Americans in Costa Rica
FBI Background Check & Apostille in San José
How Americans living in San José get an FBI background check fingerprinted locally, issued by the FBI, and apostilled for use in Costa Rica — all by mail.
Quick answer
Get fingerprinted in San José 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 San José. Costa Rica accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 14 December 2011.
- Costa Rica 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 San José need it
Costa Rican residency categories such as pensionado and rentista require a criminal background check from your country of residence. 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 San José
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 San José. 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 San José generally doesn’t take fingerprints for FBI checks — confirm before relying on it.
Step by step from San José
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 San José
Returned by tracked international courier, with a certified translation if you ordered one.
What Costa Rica requires
Costa Rica accepts a U.S. apostille — the Apostille Convention has been in force there since 14 December 2011. 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 Costa Rica: FBI background check for Costa Rica · all documents for Costa Rica.
FBI check from San José — FAQ
Can I get fingerprinted at the U.S. Embassy in San José?
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 San José.
How long does an apostilled FBI check take from San José?
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 Costa Rica?
Certified Spanish translation required. We can arrange certified translation with your order.
Is the FBI check the same as a Costa Rica criminal record certificate?
No. The FBI check covers your U.S. record. If you've lived in Costa Rica for a while, authorities may also ask for a local certificate from Costa Rica'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.