Americans in Panama
FBI Background Check & Apostille in Panama City
How Americans living in Panama City get an FBI background check fingerprinted locally, issued by the FBI, and apostilled for use in Panama — all by mail.
Quick answer
Get fingerprinted in Panama City on FBI FD-258 cards at a local police station or fingerprinting service, then mail the cards to us. We obtain your FBI Identity History Summary, apostille it in Washington, D.C., and ship it back to Panama City. Panama accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 4 August 1991.
- Panama route
- Apostille
- Translation
- Certified Spanish translation required.
- Price
- $399 + $99 worldwide return
- Turnaround
- 12–14 business days once we receive your prints
Why Americans in Panama City need it
Panama’s residency programs, including the Friendly Nations visa, require an apostilled FBI background check. Because only the FBI holds your nationwide U.S. record, it can’t be replaced by anything you get locally — and because it’s a federal document, only the U.S. Department of State can authenticate it.
Fingerprinting: the only step that happens in Panama City
Everything after your fingerprints is paperwork between Washington offices, handled by mail. The prints themselves have to be taken where you are:
- Where: a local police station or a private fingerprinting service in Panama City. Call ahead — not every station offers it, and some want an appointment.
- What to bring: blank FBI FD-258 fingerprint cards and your passport. Ask for rolled prints in black ink.
- Take two sets. If the FBI rejects one card for quality, the spare saves you another appointment and weeks of delay.
- The U.S. Embassy in Panama City generally doesn’t take fingerprints for FBI checks — confirm before relying on it.
Step by step from Panama City
Get fingerprinted
Two full sets on FD-258 cards, with your identifying details filled in exactly as on your passport.
Order online and mail the cards
Send them to our processing office by tracked international courier. Don’t fold or bend them.
We obtain your FBI report
We submit your prints through an FBI-approved channel — typically 1–2 business days after we receive them.
Apostille in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver the report to the U.S. Department of State for the apostille.
Shipped to Panama City
Returned by tracked international courier, with a certified translation if you ordered one.
What Panama requires
Panama accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 4 August 1991. Certified Spanish translation required. Receiving offices often want the report issued within the last three to six months, so time your fingerprinting close to your filing date.
More detail on the route for Panama: FBI background check for Panama · all documents for Panama.
FBI check from Panama City — FAQ
Can I get fingerprinted at the U.S. Embassy in Panama City?
U.S. embassies and consulates generally don't take fingerprints for FBI background checks. Confirm with the embassy, but plan on a local police station or fingerprinting service in Panama City.
How long does an apostilled FBI check take from Panama City?
Allow several days for your prints to reach us by courier, then about 12–14 business days once we receive your prints, plus international return shipping.
How much does it cost?
FBI check + apostille bundle, plus $99 worldwide return shipping. Government fees are included.
Do I need a translation in Panama?
Certified Spanish translation required. We can arrange certified translation with your order.
Is the FBI check the same as a Panama criminal record certificate?
No. The FBI check covers your U.S. record. If you've lived in Panama for a while, authorities may also ask for a local certificate from Panama's own authorities.
What if my fingerprints are rejected?
The FBI rejects prints it can't classify. Taking two full sets at the same appointment saves weeks if one is rejected.
Related: How to get an FBI background check · FD-258 fingerprint cards · FBI background check apostille
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.