Most Americans applying for a Portugal visa need an FBI Identity History Summary. People call it an FBI background check, but the official name matters when you are ordering it, apostilling it, and uploading it for a consulate or VFS appointment.
The part that catches people is not usually the FBI check itself. It is the timing and the apostille. Most delays I see happen because people get the right FBI check but the wrong apostille, or because the document becomes too old before the appointment.
Quick answer
For many Portugal visa applications from the USA, the police clearance must be an FBI Identity History Summary, issued less than 90 days before visa submission, and apostilled with the Hague Apostille.
The apostille for an FBI document comes from the US Department of State Office of Authentications, not your state Secretary of State.
My practical advice: prepare early, but do not order the FBI document too early. Your goal is to have the FBI result and apostille ready inside the 90-day window used by your visa checklist.
The three ways to get the FBI Identity History Summary
1. FBI electronic request with USPS fingerprints
This is often the cleanest direct route. You submit the request electronically through the FBI, then use a participating US Post Office location for fingerprints, or mail fingerprint cards after the online request.
The FBI fee is $18. USPS fingerprinting may add a separate fee. This route keeps you closer to the official FBI process without relying on a private channeler.
2. FBI-approved channeler
An FBI-approved channeler is a private provider authorized to submit your fingerprints and request the Identity History Summary on your behalf. This is usually the fastest route, often returning results much faster than a paper-only request.
Only use a provider from the FBI-approved channeler list. Random “background check” websites are not the same thing.
If I were doing this for a Portugal visa and my appointment was approaching, I would probably use a channeler. The extra cost can be worth it because it reduces waiting and fingerprint rejection risk.
3. Paper/mail route
You can still mail fingerprint cards and forms to the FBI, but this is the slowest and riskiest option if you already have a visa appointment window.
I would only use the paper route if you have plenty of time and no better option. For most people, electronic request or channeler is safer.
The apostille has to be federal
This is the mistake I see people make again and again.
An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. That means the apostille must come from the US Department of State Office of Authentications.
Do not take the FBI document to your state Secretary of State for apostille. A state office apostilles state documents, not federal FBI documents. A state apostille on the FBI check is the wrong route for Portugal visa purposes.
To request the federal apostille, you normally submit:
- your FBI Identity History Summary;
- Form DS-4194;
- the Department of State fee;
- a prepaid return envelope.
At the time of writing, the State Department says mail requests are processed within about five weeks from receipt, while eligible walk-in requests in Washington, DC are processed in seven business days.
Timing is the hard part
The FBI document should normally be issued less than 90 days before submission of the Portugal visa application.
That does not mean “start 90 days before.” It means the issue date on the police clearance must still be fresh when you submit.
A safer plan is:
- Research your consulate or VFS checklist early.
- Decide whether you will use electronic FBI request, USPS fingerprints, or a channeler.
- Prepare your fingerprint plan, apostille form, payment method, and mailing labels early.
- Request the FBI check when your appointment or submission window is realistic.
- Send it for federal apostille immediately after receiving it.
Starting five or six months ahead is good for planning. Ordering the FBI document five or six months ahead is usually not good, because it may become too old before submission.
What about state criminal records?
For most US applicants, the document people are really talking about is the FBI Identity History Summary. Some applicants are also asked by a consulate, VFS reviewer, lawyer, or visa adviser for state-level records depending on residence history or local checklist interpretation.
So I would treat state records as a consulate-specific extra, not as a rule every US applicant should automatically follow.
If you do need a state criminal record, its apostille is different. A state-issued document is apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State. That is correct for state documents, but not for the FBI document.
Check your exact consulate or VFS checklist
Portugal visa applications from the US are usually routed through VFS and the relevant Portuguese consulate. Check the checklist for your visa type and your jurisdiction before relying on any general guide.
For the broader visa path, see the D7 visa guide, D8 digital nomad visa guide, and the complete guide to moving to Portugal from the US.
Mistakes that delay applications
Using the wrong apostille office. FBI document equals federal apostille from the US Department of State.
Ordering too early. The document may expire before submission if your appointment is delayed.
Starting too late. The FBI result plus apostille can still take weeks, especially if you use mail.
Using a commercial background check instead of the FBI IHS. A private employment-style background check is not the same as the FBI Identity History Summary.
Once your visa is approved and you move, the AIMA residence card guide explains what happens next, and the proof of address guide explains what AIMA usually accepts.
FAQ
What is the correct document name?
FBI Identity History Summary. “FBI background check” is the common search term, but the official name is Identity History Summary.
Do I need the FBI check for every Portugal visa?
Most long-stay and residence visa routes require a criminal record certificate. If you lived in the USA for more than one year, the checklist usually points to the FBI document.
Can I use a state police check instead?
Not as a substitute for the FBI check where the FBI document is required. State records may be extra in some cases, but they are not the federal Identity History Summary.
How long is it valid?
Many Portugal USA checklists require the police clearance to be issued less than 90 days before visa submission. Always check the current checklist for your visa type.
Do I need a Portuguese translation?
It depends on the consulate and checklist. Some accept the English FBI document with apostille; others may ask for translation. Confirm before submission.
Will AIMA ask for it again in Portugal?
Usually the FBI check is mainly for the visa stage. AIMA can still ask for updated or additional documents, so keep scanned copies and originals safely.