Americans in Spain get their FBI criminal record check by submitting fingerprints to the FBI or an FBI-approved Channeler, then apostilling the result with the U.S. Department of State and translating it through a certified sworn translator. The US Embassy and Spain’s consulates do not fingerprint for this purpose. Lexidy manages this entire process directly, from every Spanish office.
Most North Americans start this process assuming their local US consulate can take their fingerprints, but it cannot. Neither can the US Embassy in Madrid. This single fact catches almost every applicant off guard, and it’s usually the moment a straightforward paperwork task turns into a logistical puzzle involving fingerprint vendors, mail timelines, and a government process that runs entirely outside Spain.
An FBI criminal record check isn’t a niche requirement. It’s one of the most consistently requested documents across Spanish immigration, needed for the Non-Lucrative Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa, the Golden Visa, work visas, and citizenship applications. If you’re relocating from the US, there’s a strong chance this document sits somewhere on your checklist.
We are our clients’ single point of contact for this entire process. Fingerprinting coordination, FBI submission, apostille, and sworn translation happen directly through our offices. Nothing gets outsourced to a third party. That distinction matters. Fingerprinting vendors handle one step. Apostille agencies handle another. Independent translators handle a third. Most guides online either sell one piece of this process or blur the steps together without citing the FBI or State Department directly. Lexidy runs all four as one coordinated service, from every office in Spain.
Ekaterina Sushkova, Relocation Specialist
This guide covers how to request your FBI Identity History Summary, where to get fingerprinted while living in Spain, how apostille and certified translation work, which visas require this document and how recent it needs to be, and why routing the whole process through Lexidy is simpler than managing four separate vendors on your own.
Table of Contents
- Why Handle This Through Lexidy Instead of Separate Vendors
- How to Request Your FBI Identity History Summary (Criminal Background Check)
- Where to Get Fingerprinted in Spain
- Apostille and Certified Translation
- Which Spanish Visas Require an FBI Background Check: and How Fresh Must It Be?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- A Single Point of Contact for the Entire Process
- That means, in practice, one law firm covers:
Why Handle This Through Lexidy Instead of Separate Vendors
Handling an FBI criminal record check for a Spanish visa typically involves four separate parties: a fingerprinting provider, the FBI or a Channeler, the US Department of State for the apostille, and a certified translator. Lexidy combines all four steps into one coordinated service, with a single point of contact and timeline.
Managing the process yourself means coordinating multiple providers across two countries. You’ll need to arrange FBI-compliant fingerprints, submit your request to the FBI or a Channeler, obtain an apostille from the US Department of State, and secure a certified Spanish translation. Each step has its own timeline, creating more opportunities for delays.
Lexidy manages fingerprinting coordination, FBI or Channeler submission, apostille processing, and certified translation as one seamless process. Because we’re already handling your visa or residency application, your background check is tracked alongside your case timeline, helping avoid unnecessary delays. Every step is delivered directly through Lexidy’s offices in Spain, with no third-party referrals.
If you’d rather see how this fits into your broader residency case, our Spain immigration services team can walk you through the full application alongside this document.
How to Request Your FBI Identity History Summary (Criminal Background Check)
US citizens can request their FBI criminal record certificate two ways: directly through the FBI, either electronically with digital fingerprints or by mail with an FD-258 fingerprint card, or through an FBI-approved Channeler, a private vendor authorized to submit fingerprints electronically for faster processing. The FBI’s own fee is $18 regardless of channel; Channelers add a service fee, typically $35 to $80 more.
The Identity History Summary is the official name for what most people call an FBI background check. It’s issued by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, based on fingerprint records rather than a name search. That’s why every path to requesting one starts with fingerprints, not paperwork.
Direct FBI Request
You can submit this request straight to the FBI in one of two ways.
The electronic route uses the FBI’s own Identity History Summary portal. Once you upload digital fingerprints, processing typically takes 3 to 5 business days after the FBI receives them. This is the fastest direct option available.
The mail-in route requires an FD-258 (or FD-1164) fingerprint card with rolled and flat impressions. FBI processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, although it can take 6 to 8 weeks in states like California and New York. If you’re applying from Canada, you’ll instead need an RCMP criminal record certificate, which generally takes 4 to 6 weeks to process.
Either way, the FBI’s fee is a flat $18, payable by card online or by check or money order through the mail. Limited fee waivers exist for applicants who qualify, available by contacting the FBI directly.
