How to Request an FBI Background Check From Portugal

When you're in the middle of an important application for residency, a work permit, or a professional license abroad, the last thing you want is to get a document wrong. And with the FBI background check, that fear is pretty common. Do the fingerprints need to go on a specific card? What happens if they get rejected? Do you need an apostille or not? These are real pain points of people in Portugal, where they make mistakes and end up losing weeks, sometimes months, having to restart the process.

If you're based in Portugal and trying to request an FBI Background Check, you’re at the right place. Keep reading this blog to know exactly what the process looks like, common myths to watch out for, and what your options are here in Portugal so you can submit everything correctly the first time. 

Anyone currently in Portugal who has lived in the USA for a significant period, generally 6 to 12 months or more, may need an FBI Identity History Summary Check for the following purposes:

• Applying for permanent residency, long-term visas, or work/study permits in Portugal or a new country.
• Obtaining credentials or professional license to practice law, medicine, nursing, or education in a foreign jurisdiction.  
• Fulfilling requirements for inter-country adoption or international court proceedings.
• Background screening for US-based financial firms, high-security, or sensitive corporate positions abroad.

Who does not need an FBI background check? If you are visiting any country abroad for less than 90 days, have never lived in the United States, or have not lived there during the period specified by the requesting authority, which is generally the past 5-10 years.

Is any other police check required? If you are applying for a visa to a third country while living in Lisbon, Porto, or elsewhere in Portugal, you will likely need:

Myth 1: “I've never been arrested, my background check will come back empty. So I don't need one.” 

Myth 2: “I have to go back to the US to get my FBI background check done.” 

Myth 3: “The Portuguese police certificate is the same thing, I don't need the FBI one too.” 

Myth 4: “I don't need an apostille. I'll just submit the background check as-is.” 

Myth 5: “Once I have my FBI Background Check, I can use it forever.” 

If you're applying for an FBI background check from Portugal, you generally have two options. You can either handle the entire process yourself by sending your application directly to the FBI, or you can work with a third-party agency that helps with fingerprinting, paperwork, and submission. 

To begin the process, you need to submit an electronic request for an FBI Identity History Summary Check through the FBI's online portal. You can also download the paper application form, complete it, and include it with your mailing package. You may choose whichever option is more convenient for you.

After that, you must provide your fingerprints on an FBI-compliant fingerprint card, such as FD-258 or FD-1164. You can either purchase fingerprinting ink and roll your own fingerprints or visit a local police station for assistance. If you choose the latter, make sure to bring your own fingerprint cards, as they may not have FBI-specific cards available.

Once your fingerprints are completed, prepare your application package. This should include your signed application form (or electronic confirmation), completed fingerprint cards, and the FBI processing fee of $18 USD.

The completed package must then be mailed to:

FBI CJIS Division

Things to Keep in Mind While Getting Fingerprinting in Portugal

• Use a current fingerprint card. Previously processed fingerprint cards are not accepted.
• Your full name, date of birth, and signature must appear on the fingerprint card.
• The card must include rolled impressions of all ten fingers, along with flat impressions of all ten fingers.
• If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a trained fingerprint technician. Local police stations may offer this service.
• Only use high-quality black ink; red or purple ink should be avoided for fingerprinting.
• Fingerprints must be clear and legible. Poor-quality prints may be rejected, resulting in delays and additional costs of reapplying.

With a service provider such as Globeia Portugal, the overall FBI background check process remains the same, but you receive guided assistance at every stage. Trained mobile fingerprinting associates can visit your location with official fingerprint cards, high-quality black fingerprint ink, and the necessary equipment to complete the fingerprinting process correctly.

Once your fingerprints are taken, your application package and completed fingerprint cards are securely couriered to Globeia Inc. in the United States. Their US office then handles the review, processing, and submission of your fingerprints directly to the FBI.

This option provides much more peace of mind because you do not have to worry about international mailing requirements, fingerprint quality standards, or submission procedures. The team handling the process is already familiar with FBI requirements and can help ensure everything is completed correctly the first time.

Globeia has supported applicants across Portugal and internationally with FBI background check coordination, building a process designed to reduce errors and simplify every stage for applicants. A lot of applicants here need the report for residency applications, visas, etc, and over the years, Globeia has built their entire process around making that as smooth as possible. 

Physical Presence in the USA

Applying for an FBI background check from Portugal, or basically from anywhere outside the USA, requires a lot of steps and careful attention to detail. The fingerprint quality, the apostille, the validity window, each of these may seem like a small detail, but any one of them can derail an application if not handled properly. Most people only go through this process once, which means there is little room to learn from a previous mistake.