Do I need an FBI background check for a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa?

Yes. The Spanish Consulate requires a criminal background check issued by the FBI, apostilled, dated within 90 days of application.

Can I get fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Spain?

No. The US Embassy and Consulates in Spain do not provide FBI fingerprinting services. You must use an FBI-approved channeler like MR Fingerprints.

Do I need an FBI background check for a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa?

Yes. The Spanish Consulate requires a criminal background check issued by the FBI, apostilled, dated within 90 days of application.

Can I get fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Spain?

No. The US Embassy and Consulates in Spain do not provide FBI fingerprinting services. You must use an FBI-approved channeler like MR Fingerprints.

FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens
Living in Mexico

FBI Fingerprinting in Mexico for US Citizens

Mexico is home to more US citizens than any other country in the world — an estimated one million Americans live there full time, from Baja and Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende. Many arrive on tourist permits and later decide to stay, applying for Temporary or Permanent Residency through Mexico’s National Immigration Institute (INM).

If you’re applying for Permanent Residency — or in some cases Temporary Residency — the INM may require you to submit an FBI background check as part of your application. This page explains exactly when it’s required, what documents Mexico needs, and how MR Fingerprints handles the full process from wherever you are in Mexico.

Does Mexico Always Require an FBI Background Check?

Not always — and this is the detail most competitors get wrong. Mexico’s FBI background check requirement depends on the type of residency you are applying for and, in some cases, the specific INM office or Mexican consulate handling your application.

Visa / Residency Type

FBI Background Check Required?

Tourist / Visitor Permit (FMM)

No — not required for tourist stays

Temporary Residency — Financial Solvency

Often not required for initial application

Temporary Residency — Employment / Work Permit

Sometimes required — confirm with your employer or INM office

Temporary Residency — Family Ties (spouse/child of Mexican citizen)

Often required

Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente)

Yes — almost always required

Change of Immigration Status within Mexico

Yes — required in most cases

Naturalization / Mexican Citizenship

Yes — required

Regulated Employment (healthcare, education, finance)

Yes — many Mexican employers require it

International Adoption

Yes — required for all adoption processes

Always Confirm with Your INM Office or Consulate

Mexico's immigration requirements can vary between INM offices and Mexican consulates. The requirements listed above reflect general practice — your specific office may differ. If you are applying through a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, confirm directly with that consulate. If you are already in Mexico and changing your immigration status, confirm with your local INM office. When in doubt, having your FBI documentation ready never hurts — and avoids delays if it turns out to be required.

What Mexico Requires: Three Documents, Not One

When the FBI background check is required for a Mexican residency or immigration application, Mexico requires three documents — not just the FBI check itself.

Document 1 — FBI Identity History Summary

The FBI background check is a federally issued report of your complete US criminal history across all 50 states. It is fingerprint-based and issued by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division. If you have no criminal record, the FBI issues a 'no record' result — equally valid for Mexican immigration purposes.

Document 2 — US Department of State Federal Apostille

Mexico is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means all foreign official documents submitted to Mexican authorities must be authenticated with an apostille. Your FBI document must be apostilled by the US Department of State — not by any state government. FBI documents are federal, and require a federal apostille. A state Secretary of State apostille is invalid for FBI documents and will cause your application to be rejected.

Document 3 — Certified Spanish Translation

Mexico requires all foreign documents submitted to the INM or Mexican consulates to be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. The translation must be performed by an officially certified translator — not a bilingual friend, not Google Translate, not an uncertified agency. MR Fingerprints provides certified Spanish translation of your FBI Identity History Summary by accredited translators, delivered as part of your complete submission-ready package.

✅ Complete Service — One Provider

Step 1 — FBI-approved fingerprinting: Live Scan in-person (Los Angeles) or from Mexico

Step 2 — FBI Identity History Summary processing

Step 3 — US Department of State federal apostille coordination

Step 4 — Certified Spanish translation by accredited translators

Delivered to your address in Mexico — complete and submission-ready.

Our process is simple & quick!