FBI-Approved Channeler
A Channeler is a private company the FBI has authorized to submit fingerprints electronically on an applicant’s behalf. Names like IdentoGo, Fieldprint, Accurate Biometrics, and Telos/Daon TrustX fall into this category. Turnaround through a Channeler is typically 24 hours to a few business days once fingerprints are submitted, making it considerably faster than mailing directly to the FBI.
Total cost through a Channeler usually runs $50 to $100, which includes the FBI’s own $18 fee plus the Channeler’s service charge. One catch: no FBI-approved Channeler currently operates a live-scan fingerprinting location inside Spain. You’ll still need local fingerprints taken and submitted to the Channeler from there, which is where most DIY applicants get stuck.
Lexidy submits this request directly on behalf of clients. That means no FBI account to create, no Channeler paperwork to manage, and no submission status to track alone.
| Method | Processing Time | Cost | Fingerprinting Required |
| FBI direct — electronic | 3–5 business days | $18 | Yes, digital |
| FBI direct — mail (FD-258) | 12–14 weeks + mail transit | $18 | Yes, ink card |
| FBI-approved Channeler | 24 hours–few business days | $50–$100 | Yes, submitted via Channeler |
Full details on request methods and fees are available on the FBI’s Identity History Summary Checks page.
Where to Get Fingerprinted in Spain
The US Embassy in Madrid and US consulates in Spain do not provide fingerprinting for FBI background check fingerprinting purposes. Practical options include requesting ink prints from a local police station, using a specialized fingerprinting service that handles the FBI fingerprints card and shipping, or getting fingerprinted during a US visit. Lexidy coordinates this step directly from its Spain offices.
This is where most DIY attempts stall. Applicants assume the embassy or their nearest consulate can take fingerprints, since that’s the standard expectation for most consular services. It’s not the case here. The US Embassy in Madrid and every US consulate in Spain explicitly do not fingerprint for private or FBI purposes. This single point of confusion sends more applicants down the wrong path than almost anything else in the process.
So where can you actually get printed while living in Spain? Three realistic options exist.
Local Spanish police stations
Some Policía Nacional stations will take ink fingerprints on an FD-258 card if asked. However, this depends entirely on the individual station, its staff, and local policy. There’s no standardized process across Spain, no guarantee of availability, and no consistent way to confirm in advance whether a given station will help. Applicants who plan around this option alone sometimes find themselves turned away.
Specialized fingerprinting services.
A handful of relocation-focused providers supply and manage the FD-258 card process for Americans in Spain, then coordinate submission with a Channeler. This removes the uncertainty of the police-station route, though it still means adding another vendor to your list.
Fingerprinting during a US visit.
If you have a trip to the United States already planned, visiting any FBI-approved Channeler location there is often the fastest and most reliable path. Live-scan fingerprinting takes minutes, and submission can happen the same day.
Lexidy arranges fingerprinting logistics for clients directly through its Spain offices. As the single point of contact managing this step alongside FBI submission, apostille, and translation, clients deal with one provider instead of four separate ones scattered across two countries.
| Step | What Happens | Typical Timeframe |
| 1. Fingerprinting | Ink card at a police station, specialized provider, or Channeler location in the US | 1 day |
| 2. FBI/Channeler submission | Fingerprints and request sent for processing | 3 days–14 weeks depending on method |
| 3. Apostille | Result authenticated by the US Department of State | ~5 weeks by mail |
| 4. Sworn translation | Certified Spanish translation of the apostilled document | Varies by translator |
| 5. Consulate submission | Document submitted within the freshness window | Within 90 days of issuance |
Apostille and Certified Translation
FBI criminal record certificates require a federal apostille from the US Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, not a state apostille. The fee is $20 per document, with processing taking around 5 weeks by mail or 7 business days for in-person drop-off. Once apostilled, the document must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator authorized by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The order is critical: FBI report → federal apostille → certified Spanish translation. Requesting a state apostille or translating the document before the apostille will typically result in delays or a rejected application.
For more on how apostille and translation requirements fit into your broader move, our Relocation Services team can help coordinate this alongside your other documentation. Full guidance on document preparation is available on the US Department of State’s Office of Authentications page.
Which Spanish Visas Require an FBI Background Check: and How Fresh Must It Be?
