Americans in Portugal
FBI Background Check & Apostille in Porto
How Americans living in Porto get an FBI background check fingerprinted locally, issued by the FBI, and apostilled for use in Portugal — all by mail.
Quick answer
Get fingerprinted in Porto 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 Porto. Portugal accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 4 February 1969.
- Portugal route
- Apostille
- Translation
- Certified Portuguese translation usually required.
- Price
- $399 + $99 worldwide return
- Turnaround
- 12–14 business days once we receive your prints
Why Americans in Porto need it
Portugal’s D7 and digital nomad visas commonly require a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality. 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 Porto
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 Porto. 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 Lisbon generally doesn’t take fingerprints for FBI checks — confirm before relying on it.
Step by step from Porto
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 Porto
Returned by tracked international courier, with a certified translation if you ordered one.
What Portugal requires
Portugal accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 4 February 1969. Certified Portuguese translation usually 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 Portugal: FBI background check for Portugal · all documents for Portugal.
FBI check from Porto — FAQ
Can I get fingerprinted at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon?
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 Porto.
How long does an apostilled FBI check take from Porto?
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 Portugal?
Certified Portuguese translation usually required. We can arrange certified translation with your order.
Is the FBI check the same as a Portugal criminal record certificate?
No. The FBI check covers your U.S. record. If you've lived in Portugal for a while, authorities may also ask for a local certificate from Portugal'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.