FBI Identity History Summary — US Police Clearance for a Spain Residency Application (2026 Guide)
Spanish immigration authorities require a criminal record certificate from every country where you have lived for a significant period. For US citizens and residents, that document is the FBI Identity History Summary — the only federally issued US criminal record certificate accepted by Spanish consulates. This guide covers how to request it (channeler route vs. direct mail), how to obtain the federal apostille from the US Department of State, and how to get the sworn Spanish translation required before submission.
Government fees, processing times, and consular requirements change without notice. Always confirm current procedures with the FBI, the US Department of State Office of Authentications, and your specific Spanish consulate before submitting documents. Nothing here constitutes legal or immigration advice.
What the FBI Identity History Summary is
The FBI Identity History Summary (sometimes called an "FBI background check" or "FBI rap sheet") is a federal document issued by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. It compiles criminal record information held by the FBI under your fingerprints and covers records from across all US states.
Spanish consulates require this specific document rather than a state-level check because it provides nationwide coverage at the federal level. A state background check alone is not accepted.
Freshness and validity for Spain
- Most Spanish consulates require the certificate to have been issued within 90 days of your visa application date. Some consulates accept documents up to 6 months old. Confirm the exact requirement with your consulate before starting.
- The full chain — FBI check, federal apostille, and sworn translation — can take 8–14 weeks when done entirely by mail. Start early.
- Using an FBI-approved channeler and in-person apostille drop-off compresses this to approximately 4–6 weeks.
Step 1 — Choose your request method
There are two officially sanctioned ways to request an FBI Identity History Summary:
Option A: FBI-approved channeler (recommended for speed)
- A channeler is a private company authorized by the FBI to submit fingerprints electronically on your behalf.
- Processing time once the channeler receives your fingerprints: 24–72 hours in most cases, vs. 2–4 weeks for direct mail.
- FBI fee: $18 (same as direct) plus the channeler's service fee.
- Results are typically returned electronically or by mail depending on the channeler's process; request a paper original — you need it for the apostille.
- The official list of FBI-approved channelers is at fbi.gov.
Option B: Direct mail to FBI CJIS
- Submit FD-258 ink fingerprint cards (or FD-1164 printed on plain white paper — the FBI permits this) directly to FBI CJIS Division, Clarksburg, WV.
- FBI processing fee: $18 by check or money order payable to "FBI."
- Processing time: 2–4 weeks from receipt at the FBI.
- Best for applicants who can obtain ink fingerprint cards locally and are not under a tight deadline.
When setting up your request — whether via channeler or direct mail — specify that you need the result delivered as a physical paper document. The US Department of State requires the original with the FBI's physical signature and seal to issue an apostille. A PDF printout will not be accepted.
Step 2 — Get fingerprinted
- Channeler route: The channeler will specify exactly which fingerprint format they accept — usually LiveScan (digital scan) or an FD-258 ink card. Follow their instructions for finding an authorized fingerprint provider.
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Direct mail route: Obtain FD-258 fingerprint cards (or print FD-1164).
Have your fingerprints taken at:
- A local police department (call ahead — not all accept civilian requests)
- A UPS Store location (many offer ink fingerprinting) or a private fingerprinting agency
- If you are already in Spain: some private fingerprinting companies in major cities take ink-card prints for FBI purposes. US consular posts may also offer fingerprinting — check with the specific post.
- Take 2–3 sets of cards. The FBI may reject a set for quality reasons, and re-ordering cards and re-scheduling fingerprinting causes significant delays.
Step 3 — Submit to the FBI
Via channeler: The channeler submits electronically on your behalf. Follow their portal instructions and retain your tracking/confirmation number.
Via direct mail:
- Enclose your completed FD-258 fingerprint card(s) and your $18 payment (check or money order payable to "FBI").
- Mail to:
FBI CJIS Division — Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
United States of America - If mailing from outside the US, use a trackable international courier (DHL, UPS, or FedEx).
- Include a return address where you can receive the paper result; specify that you want the result mailed back to you as a paper document.
No expedited service: The FBI does not offer official rush processing for direct mail requests. If you need faster turnaround, use an approved channeler.
Step 4 — Federal apostille via the US Department of State
Because the FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, it must be apostilled by the US Department of State, Office of Authentications. A Secretary of State apostille (state-level) does not apply to federal documents and is not accepted by Spanish authorities for this certificate.
44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206
Official website: travel.state.gov
What to send by mail:
- A cover letter or completed form DS-4194 — enter "Spain" as the destination country
- The original FBI Identity History Summary (physical paper document with original FBI signature and seal — not a copy or printout)
- Payment of $20 per document by check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State"
- A prepaid return envelope: USPS Express Mail or UPS prepaid label. Note that FedEx return envelopes are not accepted by the Office of Authentications.
Processing times (verify current times at travel.state.gov before submitting):
- By mail: up to 5 weeks from the date the office receives your package
- In-person drop-off at the Sterling, VA location: approximately 7 business days. Check the website for current hours and whether walk-in drop-off is available.
- For urgent travel, appointments may be available — see the website for eligibility criteria.
If you are not near the Washington DC area, authorized courier services specializing in federal apostilles can submit and retrieve documents at the Office of Authentications on your behalf. The US Dept of State maintains a list of such service providers. Their service fee is additional to the $20 government fee.
Step 5 — Sworn Spanish translation
After receiving the apostilled original, you must have it translated into Spanish by a traductor jurado (sworn translator) — a translator officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A general or notarized translation is not sufficient.
- Sworn translators typically work remotely: you scan or email the apostilled document and they return a signed, stamped translation by courier or as a certified scan. Confirm with the consulate whether a physical stamp is required or whether a digital copy is accepted.
- The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a directory of certified traductores jurados (search for "traductores e intérpretes jurados" at maec.gob.es).
- Allow 2–5 business days for the translation once the translator has received the apostilled document.
- Cost: typically €50–€120 per document, depending on the translator and turnaround.
Realistic timeline
- Fingerprinting: 1–3 days
- FBI processing — channeler: 24–72 hours; direct mail: 2–4 weeks
- US Dept of State apostille — by mail: up to 5 weeks; in-person drop-off: ~7 business days
- Sworn Spanish translation: 2–5 business days
- Total by mail route: 8–14 weeks
- Total using channeler + in-person apostille: approximately 4–6 weeks
Remember to verify that the issue date of the FBI check falls within your consulate's validity window on the day you actually submit your visa application.
The FBI Identity History Summary covers your US federal criminal record only. If you have lived in other countries for significant periods, the Spanish consulate may require clearance certificates from those countries as well. Confirm the full document list with your consulate at the earliest opportunity.
For an overview of police clearance requirements for UK and Canadian applicants, see Police clearance by country. For apostille procedures by country (including the UK FCDO and Canada's Global Affairs Canada), see Apostille by country.
Need help navigating this process?
We manage your full document package — from police clearance to your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — residency card). Book a free call or send us a message.
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