FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens Living in the UK: Complete 2026 Guide for England, Scotland & Wales
The United Kingdom is home to one of the largest communities of American expats in the world — across London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, and beyond. If you are a US citizen living in the UK and need an FBI background check for a visa, professional registration, or citizenship by descent application, this guide covers exactly what you need to know.
The good news: MR Fingerprints has built a process you start online that lets you get your FBI background check from anywhere in the UK without traveling back to the United States. FBI results in 7-9 business days after the FBI receives your fingerprints. Here is how it works and what the UK specifically requires.
Why the MR Fingerprints Process Is Different
Most Americans in the UK assume getting an FBI background check means either flying back to the US or waiting weeks for a mail-in kit to arrive. Neither is true with MR Fingerprints.
Our process is built around a simple reality: police stations in the UK — like most countries — will take ink fingerprints on a standard fingerprint card as a courtesy for official background check purposes. You get fingerprinted locally, mail the card to us, and we handle the rest from Los Angeles. No transatlantic travel. No weeks-long kit delivery.
| ⚡ How the MR Fingerprints Process Works — Results in 7-9 Business Days Step 1 — Contact MR Fingerprints. Reach out via phone or email to receive detailed instructions specific to your country and situation. Step 2 — Visit your local police station. Most police stations worldwide will take ink fingerprints on a standard fingerprint card as a courtesy for official background check purposes. Bring your instructions from MR Fingerprints. Step 3 — Mail us your completed ink card. Once your prints are taken, send the original card to MR Fingerprints with a tracked service. Step 4 — MR Fingerprints submits to the DOJ in Sacramento. We process your submission electronically through the California DOJ system. Step 5 — Results delivered to MR Fingerprints in 7-9 business days. Standard turnaround is 7-9 business days from submission. Need it faster? ? Contact us first — we provide personalized instructions for your specific country and document requirements. |
| ⚡ Why This Is Faster Than Any Mail-In Alternative Traditional mail-in kit process: 6–8 weeks for FBI processing alone MR Fingerprints process: 7-9 business days after the FBI receives your fingerprints The difference: we submit electronically through the California DOJ system — not through a standard FBI mail queue This is the fastest FBI background check process available to US citizens living abroad Contact us to get started — we provide full instructions once you reach out |
Does the UK Require an FBI Background Check?
Yes — in certain circumstances. The requirement depends on the specific visa, registration, or application you are pursuing. Here is a reference guide for the most common situations:
| Visa / Purpose | FBI Background Check Required? |
| UK Skilled Worker Visa | Possible — employer or Home Office may request depending on role and sector |
| UK Family Visa (spouse/partner of British citizen) | Sometimes — if applicant has lived outside UK for 12+ months in a past country |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) / Settlement | Possible — character requirements; US criminal history may trigger request |
| UK Citizenship (Naturalisation) | Yes — good character requirement; FBI check may be requested for US-born applicants |
| Teaching in UK schools | Yes — US background check required for staff with previous overseas employment |
| NMC registration (nurses) | Yes — overseas police clearance required for internationally trained nurses |
| GMC registration (doctors) | Yes — US police clearance required for US-trained physicians |
| Italian citizenship by descent at Italian Consulate in UK | Yes — FBI check + federal apostille + certified Italian translation |
| Irish citizenship by descent at Irish Embassy in UK | Yes — FBI check + federal apostille required |
| Other EU citizenship by descent (Croatia, Poland, etc.) | Yes — FBI check + apostille + translation required by applying country |
Always confirm requirements directly with the UK Home Office, your professional registration body, or the relevant consulate before starting the process.
Does the FBI Background Check Need an Apostille for the UK?
