Digital fingerprinting for criminal background checks.
Criminal background checks are required at multiple stages of the immigration process in Portugal, including applications for visas, temporary residency and renewals, permanent residency, and citizenship. While the requirement itself is clear, obtaining reliable fingerprints can be challenging due to limited appointment availability, antiquated ink-based methods, and uncertainty around fingerprint quality. Identity Abroad, based in Porto and founded by an afpop member, provides digital fingerprinting and full-service FBI and RCMP criminal background checks for U.S. and Canadian citizens. It is currently the only provider in Portugal using fully FBI-certified hardware, software, and workflows for livescan fingerprint capture, with real-time quality checks and a quality guarantee: if fingerprints are rejected due to insufficient quality, clients are re-fingerprinted and re-processed at no additional cost. Appointments are available in Porto, with Lisbon and Algarve services planned for Q1 2026.