FBI Background Check
for Paraguay

Do I Need an FBI Background Check for Paraguay?

U.S. citizens applying for temporary residency or permanent residency in Paraguay may be required to submit proof of a clean criminal record.

If you have lived in the United States, this requirement is typically satisfied by providing an FBI fingerprint-based background check, also known as an FBI Identity History Summary.

Paraguayan immigration authorities use this document to verify that applicants do not have a criminal record in the United States when reviewing residency or immigration applications.

This requirement commonly applies to temporary and permanent residency applications submitted to Paraguay’s immigration authority. Short-term tourist visits to Paraguay generally do not require an FBI background check.

Applicants should confirm document requirements with Paraguay’s Dirección General de Migraciones or the Paraguayan consulate handling their application.

What Is Usually Required (Apostille, Translation, Validity)

When an FBI background check is required for use in Paraguay, additional authentication steps are typically necessary before the document can be accepted.

Paraguay is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means the FBI background check must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State before it can be legally recognized by Paraguayan authorities.

Documents submitted in Paraguay typically must be translated into Spanish. In many cases, the translation must be completed by a certified translator, and the translation usually includes both the FBI background check and the apostille page.

Paraguayan immigration authorities commonly require the FBI background check to be issued within 90 days of submission, although this timeframe may vary depending on the residency category.

Applicants should confirm apostille, translation, and document validity requirements with Paraguay’s immigration authority or the Paraguayan consulate processing their application.

How to Apply

Certifix offers nationwide electronic enrollment for FBI fingerprint-based background checks used for Paraguay residency and immigration applications.

Applicants can enroll online in just a few minutes, then visit a participating Certifix location for Live Scan digital fingerprinting. Fingerprints are securely transmitted to the FBI for processing, allowing the FBI Identity History Summary to be generated electronically.

During online enrollment, applicants can also select the apostille service add-on, allowing Certifix to coordinate authentication of the FBI report with the U.S. Department of State once the report is issued.

Because Paraguayan immigration requirements may vary depending on the residency category or immigration authority, applicants should confirm whether apostille, translation, and document validity requirements apply before submitting their application.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Does Paraguay require an apostille for an FBI background check?

  Yes. Paraguay is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means U.S. federal documents such as an FBI background check must be authenticated with an apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State before they can be used for immigration or residency applications in Paraguay. Without the apostille, the document is generally not accepted by Paraguayan immigration authorities.

• Is an FBI background check required for Paraguay residency?

  In many cases, yes. Applicants applying for temporary residency or permanent residency in Paraguay are commonly required to provide proof that they do not have a criminal record in their country of origin. For U.S. citizens, this requirement is typically satisfied by submitting an FBI fingerprint-based background check, also known as an FBI Identity History Summary.

• How recent must the FBI background check be for Paraguay?

  Paraguayan immigration authorities generally require the FBI background check to be issued within 90 days of submission as part of a residency application. However, the exact validity period may vary depending on the residency category and the immigration office reviewing the application.

• Does the FBI background check need to be translated into Spanish?

  Yes. In most cases, documents submitted to Paraguayan immigration authorities must be translated into Spanish. This typically includes both the FBI background check and the apostille page. The translation is usually required to be completed by a certified translator before submission.

• Can I request the apostille when applying for my FBI background check?

  Yes. When enrolling for your FBI background check, you can select apostille authentication services if the document will be used in Paraguay. This allows the authentication process to be coordinated after the FBI report is issued, simplifying the process for applicants who need the document for residency or immigration purposes.

• Where do I submit the apostilled FBI background check for Paraguay?

  The apostilled and translated FBI background check is typically submitted to Paraguay’s Dirección General de Migraciones as part of a residency application. In some cases, the document may also be reviewed or processed through a Paraguayan consulate depending on where the application is being handled.