The United Kingdom is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention — meaning foreign official documents submitted to UK authorities may need to be apostilled to be legally recognized. Whether apostille is required depends on who is requesting the document:
- UK Home Office and immigration authorities — apostille typically required for character assessment
- NMC (nursing registration) and GMC (medical registration) — apostille typically required
- UK employers in regulated sectors — confirm directly with your employer
- European consulates in the UK (Italian, Irish, etc.) — apostille always required by the applying country
If you are unsure whether apostille is required for your specific situation, contact MR Fingerprints when you reach out for instructions — we will advise based on your circumstances.
| ⚠️ Federal Apostille Only — State Apostille Will Be Rejected The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document issued by a federal agency. It must be apostilled by the US Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington DC. A California Secretary of State apostille, a Texas Secretary of State apostille, or any state apostille is INVALID for FBI documents. Every UK authority and European consulate that requires apostille will reject a state-apostilled FBI document. MR Fingerprints coordinates the correct federal apostille as part of our service. |
No translation is required for FBI documents submitted to UK authorities — English is the official language of UK government documentation.
Does Scotland Have Different Requirements?
No. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom and follows UK immigration law administered by the Home Office. There is no separate Scottish immigration system for US citizens. Whether you are in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or the Highlands, the FBI fingerprinting process and requirements are identical to those in England and Wales.
One Scotland-specific note worth mentioning: Disclosure Scotland is the Scottish body that issues criminal record certificates for employment in Scotland. However, Disclosure Scotland covers UK criminal records only — it cannot access your US criminal history. Your FBI background check is the document that covers your US record, and it is completely separate from any Disclosure Scotland check.
UK Expat Use Cases — When Americans in the UK Need FBI Fingerprinting
- Applying for ILR or British citizenship — character requirements may trigger an FBI check request
- Registering as a nurse with the NMC — overseas police clearance from the US is mandatory
- Registering as a doctor with the GMC — US criminal record required for US-trained physicians
- Teaching in UK schools — previous overseas employment requires criminal records from each country
- Applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) at the Italian Consulate in London or Edinburgh
- Applying for Irish citizenship by descent at the Irish Embassy in London
- Applying for Croatian, Polish, Slovak, Greek, or other EU citizenship by descent
- Employment in regulated UK sectors — financial services, healthcare, security
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my FBI background check done entirely from the UK?
Yes — completely. Contact MR Fingerprints first for instructions. You then visit your local UK police station to have your ink fingerprints taken on a standard fingerprint card. You mail the completed card to us. We submit it electronically to the California DOJ, and results come back in 7-9 business days. If you need apostille coordination or certified translations, we handle those too. You never need to travel to the US.
Will a UK police station take my fingerprints for a US background check?
In most cases, yes. UK police stations — including both Met Police stations in England and Police Scotland stations — will generally take ink fingerprints on a standard fingerprint card for official background check purposes as a courtesy service. Contact your local station in advance to confirm availability and bring your instructions from MR Fingerprints. Some stations may charge a small administrative fee.
Can I get my FBI fingerprints taken at a US Embassy or Consulate in the UK?
No. The US Embassy in London and US Consulate General in Edinburgh cannot fingerprint you for FBI background check purposes. US diplomatic posts do not provide this service. You must use the MR Fingerprints process — local police station fingerprinting combined with our electronic DOJ submission.
How long does the FBI background check take from the UK?
With the MR Fingerprints process, results are delivered in 7-9 business days from the date we receive your ink card.
Does the UK require a translation of the FBI background check?
No — for UK Home Office submissions, NMC registration, and GMC registration. English is the official language and no translation is needed. However, if you are using your FBI check at a European consulate in the UK — for Italian, Irish, Portuguese, Spanish, or other citizenship by descent applications — the applying country’s translation requirement applies. MR Fingerprints provides certified translations for all major European languages.
Ready to Get Started?
The first step is simply getting in touch. Contact MR Fingerprints and we will provide personalized instructions for your specific situation — country, visa type, and whether apostille or translation is needed.
- ✅ Start online — no travel to the US required
- ✅ Results in 7-9 business days
- ✅ Federal apostille coordination — US Department of State
- ✅ Certified translations for European consulate submissions
- ✅ Personalized instructions for your specific UK situation
? Contact us for instructions → 213.761.5883 | [email protected]
? Or book an in-person appointment if visiting Los Angeles → Book Now
