If a school, employer or government office in Mexico has asked you for a criminal record check, for an American that means your FBI background check. In most cases it needs a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State and a Spanish translation. We take care of all of it: your fingerprints, the FBI request, the apostille and the translation. You can come to our Los Angeles or Beverly Hills office, we can come to you, or, if you already live in Mexico, you can send us your fingerprint cards.
What Mexico Asks For
The honest answer is that it depends on who is asking.
Residency visas. If you’re applying at a Mexican consulate for temporary or permanent residency, the current checklists don’t include a criminal record check. They focus on your passport and your proof of income or savings (see the Mexican consulate’s checklist). Some INM offices, or the immigration lawyer handling your case, ask for one during later procedures. If that’s you, we can turn it around quickly.
Work and teaching. This is where we see the most requests. Schools, employers and volunteer programs in Mexico often want an FBI report, especially for work with children.
Mexican citizenship. If you’re naturalizing, the SRE asks for Mexican federal and local criminal record certificates, not an FBI check.
Living in Mexico, needed elsewhere. Many of our Mexico clients are Americans living there who need an FBI check for something else: a visa for Spain or Portugal, a U.S. job, or a license renewal.
When the FBI report is going to a Mexican office or employer, it needs the federal apostille. Mexico is part of the Apostille Convention, so no consulate legalization is needed. It also needs a Spanish translation, which we provide.
How We Handle It
If you’re in Los Angeles, we take your fingerprints at our office or wherever suits you, and submit them to the FBI electronically. The FBI sends the report straight to you; you forward it to us, and we take it from there. We submit it to the U.S. Department of State, collect the apostille, prepare the Spanish translation, and get everything back to you ready to hand in.
For every step in detail, see our step-by-step guide to getting your FBI background check apostilled.
If you already live in Mexico, you don’t need to fly home. Get fingerprinted on FD-258 cards at a local police station or fingerprinting service and mail them to us. We submit them to the FBI in person, handle the apostille and translation, and ship the finished documents to you. See FBI Background Check Apostille Abroad.
A word on timing: if the office or employer wants a recent report, the date usually counts from when the FBI issues it, not from the apostille date. Tell us your deadline and we’ll plan around it.
Common Questions
Do I need an FBI check for Mexican residency?
Usually not for the consulate visa itself. Some INM offices, or the immigration lawyer on your case, ask for one during in-country procedures. If you’ve been asked, we can help.
Do I need one to become a Mexican citizen?
No. The SRE asks for Mexican criminal record certificates, not an FBI report.
I already live in Mexico. Can you still help?
Yes. Mail us your FD-258 fingerprint cards and we handle everything from there.
Do I need a Spanish translation?
Yes, for anything going to a Mexican office or employer. We include it.
Does it need an apostille?
Yes, a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State, because the FBI is a federal agency.
Ready to get started? Call or text (310) 526-0200, or message us on WhatsApp.
¿Necesita una verificación de antecedentes del FBI con apostilla para México? Llame o envíe un mensaje al (310) 526-0200.
