How to Register for your FBI Background Check
If you're sending inked fingerprints from Spain,
requesting your FBI background check online is a
required step. Unfortunately, the FBI website can be
difficult to navigate if you're not sure where to start.
To make things easier, we've created this guide to help
ensure your request goes as smoothly as possible.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
→ Step 1: Initiate Your Request
-
Enter Your Email: Input your
email address and click submit to start the
application.
-
Access the Link: You will
receive an email with the subject line "Identity
History Summary Request." Inside, you'll find a
link and a PIN. Click the link, select
"Continue," and enter your PIN
on the right-hand side of the page.
→
Step 2: Enter Your Personal Information
This section asks for the personal details that the
FBI will use to verify your identity. Carefully fill
in your full name and other identifying details,
making sure everything matches your official
documents exactly — any discrepancies can cause
verification issues or delays.
→
Step 3: Provide Your Mailing Address
The FBI requires a physical mailing address for
their records.
However, you do not need to request a physical
copy of the background check to be mailed to
you. A digital copy is sufficient.
If you are currently residing in Spain, simply use
your Spanish address here.
→ Step 4: Set Your Preferences
This section determines what information appears on
your final background check and how you are notified
of its progress.
-
Social Security Number: You can
select "Yes" or "No" to include
your SSN. Spain will accept the background check
regardless of your choice.
-
Date of Birth: While Spain may
accept a check without it, we strongly recommend
selecting "Yes" to include your birthday.
It is always safer to have more identifying
information.
-
Status Notifications: Under the
dropdown menu, select
"Yes, via email." This ensures you
receive an alert the moment your PDF is ready
for download.
→
Step 5: Fingerprint Card & Payment
Once your preferences are set, you will move to the
final administrative steps of the online portal.
-
Fingerprint Card Review: Check
the Fingerprint Card section to ensure
everything is in order and click "Next."
-
Payment: Click "Proceed to
payment" and follow the instructions to pay the
$18.00 fee to the FBI via
credit or debit card.
-
Confirmation: Once payment is
complete, you will receive a confirmation email.
Make sure you received the email. You
will need to submit the confirmation email along
with your physical fingerprints.
→
Step 6: Submitting Your Physical
Fingerprints
After completing the online request, you must still
provide physical ink fingerprints to the FBI to
complete the process.
-
Using Our Service: If you are
using Blueprint Spain to handle your
fingerprints, simply email your confirmation
email to
info@blueprint-spain.com
or send it to us via
WhatsApp.
-
Mailing Them Yourself: If you
are handling the mailing yourself, print your
confirmation email and place it in an envelope
along with your inked fingerprint document (Form
FD-1164). Mail your documents to:
FBI Mailing Address
FBI CJIS Division
ATTN: ELECTRONIC SUMMARY REQUEST
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
TIP: If you are mailing the
documents yourself, we highly recommend you
use UPS, DHL, or FedEx for expedited
shipping. It's more expensive, but much
quicker and less likely to get delayed.
We've had clients who sent their documents
with Correos and they didn't arrive for
months.
FINAL RESULTS
Processing typically takes
2 weeks from the date the FBI
receives your physical fingerprints. However, recently, background checks are processing faster (~ 1 week). You will receive an
email notification when your check is ready. At that
point, log back into the FBI website using your PIN to
download the official PDF.
IMPORTANT! Remember, Spain will not
accept the FBI background check on its own. You must
have the background check apostilled and officially
translated.
For information on how to get your FBI background check
apostilled, please visit our
apostille page.
If you have any other questions, please take a look at
the
FBI Background Check and Apostille FAQ page
or send us a message below!