Things to Know About Getting Your FBI Background Check from Paraguay

When you're looking to obtain an FBI background check while living in Paraguay, it's common to encounter various requirements, procedures, and questions along the way. It is natural to feel confused at first and search for answers from multiple sources. Not anymore, we’ve got you covered. From understanding the purpose of the FBI background check to meeting the fingerprinting requirements from Paraguay, this blog simplifies everything for you, at one place. With the help of the right procedure, you can ensure your application is completed accurately and efficiently from start to finish!

An FBI Identity History Summary is required by Paraguayan or international authorities for US citizens and former US residents applying for immigration, employment, residency, or other official purposes, whether they are relocating to Paraguay or pursuing opportunities abroad from Paraguay.

The specific individuals under that category who need this background check in Paraguay include:

• People moving for long-term stays, employment, retirement, or digital nomading.
• Professionals moving under a formal corporate work contract or to establish local commercial branches.
• Any individual over the age of 14 enrolling in long-term university undergraduate or postgraduate programs.  
• Investors bypass the temporary residency phase to get immediate permanent residency via the investment routes.
• Spouses, dependent children, or dependent parents of existing Paraguayan residents or citizens who are applying for residency based on family ties.
• Permanent residents who have maintained their legal status for at least 3 years and are applying to the Supreme Court for full Paraguayan naturalization.

Check Out FBI Background Check FAQ 2026

The FBI does not conduct name-based background checks for the public. It conducts only biometric-based checks. And this is why submission of physical fingerprints is mandatory for an FBI Criminal Record Check:

Eliminating False Positives

Relying solely on a name and date of birth creates room for error. Thousands of people share identical names and birthdays. If a name-based search is run on a common name, an innocent person could accidentally be linked to someone else’s serious criminal record.

Preventing Identity Fraud

Criminals are known to use fake names, stolen social security numbers, or fraudulent dates of birth when arrested. If an individual has a criminal past under an alias, a name check will come back completely clean. But a person cannot alter their fingerprints or ridge patterns.

Verification for Foreign Governments

When an international body, like Paraguay’s Dirección General de Migraciones, requests an FBI background check, they are demanding definitive proof of character. A name check only proves that "a person with this name has no record." A fingerprint check provides a legally binding certification that "you, the physical person holding this passport, have no record."

If you're in Paraguay and need to apply for an FBI background check, there are three main methods available: by mail, through the eDO portal, or via third-party service providers.

Apply for Your FBI Check by Mail

If you are applying for a United States background check from Paraguay, fill out the official application form issued by the FBI. Complete all the details on the form without any errors. Next, you will need to complete the fingerprints, for which you must use the official fingerprint forms (FD-258 or FD-1164). Take the fingerprints as per FBI guidelines and attach the photocopies of your documents. The next step is completing the payment. You can use a credit card, money order, or other payment methods. If you want to complete the US background check for all your family members, you will need to submit a personal request for each individual. Now, place these documents in an envelope and mail them to this address.

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306

Apply by eDO Online Portal

With the online method, start your FBI background check application by visiting the official FBI eDO portal. Enter your email address and then provide all the required details. Make the payment using a credit card or any other accepted payment method.

After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming your submission and providing details about the fingerprinting process. Now, complete the fingerprinting process as per the FBI guidelines using the official fingerprint card and courier it physically to the address included in the email.

Note: The FBI eDO portal allows applicants to submit their application online; however, applicants in Paraguay must still complete fingerprinting on an official FD-258/FD-1164 card and mail the FBI or an authorized processing provider in the United States for processing . Fingerprints cannot be uploaded or submitted electronically through the eDO system.

Apply via Third-Party Services

If you want an easy and convenient way to complete a United States background check from Paraguay, consider using third-party agencies like Globeia. To apply, visit the official website, create an account, complete the application form, and upload the required documents.

