying for skilled worker or global talent visas: Certain visa routes require international criminal record checks.
• Starting a business or applying for financial licences: Regulatory bodies may require a criminal record check from every country of prior residence.
• Working as a teacher or in education: Schools and educational institutions in the UK frequently require a U.S. background check. 

Step 1: Confirm Why You Need It and What Format Is Required

• A standard FBI Identity History Summary (electronic PDF or hard copy).
• An FBI check with an apostille (required for most international legal/immigration uses).
• An FBI check with authentication/legalisation for countries not in the Hague Convention.

Getting this wrong at the start can mean starting the whole process over.

Step 2: Get Your Fingerprints Taken in the UK

Where to get fingerprinted in the UK:

• Specialist fingerprinting agencies: These are your most reliable option. Professional service providers like Globeia also provide fingerprinting specifically for FBI Background Checks.
• Local police stations: Some UK police stations will take ink fingerprint impressions as a courtesy service. However, availability varies, and they are not always familiar with FBI card requirements.

As incomplete or improperly filled cards are one of the top rejection reasons, it is recommended to go for professional service providers.

Step 3: Submit Your Application to the FBI

What to send to the FBI:

• The completed and signed FD-258 fingerprint card.
• Proof of identity (copy of valid passport or government-issued ID).
• The payment receipt.
• The completed Identity History Summary request form.

Alternatively, you can work with a third-party authorised agency like Globeia, which can manage the submission process on your behalf and may offer faster turnaround through its established network.

Step 4: Wait for Processing

If you require an apostille, authentication, or legalization after receiving your FBI report, that is a separate process and will add additional processing time.

Step 5: Receive Your FBI Background Check

Step 6: Obtain an Apostille (If Required)

FBI background checks are federal documents, so they must be apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington, DC, not by any state Secretary of State.

Many UK-based applicants use a service provider like Globeia in the U.S. to handle the apostille submission on their behalf, which avoids the need to mail documents internationally multiple times.

The FBI does not set an official expiry date on Identity History Summaries. However, most requesting institutions, employers, immigration bodies, and licensing authorities impose their own validity window, typically 6 to 12 months from the date of issue.

If your apostille takes several weeks after your FBI check is issued, factor that into your timeline. Some institutions require the apostille date (not the FBI issue date) to fall within the validity window.

Getting an FBI background check from the UK involves multiple moving parts, the right fingerprint card, the correct form, international postage, and sometimes an apostille from the U.S. Department of State. One small error at any stage means starting over, often weeks later.

This is where a specialist agency makes a real difference.

Globeia is a trusted, experienced provider handling FBI Identity History Summary checks for UK-based applicants. Here is what working with Globeia looks like:

• Ink fingerprinting on the official FD-258 or FD-1164 fingerprint card, captured to the standards required for FBI Identity History Summary submissions.
• It provides end-to-end submission management by coordinating the submission through Globeia Inc. in the US, so nothing gets lost in the process.
• It also coordinates with the apostille process; if your check needs to be apostilled by the US Department of State, Globeia manages that too.
• Globeia SmartPortal, you can track your application in real time, upload documents securely, and access your completed FBI check digitally.
• Faster turnaround than a standard mail-in DIY application.
• Expert guidance at every step, so you are never left guessing.
• Trusted by 30,000+ clients in 50+ countries, with a 4.8 rating on Google.

Whether you need a basic FBI Background Check or a fully apostilled document for visa or immigration purposes, Globeia removes the complexity and gets it done right.

These are the errors that set applicants back weeks:

The process of obtaining an FBI background check from the UK is manageable, but it requires precision at every step. Poor fingerprints, wrong forms, and apostille errors are the most common causes of avoidable delays.

If you have a tight deadline or want to be certain your application is handled correctly the first time, working with an experienced agency like Globeia removes the guesswork. From fingerprinting on the correct FD-258/FD-1164 card to managing submission and apostille coordination, a specialist can significantly reduce both the time and the risk of rejection.

For an FBI background check from the UK, with or without an apostille, you can get in touch with Globeia.