FBI Background Check in Portugal: A Complete Guide for U.S. Expats

Published: March 20, 2026

If you’re an American living in Portugal under a residency visa, you may be asked to provide an FBI background check on a few occasions.

This requirement typically comes from Portuguese immigration authorities such as the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) or the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN).

For many expats, it shows up more than once: during initial visa applications, residency renewals, permanent residency applications or the citizenship application process.

It’s also one of the more confusing parts of the process.

You might be wondering:

• Can I do this from Portugal?

• Do I need to go back to the U.S.?

• Where do I even start?

The good news is you can complete the entire process from Portugal.

This guide will walk you through how it works and how to get it right the first time.

What an FBI Background Check Is
(and When You Need One)

An FBI background check, officially an Identity History Summary Report and also known as a Rap Sheet, is a federal report of your criminal record in the United States.

It is issued directly by the FBI and reflects information submitted by law enforcement agencies across the United States.

For U.S. expats living in Portugal, it’s most commonly required for:

• Visa applications

• Residency Renewals

• Citizenship processes

It’s important to note that this is not the same as a local police certificate.

Portuguese authorities require a federal-level background check from the United States which can only be issued by the FBI.

However, this document will not be accepted on its own. It must be accompanied by an apostille in order to be accepted. And since the FBI background check is a federal document, the apostille must also be issued at the federal level in the United States by the U.S. Department of State (more on this below).

Can You Get an FBI Background Check from Portugal?

Yes, you can complete an FBI background check from Portugal. There’s no need to return to the United States, even though many people assume that you do.

The part that tends to cause confusion is fingerprinting.

The FBI requires a full set of fingerprints taken on official forms and that meet strict quality standards, and this is where many expats run into delays or rejections.

There are a few different ways to handle this from Portugal, depending on your risk tolerance, timeline and how certain you want to be that everything is completed correctly the first time.

Next, let’s break down how the whole process works.

How the FBI Background Check Process Works from Portugal (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Getting Your Fingerprints Taken

Getting your fingerprints taken is the first step in the process, and it is also the most important.

The FBI will only process your application if your fingerprints meet their quality standards. If they don’t, your application will be rejected and you will need to start again.

For U.S. expats in Portugal, this is where most delays and issues occur.

Which Fingerprint Form Do You Need?

Fingerprint submissions for an FBI background check must be captured on an official fingerprint card.

The most common forms are the FBI's FD-258 and FD-1164.

How Fingerprints Are Captured

There are two primary ways to capture fingerprints for an FBI background check.

Option 1: Ink Fingerprints (Traditional Method)

This involves rolling your fingerprints in specialized ink onto an FD-258 card.

Common ways to do this in Portugal include:

• Booking an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon

• Scheduling a visit with a local Portuguese police station

• Attempting to roll your own fingerprints at home
  

These approaches can work, but they come with tradeoffs. There are no real-time quality checks, which means issues with clarity, pressure, or technique are often only discovered after submission.

As a result, rejection rates are higher and delays are common.

In addition, access can be inconsistent. Embassy appointments may be limited, and local police stations can involve longer lead times for appointments and additional requirements such as a formal request letter explaining the need and purpose for capturing your fingerprints.

Option 2: Digital Fingerprint Capture (Live Scan)

Digital fingerprint capture uses live scan technology to record fingerprints electronically before printing them onto an FD-258 card.

This method allows fingerprints to be reviewed in real time and adjusted during the appointment.

At Identity Abroad, we use FBI-certified live scan hardware and software to capture fingerprints digitally and perform immediate quality checks. If a fingerprint is too light, too dark, or unclear, it can be retaken on the spot.

This process allows for a much higher level of control over quality and significantly reduces the risk of rejection.

In practice, this is often the difference between completing the process once and having to repeat it.

Step 2: Submitting Your FBI Application

Once your fingerprints are captured, the next step is submitting your application.

There are two primary ways to do this:

• Submitting directly to the FBI

• Submitting through an FBI-approved channeler
  
  

Submitting Directly to the FBI

You can submit your application through the FBI’s official system.

Depending on the path you take, this may involve:

• Completing an online application and payment

• Or submitting a paper request form along with payment details

• Mailing your fingerprint card to the FBI in the United States
  
  

This is generally the lowest-cost option, but the process is not always straightforward.

Applicants often encounter multiple submission paths, and it can be unclear which method is most appropriate. Some approaches are more streamlined and digital, while others require printing and mailing additional forms.

There are also a few practical tradeoffs to consider.

Processing times can fluctuate throughout the year, and international shipping can introduce additional delays.

At the time of writing, FBI processing timelines are estimated at around 15 days. In addition, shipping fingerprint cards from Portugal to the FBI’s processing center in West Virginia can take approximately 10 calendar days due to international handling and security screening.

Using an FBI-Approved Channeler

FBI-approved channelers are private companies authorized to process background check requests on behalf of the FBI.This approach simplifies the submission process and significantly reduces overall turnaround times.

At Identity Abroad, we're affiliated with an FBI-approved channeler and utilize this method for all of our Expedited FBI Background Check submissions.

Once we submit applications to our channeler, our customers typically receive their FBI background checks electronically as a PDF within 24 hours of the channeler receiving the application. This is especially valuable for applicants working with tight or time-sensitive immigration timelines.

Channelers also provide greater visibility into the process and a greater ability to address potential issues that may arise. This can include minor clerical errors, incorrect email addresses, typos, or missing information.