For fingerprint collection, you can either:

• Use Globeia's mobile fingerprinting service in Paraguay, where a trained associate visits your location to capture your fingerprints. After review, the original fingerprint cards are securely couriered to Globeia Inc. in the USA for processing and FBI submission on your behalf; or
• Have your fingerprints taken locally in Paraguay and mail the completed fingerprint cards directly to Globeia's US processing office for FBI submission.

If you are inside Paraguay and you need fingerprinting for an FBI background check, there are usually three main options: the Interpol Office in Asunción, the main division of Paraguayan National Police  that handles local ID cards (Cédulas), and authorized third-party providers like Globeia Paraguay.

Below are some important things you should know before making any decision:

Also Read How to Prepare for Your Mobile Fingerprinting Appointment?

An FBI background check is mostly obtained for use in another country, including Paraguay. But the FBI report itself is usually not enough. Before it can be considered legally valid and accepted by foreign authorities, it often needs to undergo additional authentication and translation procedures.

Apostille and Legalization of FBI Background Checks

If the receiving country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which currently includes more than 125 countries, your FBI background check will generally need to be apostilled. For example, both the United States and Paraguay are Hague Convention members. Therefore, for an FBI background check to be accepted by Paraguayan immigration authorities, it must first receive a federal apostille from the US Department of State (USDOS) Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.

On the other hand, if the receiving country is not a Hague Convention member, an apostille alone is not sufficient. The document will require additional embassy or consular legalization before it can be accepted. This is a multi-step process, including notarization, regional certification, authentication, and then embassy/consular legalization.

Translation of FBI Background Checks

Once your FBI background check has been issued with a federal apostille from Washington, DC, it becomes legally valid for use in many foreign countries. But this legal validity does not automatically mean that every country will accept documents in English. Many countries, including Paraguay, require both the FBI background check and the attached apostille certificate to be translated into the country's official language before submission.

The complete timeline of obtaining an FBI background check from Paraguay, including additional document services, has been mapped below for your reference:

Can I Expedite the FBI Background Check Process in Paraguay?

You cannot expedite the time it takes the FBI to verify your fingerprints and issue the criminal record check results. The processing time depends entirely on the FBI and may vary based on verification requirements, application volumes, processing backlogs, public holidays, and other factors.

But you can expedite the apostille portion of the process by using Globeia's FBI Apostille Service in Paraguay. Through coordination with its US office located just steps away from the USDOS Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, Globeia can help reduce apostille processing times to as little as 10 to 11 days. Just keep in mind that this timeline is excluding additional international shipping or mailing time.

The validity window of an FBI background check depends entirely on the policies of the receiving country's authorities or institutions. For example, an FBI background check submitted for Paraguayan residency purposes is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance. Your application must be submitted to the General Directorate of Migration (Dirección General de Migraciones) before this 6-month validity period expires.

In most countries, the accepted validity period for an FBI background check ranges from 3 to 6 months. Always check the specific requirements of the country where the document will be submitted, and factor in the additional time required for apostille, legalization, and translation procedures.

Based on our experience helping applicants in Paraguay, the most common reasons for rejection include:

• Incorrect or incomplete information on the application form.
• Smudged, unclear, or incomplete fingerprint impressions.
• Using wrong fingerprint cards.
• Rolling fingerprints using ink colors other than black, like red, green, or purple.
• Missing apostille authentication when the document is intended for use in Paraguay.
• Name mismatches between the application form and fingerprint card.
• Missing personal details on the fingerprint card.
• Failure to apply early enough, resulting in missed immigration, employment, or study deadlines.

We hope that you are now much more acquainted with the FBI background check process from Paraguay, and know all the required details. The hard parts aren't usually the FBI's fee or the form itself, they're the logistics of getting a clean set of fingerprints, mailing everything to the US and waiting, and then getting the result apostilled or translated so it's actually valid international use.

Don’t worry, Globeia can be a reliable choice to help you complete the process. Start your application for an FBI background check from Paraguay today!