Obtaining the FBI background check for a Colombia visa is a crucial step in the visa application process. The background check serves as a record indicating the presence or absence of criminal offenses committed by a specific citizen and is issued by relevant authorities in different countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Resolution 5477, introducing significant changes to the Colombian visa application process, including the requirement to submit criminal records or police record from your country of origin or residence. This blog overviews the background check process, including requirements for documents from abroad, addressing registered records, and specific steps for U.S. citizens.

How to Obtain the FBI Background Check for a Colombia Visa

The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Resolution 5477 on July 22, 2022, bringing significant changes to the Colombian visa application process. One of the new requirements for many visas is submitting a judicial, criminal, or police certification from your country of origin or residence. This document shows if a person has any criminal offenses and is obtained from relevant authorities in different countries. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must provide the FBI Background Check as the type of U.S. Criminal Record required, as the national authority can certify your police record in the country.

To provide more information on this requirement, we wrote this blog hand-in-hand with our partner expatgroup.co. They have launched a service for all U.S. citizens interested in applying for a visa and obtaining the FBI Background Check from Colombia. This service includes the process of taking fingerprints in Medellin, as well as the translation to spanish and the apostille process. If you want to quote your FBI Background Check online, click on the green button below, and we’ll send you to our partner as a referral from Medellin Guru with no additional cost.

FBI Background Check Service

Filling out the FBI form
Fingerprinting (Medellín)
International shipment to USA
FBI criminal record certificate
Authentication of the certificate through a public notary in the USA
Apostille certificate
Official translations into Spanish

New Visa Resolution Impacts (Resolution 5477)

What changes have the new Resolution 5477 made regarding the FBI Background Check for visa applications in Colombia?

Previously, in Resolution 6045 of 2017, it was the Ministry’s task to verify the background check (Article 38). However, with the entry of the new resolution in 2022, the applicants also must provide the Background Check for the visas that require it as a mandatory document. Also, the government can request additional documentation for any visa category under discretionary authority, including criminal records. Even if your visa doesn’t require the Background Check as a mandatory requirement, if the Chancellery requests it, you must provide it as soon as possible.

Here is proof that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is requesting the FBI Background Check for the Digital Nomad visa application process, even if it wasn’t a specific requirement by law from the beginning.

This phenomenon has been occurring in Colombia since 2024, and it is extending to different visa categories, not only with the Colombian Digital Nomad Visa. We recommend that all our readers provide the document in the first submission step with the rest of the mandatory documents to avoid the risk of being required.

What Colombian Visas require the FBI Background Check as a mandatory requirement?

Criminal records are required for the Mercosur Visa, Andean Visa, and Retirement Visa. The FBI Background Check will only apply to American Citizens who want to apply for the Pensioner Visa, as the first two visas are for Latin Americans. Anyone from a country other than the USA must obtain criminal records from their country of origin for the last 3 years, as Article 77 of Resolution 5477 mentions.

How to Obtain a Colombia Retirement Visa – 2024 Update

Colombia's retirement visa is easy to get with a low-income requirement and few documents needed. We provide a 2024 update with recent visa changes.

When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires the criminal record certificate as an additional document for any other visa, you must submit it 10 days after the Requirement (as you could see in the past example) because this action converts the background check into a mandatory document. The real problem begins with the criminal record process.

For U.S. Citizens, getting an FBI Background Check on its own can take between 5 to 6 weeks. As the “Requirement Status” on visa applications just gives you 10 days starting from the official communication or 30 days, starting from the study payment, you can lose the first process and maybe start from zero on your application when your FBI Certificate is ready.

For U.S. citizens, the certificate should cover the last three years. If you have lived in the U.S. for this period, you can obtain your certificate from the FBI or the Sheriff's office. If you have lived in Colombia or any other country for part of this period, you will need certificates from both countries.

We recommend that you process and submit the FBI Criminal Record in advance. This will avoid delays in your application and all the extra costs involved in repeating the whole process.

FBI Background Check Service

Filling out the FBI form
Fingerprinting (Medellín)
International shipment to USA
FBI criminal record certificate
Authentication of the certificate through a public notary in the USA
Apostille certificate
Official translations into Spanish

Understanding the FBI Background Check Process

All documents from abroad must be:

Up-to-date (issued within the last three months)
Signed by the competent authority
Apostilled
Officially translated into Spanish

For the documents to be valid for the visa process, they must include:

An updated date (no older than three months)
The full and legible name of the visa applicant
The official signature and logo of the issuing entity

Addressing Registered Records

If your background check report includes any records, even if they are expired, the Colombian government may decide to approve, reject, or deny your visa application based on their assessment of the potential risks these records may pose.

