How to Get an FBI Background Check for Use Abroad

What an FBI background check is

The document foreign authorities mean by “FBI background check” is the Identity History Summary, produced by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. It lists any federal arrest and disposition information tied to your fingerprints — or confirms that there is none. Because it’s fingerprint-based and nationwide, foreign governments trust it in a way they don’t trust a state or county check.

It’s also called an FBI clearance, criminal record check, or “rap sheet.” Same document.

The two ways to request it

Directly from the FBI

You submit your request and fingerprints to the FBI, electronically or by mail with a fingerprint card. The FBI’s fee is $18. Electronic submissions are generally much faster than mailed cards.

Through an FBI-approved channeler

Channelers are private companies authorized to submit fingerprints to the FBI and return results, usually faster than a direct mailed request. They charge their own fees on top. The FBI publishes the list of approved channelers.

Through us

We obtain your FBI report through an approved channel, typically in 1–2 business days, for $149 — or $399 as a bundle with the federal apostille, all fees included.

Getting fingerprinted

Every request needs a full set of fingerprints, captured one of two ways:

• Electronically (live scan), through a channeler or fingerprinting provider. Fastest, and less prone to quality rejections.
• On an FD-258 card, the FBI’s standard ink tenprint card. Common for applicants outside the U.S.

Rejected prints are the most common cause of delay — smudged or over-inked impressions, incomplete rolls, or worn ridge detail. Have them taken by someone experienced, and consider having a spare card taken at the same visit. More on this on our FD-258 fingerprint card page. In Palm Beach County, we capture prints at our West Palm Beach office.

Plan for the apostille before you submit

This is the step most people miss. The FBI authenticates results at the time they’re issued, by applying its watermark and the signature of a division official — and it won’t authenticate previously processed results afterwards. So the version you request at the start determines whether the report can be apostilled.

The Department of State has also changed over time which electronic and printed formats it accepts, and sources disagree on channeler-delivered PDFs. The safe approach: confirm the currently accepted format before you rely on a printout. If we obtain the report for you, we handle this so it’s apostille-ready.

Why a state background check won’t do

A state police, county sheriff or private screening check is a state-level document. It can only be apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State, and foreign authorities asking for an FBI or “federal” check will reject it. If the request mentions fingerprints or a nationwide record, it’s the FBI report you need.

How recent it needs to be

Many countries only accept an FBI report issued within the last three to six months, and some require the apostille within a set window after issuance. Work backward from your filing date: request the report late enough that it’s still valid on arrival, but early enough to leave time for the apostille, any embassy legalization, and translation.

If you’re already abroad

You can still get one. Have your fingerprints taken locally on an FD-258 card by a police station or authorized provider, and submit them by mail to the FBI or a channeler that accepts international cards. U.S. embassies and consulates generally don’t take fingerprints for this purpose, so plan for a local provider. Once the report is issued, we can authenticate it and ship it to you anywhere.

Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section · FBI — Identity History Summary Checks. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.