If you are currently residing in the United States and need to present your FBI Background Check to a foreign authority, you probably already know that this document must not only be official but also have an apostille and a certified translation to be accepted outside the country. This requirement is common in immigration proceedings, visa applications, citizenship processes, international civil marriages, studies, employment contracts, or validation of background before consular entities.

Traditionally, obtaining this certificate involves several technical steps: registering on official FBI platforms, getting fingerprinted at an authorized office, waiting for the document to be processed, applying for its apostille in Washington, D.C., and finally arranging for a valid official translation. This whole process, although it can be done independently, is often complex and error-prone if the specific requirements of each country are not known.

In this article, we explain what the FBI federal criminal records are, what they are for, what the requirements are, estimated timeframes, and how you can obtain them quickly, safely, and from anywhere in the USA. All this information is supported by professional expertise, based on our solid experience in offering this specialized service in Colombia.

Key Features of the FBI Report

Do I need to Apostille and Translate my FBI Background Check Certificate?

Yes, it is essential to both apostille and translate your FBI Background Check Certificate if you require it for international use. Although the certificate in its original version is already an official document, it is not valid outside the United States without the Hague Apostille, which legitimizes its use before foreign authorities. 

The apostille for a federal document, such as the FBI Background Certificate, can only be issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. This authority authenticates federal documents for use abroad. Attempting to obtain another apostille for this federal document will render it invalid and cause significant delays in your paperwork.

Additionally, many governments require this document to be officially translated into the local language to be accepted as part of a process. This is especially important in processes such as:

  1. Visa applications in Colombia and other countries.
  2. Marriages with foreign citizens.
  3. Processes of dual nationality or reverse migration.
  4. International employment contracts or teaching permits.
  5. Studies in foreign institutions that require background checks.

Therefore, obtaining the FBI certificate with an apostille and an official translation is not optional, but an integral part of a successful legal process outside the United States.

If you are already in Colombia, you do not need to travel to the United States for fingerprinting. At expatgroup.co, we can perform fingerprinting in Medellín and Bogotá using an FBI-certified scanner, print the FD-258 form, and directly manage the background check request.

What are the Costs to Apply for an FBI Background Check From the United States?

What are the Main Authorized Fingerprinting Offices in the United States?

Authorized USPS offices for fingerprinting in the USA are strategically located in cities with the largest populations. If there is a UPS office in your city, you can access the services of the one closest to you by entering your ZIP code. Some of the cities that have these offices are: