FBI Background Check for Colombia Visa: Apostille & Translation Done 100% Online

Getting your FBI background check apostilled and translated into Spanish is one of the most confusing parts of applying for a Colombian visa. The good news? You can do everything online — no trips to government offices, no waiting in lines. Here's the fastest, most efficient way to get it done from anywhere in the world.

📌 Important note: An FBI background check (known as an Antecedentes Penales or Certificate of Good Conduct) is not legally required for all Colombian visa types — but it is strongly recommended and required for several visa categories including the Retirement (Pensionado), Investor, and Resident visas. Even when not mandatory, submitting one significantly strengthens your application and reduces the risk of rejection. See our full Colombia Visa Guide 2025 for requirements by visa type.

What Exactly Do You Need?

When Colombia's Cancillería asks for a background check, you need three things:

1. ✅ The FBI Identity History Summary (the actual background check document)
2. ✅ An Apostille — an international certification that authenticates the document for use in Colombia (Colombia is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention)
3. ✅ A certified Spanish translation — all foreign documents submitted to Colombian authorities must be in Spanish

Each of these can be done online. Let's break them down one by one.

Step 1: Get Your FBI Background Check Online

There are two official routes to get your FBI Identity History Summary — and one is dramatically faster than the other.

🐢 Option A: Direct from the FBI (Slowest)

You can submit directly to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division by mail. This involves:

• Downloading and completing a fingerprint card
• Getting fingerprinted at a local police station or UPS Store
• Mailing everything to the FBI in West Virginia
• Waiting 12–18 weeks for the result

Unless you have unlimited time, skip this option.

🚀 Option B: FBI-Approved Channeler Services (Fastest — Recommended)

The FBI certifies third-party companies called Channelers to submit electronic fingerprints on your behalf and receive results in 2–5 business days. These are fully FBI-authorized — the results are identical to going directly to the FBI.

Top Recommended FBI Channelers:

1. Fieldprint (fieldprint.com)

• One of the largest FBI-authorized channelers in the US
• Over 1,200 fingerprinting locations across the US (UPS Stores, pharmacies, dedicated centers)
• Results in 2–5 business days
• Cost: ~$18 FBI fee + $20–30 fingerprinting location fee
• Digital results delivered by email — no waiting for physical mail
• Best for: People currently in the US

2. Identogo (identogo.com)

• Another major FBI-authorized channeler with nationwide locations
• Widely used for employment and immigration background checks
• Results in 2–5 business days
• Cost: ~$18 FBI fee + location fee
• Best for: People currently in the US

3. US Authentication Services (usauthentication.com)

• Full-service option — they handle FBI channeling, apostille, AND translation
• Mail your fingerprints to them and they manage the entire process
• Results in 5–10 business days
• Cost: $150–250 all-in for the complete package
• Best for: People who want a single vendor for everything, including those already outside the US

Already Outside the US?

If you're already in Colombia or another country, you have two options:

• Contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate — they often provide FBI fingerprinting services or can refer you to local authorized providers
• Use a full-service agency like US Authentication Services that accepts mailed fingerprint cards — you can get fingerprinted at a local Colombian police station (SIJIN) or notaría and mail the card

Step 2: Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Once you have the FBI document in hand, it needs an apostille from the US Department of State — not from your state government. FBI documents are federal documents and require a federal apostille.

The Slow Way: Direct US State Department

The Office of Authentications in Washington DC processes apostille requests directly. Current processing times: 6–10 weeks. Acceptable if you plan well ahead, but not ideal.

🚀 Recommended Online Apostille Services (Fast)

These companies are registered agents that submit apostille requests to the State Department on your behalf — dramatically faster than doing it yourself.

1. RushApostille (rushapostille.com)

• Specializes specifically in US State Department (federal) apostilles
• Processing time: 5–10 business days for standard, 2–3 days for rush service
• Cost: $150–250 depending on speed
• They receive your FBI document, submit to State Department, return the apostilled document by mail or scan
• Best for: Speed with a reliable service

2. IVS (International Verification Services — aposille.net)

• Long-established apostille service with strong reviews from expats
• Processing time: 7–14 business days
• Cost: $100–180
• Handles both state-level and federal (State Department) apostilles
• Best for: Value and reliability

3. FastApostille (fastapostille.com)

• US-based service focused on quick turnaround
• Processing time: 3–7 business days
• Cost: $125–200
• Digital tracking of your document status
• Best for: People who want real-time tracking

4. Apostille.us (apostille.us)

• Handles all 50 states plus federal documents
• Processing time: 5–10 business days standard
• Cost: $99–175
• Good customer support with case tracking

💡 Pro tip: Some of the apostille services above also offer FBI channeling — letting you bundle Step 1 and Step 2 together. Always ask if they offer a package deal — you can save $50–100 and simplify logistics by using one company for both.

Step 3: Get Your Certified Spanish Translation Online

Colombia's Cancillería requires all foreign documents to be submitted with a certified translation into Spanish by a translator recognized in Colombia. The translation must include the translator's credentials and certification.

Important: What "Certified" Means for Colombia

Colombia accepts translations certified by:

• A translator officially registered in Colombia (*traductor oficial*) — these translators are certified by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Some embassies and consulates also accept translations certified by translators in the applicant's home country, but Colombian-registered translators are the safest choice

Top Recommended Online Translation Services:

1. TranslationServices.com

• Certified translations accepted worldwide including Colombian government submissions
• Processing time: 24–48 hours for standard documents
• Cost: $0.10–0.15 per word (~$70–120 for a typical FBI background check)
• Sends digital certified PDF — accepted by most consulates
• Best for: Speed and digital delivery

2. Tomedes (tomedes.com)

• Professional translation agency with Colombian Spanish specialists
• Processing time: 12–24 hours for rush, 2–3 days standard
• Cost: $80–150 for certified immigration translations
• Offers a translation guarantee for government document acceptance
• Best for: Quality assurance and revision guarantees

3. ALTA Language Services (altalang.com)

• Specialized in immigration and legal document translation
• Certified translations accepted by USCIS, foreign embassies, and consulates
• Processing time: 24–48 hours
• Cost: $90–140
• Best for: Legal/immigration document specialists

4. Hire a Colombian Official Translator Directly

For maximum certainty of acceptance, hire a traductor oficial registered with Colombia's Cancillería directly. You can find the official list on the Cancillería website (cancilleria.gov.co). Many work remotely and accept documents by email.

• Cost: Typically $50–100 USD
• Processing time: 1–5 business days depending on the translator
• Best for: Absolute certainty of government acceptance in Colombia

The Complete Timeline: How Long Does Everything Take?

Steps 2 and 3 (apostille and translation) can run in parallel once you have the FBI document — significantly reducing total time.

Total Cost Breakdown

Which Visa Types Require or Recommend a Background Check?

Refer to our complete Colombia Visa Guide 2025 for the full breakdown, but here's a quick summary:

Our recommendation: Even when not explicitly listed as mandatory, always include it. Cancillería officers have discretion, and a clean background check removes any doubt about your eligibility. The $200–400 cost is trivial compared to a rejected visa application.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Getting a state-level background check instead of the FBI federal check — Colombia requires the federal document
• ❌ Getting a state apostille on an FBI document — FBI documents are federal and require a US State Department apostille, not a state secretary of state apostille
• ❌ Using Google Translate or non-certified translators — Cancillería will reject uncertified translations
• ❌ Waiting until the last minute — even with expedited services, budget at least 2 weeks before your visa appointment
• ❌ Submitting an expired document — Colombia generally requires the background check to have been issued within 90 days of the visa application date
• ❌ Only ordering one copy — order at least 2 apostilled copies; you may need one for the visa application and one for Migración Colombia when you register

Pro Tips From Expats Who've Done It

• 💡 Start early: Begin the FBI process at least 6 weeks before you need the final document, even with expedited services
• 💡 Use a bundle service: Companies like US Authentication Services handle FBI + apostille in one package — simpler and often cheaper
• 💡 Parallel process: Send the apostille service your document AND simultaneously send a scan to the translation service — run them in parallel to save 2–5 days
• 💡 Keep digital copies: Scan everything and store in the cloud — Colombian bureaucracy sometimes asks for additional copies unexpectedly
• 💡 Check validity dates: Once you have the translated and apostilled document, submit your visa application promptly — the 90-day clock is ticking

Ready to Start Your Colombian Visa Application?

Getting your FBI background check apostilled and translated is a straightforward process once you know which services to use. With the right vendors, you can have everything ready in under two weeks — all from your laptop.

For the full Colombia visa application guide — including every visa type, costs, and what else you need — read our Colombia Visa Guide 2025. Already looking at buying property? Don't miss our guide on Buying Property in Colombia as a Foreigner.

Have questions about your specific situation? Contact our team — we help expats navigate every step of the Colombian immigration process.

If you're already in Colombia and need to receive US documents (like your apostilled FBI check), a virtual mailbox can receive it and forward it to you. I use Traveling Mailbox — they accept FedEx and USPS, scan contents, and can forward internationally. More details in my review.

📋 Going through the Colombian visa process? Share this FBI apostille guide with anyone in your visa WhatsApp group or Facebook community — it's one of the most confusing steps and this breakdown makes it simple. 🙏