1. Order your mail-in fingerprint kit from MR Fingerprints. We ship FD-258 standard fingerprint cards directly to your address in Spain. International delivery typically takes 7–14 business days via tracked shipping.

2. Complete your fingerprints. Use our detailed instructions to complete your ink fingerprint cards at home, or take them to a local notary, gestoría, or police station in Spain that provides ink fingerprinting. Legible, complete prints are critical — illegible cards are the #1 reason for FBI rejections.

3. Mail your completed fingerprint cards back to MR Fingerprints. We provide a pre-addressed return envelope. Use a trackable international courier (DHL, FedEx, or Correos International) for peace of mind.

4. We submit your prints to the FBI through our certified channeler process. Standard processing takes approximately 6–8 weeks. Expedited options are available. We will notify you once your results are received.

5. Obtain an apostille on your FBI background check. For Spanish visa and residency applications, your FBI background check must be apostilled through the US Department of State. We can guide you through this process or connect you with an apostille service.

6. Submit your apostilled background check with your visa or residency application. For some visa types, you will also need a certified Spanish translation (traducción jurada). Your immigration lawyer or gestoría in Spain can arrange this.

Pro tip: FBI background checks are only valid for 90 days for Spanish immigration purposes. Start the fingerprinting process as early as possible to avoid delays.

How to Get Your FBI Fingerprinting Done from Mexico

You do not need to travel back to the United States to get fingerprinted. MR Fingerprints can serve you anywhere in Mexico — Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Playa del Carmen, Oaxaca, or anywhere else.

Steps

Contact us. Delivery typically takes 5–10 business days.
Complete your prints in Mexico. Use our detailed instructions to complete your ink fingerprints at home. Alternatively, many local police stations (ministerio público) in Mexico will assist with fingerprint card completion.
We submit to the FBI. As an FBI-approved channeler, we submit your prints electronically. Standard processing takes 6–8 weeks. Expedited options are available.
We coordinate your apostille. Once we receive your FBI results, we handle the US Department of State federal apostille. Standard: 6–8 weeks. Expedited: 1–2 weeks.
We provide your certified Spanish translation. Delivered alongside your apostilled document — complete, accurate, and submission-ready.
Receive your complete package in Mexico. Your apostilled FBI document plus certified Spanish translation — delivered to your door, ready to submit to the INM or Mexican consulate.

Start at least 5 months before your planned INM application or consulate appointment. Standard processing is 14–20 weeks end to end. Expedited options are available — contact us if your timeline is tight.

Contact Us for Faster Expedited Service

Expedited service range from 1 – 7 Days

Use Cases — When US Citizens in Mexico Need FBI Fingerprinting

Applying for Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente) through the INM
Changing immigration status from Temporary to Permanent Residency
Applying for Temporary Residency based on family ties to a Mexican citizen
Applying for a Mexican work permit in a regulated field (healthcare, education, finance)
Naturalizing as a Mexican citizen
Processing an international adoption through Mexican authorities
Employment with a Mexican company requiring FBI clearance
Marriage in Mexico as a foreign national requiring criminal clearance
Renewing residency when INM requests fresh documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every US citizen applying for Mexican residency need an FBI check?

No — not every residency category requires it. The FBI check is most consistently required for Permanent Residency applications and status changes. Some Temporary Residency categories — particularly those based on financial solvency — may not require it. Requirements can also vary by INM office and Mexican consulate. Always confirm with the specific office handling your application before assuming it is or isn’t required.

Can I use a state background check instead of an FBI check for Mexico?

No. Mexico requires a federal FBI background check — not a state-level check. A California DOJ check, Texas DPS check, or any other state-level criminal record is not acceptable for Mexican immigration purposes. Only the FBI Identity History Summary, apostilled by the US Department of State, meets Mexico’s requirements.

Does my FBI background check need to be translated into Spanish for Mexico?

Yes. The INM and Mexican consulates require all foreign official documents to be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. The translation must be performed by a certified translator — not a generic translation service. MR Fingerprints includes certified Spanish translation as part of our complete service package.