How to Obtain the FBI Background Check from Colombia

There are three ways to request your FBI criminal record:

FBI Background Check Online

FBI Background Check by Mail

By FBI approved channeler

Step-by-Step to Obtain the FBI Background Check Online

1. Start Your Request

Visit edo.cjis.gov and enter your e-mail address to get started.

2. Receive Instructions

Check your email for a link and PIN to complete the online application.

3. Complete Application

Follow the link, enter the PIN, accept the privacy terms, and fill in your details.

4. Submit Fingerprints

Inside the U.S.:

Visit a participating post office for fingerprinting.

Outside the U.S.:

Send your fingerprint card (form FD-258) and confirmation email copy to:

FBI CJIS Division
ATTN

ELECTRONIC SUMMARY REQUEST

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

5. Proceed with Payment

Complete the payment as instructed.

Step-by-Step to Obtain the FBI Background Check by Mail

1. Complete Form

Fill out the applicant information form.

2. Fingerprinting

Use the standard fingerprint form (FD-1164) available at local police departments (fingerprint card).

3. Make Payment

Pay $18 to the Treasury of the United States by credit card, money order, or certified check.

4. Mail Documents

FBI CJIS Division - Summary Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

5. Receive Response

You will receive a document certifying your criminal history status.

Step-by-Step to Obtain the FBI Background Check by FBI-Approved Channeler

Approved channelers expedite the process by handling your application and submitting your fingerprints and personal data to the FBI. They receive the results and share them with you.

expatgroup.co can help you obtain your FBI Background Check from Colombia, taking your fingerprints in its office in Medellin. They can make the process for you and receive your FBI Certificate valid for your visa.

Benefits of the expatgroup.co's FBI Background Check Service

Fingerprints in Medellín

You can take your fingerprints in expatgroup.co's office

Do it from Colombia

You don't have to go to USA to get the Criminal Records

Without Mistakes

Avoid mistakes and rejections submiting correct fingerprints

Affordable Pricing

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How to obtain the FBI Background Check with apostille and translation

You can use the expatgroup.co apostille and translation service added to the FBI Background Check Service Package. If you want their professional help, click on the green button below, and we’ll send you to our partner as a referral from Medellin Guru with no additional cost.

FBI Background Check Service

Filling out the FBI form
Fingerprinting (Medellín)
International shipment to USA
FBI criminal record certificate
Authentication of the certificate through a public notary in the USA
Apostille certificate
Official translations into Spanish

If you want additional help with your visa, we can redirect you to take all the necessary steps with them from the beginning.

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Medellin Guru's Comprehensive Visa and Passport Series

The Colombian visa changes that went into effect in October 2022 were significant. So, on the Medellin Guru site, we have a comprehensive series of visa articles that are kept up-to-date and should answer most visa questions. These articles include:

We have looked in detail at the nine most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:

Also, we have looked in detail at three additional Colombian visas, which are less popular for foreigners:

Rentista visa (annuity visa) – for foreigners with a fixed income
Beneficiary visa – for relatives of visa holders
Expertise visa – for professionals

In addition, we have a guide to Colombia tourist visas and how to extend a tourist visa. Also, we have a guide to renewing U.S. passports in Colombia and a guide to obtaining a Colombian passport.

Furthermore, we provide information about travel insurance that meets the insurance requirement for Colombian visas. And we have a guide to how apply for a cedula extranjeria in Colombia and a guide to using notaries in Medellín and Colombia. Finally, Medellin Guru has partnered with a visa agency to offer Colombia visa services.

All of our Colombia visa articles are up to date (2023) and constantly receive updates in 2024.

The Botton Line: How to Obtain the FBI Background Check for a Colombia Visa

To comply with Colombia’s updated visa regulations, U.S. citizens must now submit an FBI Background Check when applying for certain visas following the Resolution 5477 of 2022. This requirement extends to Retirement Visa and it ‘s been requested for other visa categories. The FBI Background Check must be translated into Spanish and apostilled, a process facilitated by services such as those offered by expatgroup.co, which includes fingerprinting in Medellin.

Given the potential for delays (obtaining the FBI Background Check can take 5 to 6 weeks) we advice of submit this document to avoid processing setbacks.

This recent change underscores the importance of promptly obtaining and submitting the FBI Background Check to meet visa requirements. Preparing this documentation in advance allows U.S. citizens to prevent delays and complications in their visa applications, ensuring a smoother process.