In many cases, these issues can be identified and corrected quickly, rather than after extended processing times.

Step 3: Getting Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Once your FBI background check is issued, you will need to obtain an apostille. An apostille is a form of authentication that allows a U.S. document to be legally recognized in another country, including Portugal.

Without an apostille, your FBI background check will generally not be accepted by Portuguese authorities.

Why the Apostille Must Be Federal

Because the FBI background check is a federal document, the apostille must also be issued at the federal level. In the United States, this is handled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

State-level apostilles are not valid for FBI background checks.

How Identity Abroad Simplifies This Step

At Identity Abroad, we coordinate this process for our customers through trusted partners who specialize in document legalization. You can learn more on our apostille services page.

We work with providers such as Global Docs and Monument Visa to handle apostille processing efficiently and securely.

Through these partnerships, our customers have access to expedited processing options, including a 10-day rush service at preferred rates.

Once the apostille is completed, documents can be shipped directly back to you in Portugal or to your legal representative, typically within a few business days.

The Most Common Challenges (and Where Things Go Wrong)

These are the areas where we’ve seen applicants commonly run into issues.

Understanding them ahead of time can help you avoid delays and unnecessary rework.

1. Fingerprint Quality

Fingerprinting is the single most common point of failure.

In our experience, we’ve learned that roughly 30–40% of applicants have previously struggled with fingerprint quality or experienced a rejection when using ink-based methods.

This is often due to inconsistencies in technique, pressure, or clarity.

That said, it can also be more challenging for certain individuals. For example, fingerprint ridge definition can naturally change over time, which may make it harder for older applicants to capture prints that meet FBI requirements. Similarly, individuals who work extensively with their hands, such as in construction, carpentry, landscaping, or similar trades or those who have hobbies such as pottery or rock climbing, may also experience reduced fingerprint clarity.

For many expats in Portugal, this is a key factor to be aware of.

2. Missing the Apostille Requirement

Another common issue is obtaining the FBI background check but overlooking the need for an apostille.

Don’t forget the apostille. Without it, the document will not be accepted by Portuguese authorities and you’ll likely have to start the process again.

3. Managing the Timeline

How to Think About Timing

In Portugal, FBI background checks are valid for 90 days from that date that they are issued.

This creates a balancing act.

You need to start the process early enough to ensure that your documents are ready in time, but not so early that they risk expiring if your submission date changes.

This can be tricky. Anyone who has lived in Portugal for any meaningful period of time knows that timelines can shift, and that what is expected on paper does not always reflect how things play out in practice.

Appointments with AIMA can be rescheduled, and other parts of your application may take longer than expected. For example, delays in obtaining supporting documents such as a birth certificate, or completing requirements like a language certification, can push your timeline out.

For that reason, it is important to plan not just for your target submission date, but with enough buffer to account for changes, while still keeping your documents within the acceptable validity window.

Timeline Comparison (DIY vs Streamlined)

The timeline below illustrates how different approaches fit within the 90-day validity window, and how much buffer each approach provides.

With a typical DIY timeline, applicants may realistically have only one application attempt within the 90-day window.

With a more streamlined approach, it may be possible to complete the process multiple times if needed, providing additional buffer in case of delays, rework or rejection.

Considering the DIY Approach

It is possible to complete an FBI background check from Portugal on your own and many applicants choose this route, particularly if their timeline is flexible and they are comfortable managing each step independently.

However, it does require careful planning.

You will need to coordinate fingerprinting, submission, apostille processing, and international shipping across multiple providers and timelines.

Each step introduces potential points of delay, and if something goes wrong, such as a fingerprint rejection or a missed requirement, you may need to repeat part of the process.

This is where timing becomes especially important.

Because documents are expected to be issued within 90 days of submission in Portugal, delays or rework can reduce your margin for error.

For that reason, applicants taking a DIY approach should plan ahead, allow for additional time, and be prepared for some variability in the process.

Why Many Expats Choose Identity Abroad

As expats ourselves, we’ve gone through this process firsthand and understand how frustrating and opaque it can feel.

We built Identity Abroad to offer the kind of experience we wished we had at the time. One that is clear, responsive, and designed around getting things done correctly the first time.

For many of our clients, that means a level of service and reliability that feels similar to what they would expect back in the US, but delivered here in Portugal.

Fingerprint Quality, Guaranteed

We use FBI-certified live scan equipment to capture fingerprints digitally and perform real-time quality checks during your appointment.

If a fingerprint capture does not meet quality standards, we retake it immediately. Additionally, we have the training, techniques, specialized ridge enhancement products and software to enable us to make adjustments during your appointment to improve your fingerprint quality and optimize the chances of a successful first time submission.

We also stand behind the results.

If your application is rejected due to fingerprint quality, we will recapture and resubmit your prints at no additional cost.

Faster Turnaround, More Flexibility

We submit applications through an FBI-approved channeler, which allows most of our customers to receive their FBI background check within 24 hours of submission and on average, within 4-5 business days of their fingerprint capture appointment.

Combined with expedited apostille processing, this significantly reduces overall timelines and creates more flexibility within the 90-day document validity window here in Portugal.

A Clear, Coordinated Process

We manage each step, including coordination with trusted partners for apostille processing.

By working with us, our customers typically receive the physical copy of their FBI background check with apostille ready for submission within 18 business days of their appointment.

For most clients, the value is not just completing the process, it’s about moving forward with confidence, knowing that a critical part of their immigration journey has been handled correctly, with the level of care and reliability they would expect back in the US.