An FBI criminal record check for Spain applicants applies to the Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, Golden Visa, most work visas, and citizenship applications. Spanish consulates commonly expect the document, apostille included, to be no more than 90 days old at filing, though this varies by consulate, so always confirm current requirements with the specific office handling your application.
By this point, the process itself is clear. What’s less obvious to most applicants is timing it correctly against a specific visa deadline, since a technically valid document can still be rejected for being too old.
The FBI criminal record check is required across nearly every major route into Spanish residency:
- Non-Lucrative Visa; required for all adult applicants
- Digital Nomad Visa; required alongside proof of remote income
- Golden Visa; required not just from the US, but from every country the applicant has resided in over the last 5 years
- Most work visas; required as part of the standard document package
- Spanish citizenship applications; required as part of the background documentation
Most Spanish consulates expect the FBI report and apostille to be issued within 90 days of submission, although requirements vary by consulate. To avoid problems, confirm the current validity period with the office handling your application.
Because obtaining the FBI report, apostille, and certified translation can take several weeks, it’s best to start 2 to 4 months before your consulate appointment. Waiting too long increases the risk of delays or an expired document.
Lexidy builds this timeline directly into your visa case, helping ensure your background check remains valid and ready when you submit your application.
| Step | Handling It Yourself | Handled by Lexidy |
| Timeline planning | Tracked separately from visa deadline, risk of expiration | Built into the same case plan as the visa application |
| Fingerprinting | Applicant sources a station or provider independently | Coordinated directly through Lexidy’s Spain offices |
| FBI/Channeler submission | Applicant creates accounts, manages paperwork | Submitted directly by Lexidy on the client’s behalf |
| Apostille | Applicant mails to DC, tracks separately | Filed directly as part of the same service |
| Certified translation | Separate traductor jurado engagement | Coordinated in-house alongside apostille |
| Points of contact | Up to 4 separate vendors | 1 single point of contact |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an FBI background check take?
Anywhere from 3–5 business days for an electronic direct request to 12–14 weeks for a mail-in request. An FBI-approved Channeler can often return results in 24–48 hours once fingerprints are submitted.
Can I get fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Madrid?
No. The embassy and Spain’s US consulates do not offer fingerprinting for FBI background check purposes.
Does my FBI background check need an apostille for Spain?
Yes. It requires a federal apostille from the US Department of State, not a state-level apostille.
How do I check my FBI fingerprint status check?
The FBI provides status updates by email for electronic requests. Applicants can also contact the FBI directly with status questions.
How long is the FBI check valid for a Spanish visa?
Many consulates expect it to be no more than 90 days old at submission, though this varies. Confirm with the specific consulate handling your application.
Do I need a certified translation?
Yes. A traducción jurada from a certified sworn translator is required, completed only after the apostille is affixed.
Can Lexidy manage my entire FBI background check process for me?
Yes. Lexidy is a direct, single point of contact for the entire process: fingerprinting coordination, FBI or Channeler submission, apostille, and certified Spanish translation, from every Spain office.
A Single Point of Contact for the Entire Process
Lexidy handles the FBI criminal record check Spain process as one coordinated service delivered directly through every Spain office: fingerprinting coordination, FBI Identity History Summary submission, US Department of State apostille processing, certified sworn Spanish translation, and timeline planning against the consulate’s freshness window, all managed by a single point of contact rather than four separate vendors.
Most firms and providers only handle one link in this chain. A fingerprinting service takes prints. The FBI processes the request. The State Department apostilles it. An independent translator certifies it. Each vendor does their piece and hands the process back to the applicant, who’s left stitching four timelines together and hoping nothing slips between the handoffs.
Lexidy is structured differently. It’s the one firm handling all four steps directly, so clients never have to manage four separate relationships or chase four separate status updates.
That means, in practice, one law firm covers:
- Fingerprinting coordination for clients based anywhere in Spain
- FBI Identity History Summary request submission, direct or through a Channeler
- US Department of State apostille processing, filed the first time correctly
- Certified sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada), sequenced after the apostille
- Timeline planning, so the finished document stays inside the consulate’s freshness window rather than expiring before the appointment
One law firm. One point of contact. One coordinated timeline. Delivered directly through every Lexidy office in Spain, from the first fingerprint to the final certified translation. Fill out the form below and take the first steps towards completing your FBI Criminal Background Check in Spain!