How long does the full process take from Mexico?

At standard speed, plan for 14–20 weeks from ordering your kit to receiving your complete apostilled and translated package in Mexico. This accounts for kit delivery, return shipping, FBI processing (6–8 weeks), federal apostille (6–8 weeks), and translation. Expedited options are available for urgent timelines — contact us to discuss.

How long is the FBI background check valid for Mexico?

Mexico generally requires FBI background checks to be recent — typically issued within 6 months of your application submission, though some consulates accept documents up to 90 days old. Confirm the specific validity window with your INM office or Mexican consulate before starting the process. Always factor this into your timeline planning.

Do all family members applying together need separate FBI checks?

Yes. Each adult applicant must provide their own individual FBI Identity History Summary, apostille, and certified Spanish translation. If you and your spouse are both applying for residency, you each need a complete three-document package. MR Fingerprints offers multi-applicant kits — order one per adult when you place your order.

Is there an fast fbi background check process for Mexico?

Yes, Mr Fingerprints has a fast expedited FBI Background check process within 1 -7 days. Please contact us for details.

Cities We Serve in Mexico

MR Fingerprints serves US citizens anywhere in Mexico, including:

Mexico City
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Cancún
Playa del Carmen
Tulum
Puerto Vallarta
Los Cabos
Tijuana
Ensenada

Oaxaca
San Miguel de Allende
Guanajuato
Mérida
Querétaro
Puebla
Mazatlán
Lake Chapala
Ajijic
Huatulco
and all other cities and towns throughout Mexico.

Trusted for Live Scan Fingerprinting in Los Angeles

Our customers share their experience.

4.9

Based on 269 reviews

review us on

Winner N.

21:05 11 Feb 26

The service is very good, welcoming and efficient

Ivan H.

19:55 09 Jan 26

Professional, cordial, pleasant and efficient. If you need these services, great choice!

Avila R.

06:56 28 Dec 25

Their live fingerprint scanning services are truly impressive and inspire immediate confidence. The facility is modern, well-equipped, and designed to ensure that every fingerprinting requirement is handled with accuracy, efficiency, and care. From start to finish, the process feels seamless and professionally managed. In addition, their FBI background check services are extremely reliable and convenient, making them an excellent choice for individuals and organizations that require thorough and trustworthy verification. Overall, this company stands out for its high standards, advanced capabilities, and exceptional service in this specialized field.

A. Jay A.

14:44 04 Dec 25

Everything about our experience being fingerprinted for our visa application went as we might have hoped: quick, easy, and professional, Mauricio was informative and helpful and a pleasure to converse with.

martin V.

04:52 15 Nov 25

The gentleman that assisted me with my fingerprints was very professional and quick with getting me taken care of right away. Great people skills and was pleasant. I would recommend this location to others. Thank you for your service sir and for valuing my time, i appreciate that the most!

Dong L.

20:12 07 Oct 25

I came to Mr. Fingerprints for my FBI background check, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish! The business owner was extremely attentive and handled everything with great care and professionalism. The whole process was smooth, fast, and very well organized. I truly felt welcomed — the environment was warm and comfortable, almost like home. Highly recommend this place to anyone who needs fingerprinting or background check services!

Partner With a Trusted Live Scan Provider in Los Angeles

We work with law firms, schools, agencies, and healthcare providers to deliver fast, accurate fingerprinting for their clients and staff.

Ready to Get Started?

MR Fingerprints offers fingerprinting services to US citizens throughout Mexico and handles the entire process — fingerprinting, FBI submission, federal apostille, and certified Spanish translation — under one roof.

✅ We serve you anywhere in Mexico
✅ FBI-approved channeler — direct electronic submission to the FBI
✅ Federal apostille coordination — US Department of State
✅ Certified Spanish translation by accredited translators
✅ In-person Live Scan available in downtown Los Angeles
✅ Bilingual staff — Spanish-speaking team members available

FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens Living in Mexico