If you’re living in Spain and need an FBI background check, there’s one step that trips almost everyone up at first: getting your fingerprints taken abroad. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually manageable. You just need to know where to go, what to bring, and how each city does things a little differently. Let me help you walk through it like we’re figuring it out together.
First Things First: Always Check Official Sources
Before you go anywhere, double-check the most up-to-date info. Schedules change, offices move, and holidays pop up (and in Spain, there are a lot of them). Your best bet is to confirm details through the U.S. Embassy in Spain. They keep updated lists of fingerprinting locations and instructions.
Where To Get Your Fingerprints Taken
Here are some of the most commonly used locations:
Madrid
- Brigada Local de Policía Científica de Móstoles
Tuesdays at 11:00 - Brigada Local de Policía Científica de Pozuelo de Alarcón
Wednesdays at 11:00 - Brigada Local de Policía Científica de Alcalá de Henares
Thursdays at 11:00
Barcelona
- Mossos d’Esquadra Unitat Territorial de Policia Científica
- Mondays & Wednesdays: 9:00–11:00
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: 16:00–18:00
Zaragoza
- Brigada Provincial de Policía Científica Zaragoza
Tuesday–Friday: 9:00–13:00
Important: You need to email ahead (zaragoza.bppc@policia.es)
Elsewhere in Spain
If you’re in places like Valencia, Murcia, Andalucía, or the islands, contact your nearest consular agency or use the embassy’s location list: FBI Fingerprinting Locations in Spain
How much does it cost?
Here’s the good news. Fingerprinting in Spain is usually free; however, you do have to pay an $18 shipping fee if you’re mailing it in.
Appointment vs. Walk-In
This depends on your city:
- Some locations = appointment required (like Zaragoza)
- Others = specific walk-in hours (like Madrid or Barcelona)
You might get lucky and walk right in, or you might need to plan ahead. Always check before showing up.
What to bring
Don’t overthink it, but don’t show up empty-handed either. Bring:
- Your passport (always)
- Your NIE/TIE (if you have one)
- Your Identity History Summary Request Form
- The FBI fingerprint form (FD-258)
- A black pen (just in case)
Some offices provide the fingerprint form, but don’t rely on that. Bring your own to be safe.
What to expect at your appointment
Honestly, it’s pretty quick. You show up, wait your turn (very Spain-coded), they take your fingerprints using ink, and then stamp/sign your form. Depending on how crowded the location is, you could be done in 10-20 minutes. It’s not a big production.
A few things to keep in mind
- Holidays can affect availability
- Not all staff speak English
- Be patient and polite (it goes a long way)
- Arrive early if it’s a walk-in time
Getting your FBI fingerprints in Spain is one of those things that sounds overwhelming until you actually do it. Then you realize, “Oh, that’s it?” It’s a small task, but it’s part of a bigger picture. Living abroad, handling paperwork in another country, and figuring things out as you go. And honestly, that’s the real experience.
Love always + buena suerte,
American Girl Meets World
