How to get an FBI background check for an Act 60 application

At a glance

Applies to

Individual Resident Investor, or Chapter 2, applicants

First question

State report, FBI summary, or both?

FBI fee

$18

USPS fingerprint fee

$50 currently, paid separately

Fastest route

FBI electronic request plus participating USPS fingerprints

Result

Downloadable electronic response, with optional first-class mail

Confirm the exact document first

DDEC states that Individual Resident Investor applicants must provide a criminal-record report from their last place of residence. The Office of Incentives also conducts or commissions a broader background check.

Your application team may ask for an FBI Identity History Summary in addition to, or instead of, another record. An FBI summary and a state criminal-record report cover different systems. Ask for a written answer before paying for fingerprints. Do not assume a commercial tenant or employment screening report will qualify.

Request the FBI summary

1. 1

   Start the electronic request

   Open an Identity History Summary request with the FBI and pay the $18 FBI fee.

2. 2

   Save the confirmation

   Keep the FBI request confirmation email. A participating USPS location will need the information in it.

3. 3

   Submit fingerprints

   Use a participating USPS location for electronic fingerprints or mail a current fingerprint card using the FBI instructions.

4. 4

   Review the response

   Download the FBI response, check it for errors, and keep the original PDF with your application records.

Choose a fingerprint route

Search the live USPS fingerprint locator before traveling. Participating locations change, and the service is not available at every post office.

If no convenient USPS location appears, obtain a current fingerprint card from a law-enforcement agency or qualified fingerprint provider and mail it using the FBI instructions. Confirm that the provider uses the format required for an FBI Identity History Summary.

Keep a usable copy

The FBI electronic response can be printed and includes the FBI's authentication features. Keep the original PDF, the printed copy, payment receipts, and any mailing tracking together with your application records.

Common questions

Does every Act 60 applicant need an FBI background check?

Not necessarily. The DDEC guidance reviewed for this guide expressly discusses criminal-record reports for Individual Resident Investor applicants. Other categories can have different document lists. Confirm your category's current requirements.

Is an FBI Identity History Summary the same as a state criminal record?

No. They query different systems and are not automatically interchangeable. Your application team should tell you whether to submit the state report, the FBI summary, or both.

Can I submit fingerprints electronically in Puerto Rico?

Yes, when a participating USPS location is available. Start the FBI electronic request first, then check the live USPS locator and bring the FBI confirmation and accepted identification.

Can I pay to expedite the FBI result?

No. The FBI says it does not offer expedited handling. Electronic fingerprints remove mailing time but do not create priority processing.

Sources and verification

Rules, prices, locations, and provider coverage can change. These links are the primary or first-party pages checked for this guide.

• DDEC Informative Bulletin 2026-004 — Criminal-record and background-review guidance for Individual Resident Investor applicants
• FBI Identity History Summary FAQs — Fees, fingerprint routes, delivery, and processing rules
• FBI-approved channelers.
• FBI paper application and mailing instructions.
• USPS fingerprint enrollment — Current USPS fee and identification instructions
• USPS fingerprint location search.