FBI Background Check Apostille — All 50 States

What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?

Consulates and immigration offices in most countries specify a recency window for accepted apostilles. Federal background documents, in particular, must often be dated within 6 months of the consulate appointment. Vital record apostilles do not expire, but individual country requirements vary. We advise you on the specific recency window for your destination when you contact us.

A FBI Background Check apostille is not a simple notarization. An apostille is the official certification established by the 1961 Hague Convention that certifies the document's official seals and signatures are genuine. This certificate is accepted in all 124 Hague Convention member countries without requiring any additional authentication or embassy legalization. When submitting a FBI Background Check to a foreign government, the apostille is what makes it legally valid internationally.

Getting your FBI Background Check apostilled has become significantly more common as more Americans move abroad. Overseas government agencies have specific rules about which US documents they will accept. The Hague certificate is the required form of US document authentication that satisfies these requirements. Your document that has not been apostilled will not be processed.

Which US Authority Apostilles Your Document?

The reason for the state vs federal split is rooted in the federal structure of the United States. A state Secretary of State can only authenticate documents that originated within that state. It has no authority over documents from the FBI, DHS, State Department, or other federal offices. That authority falls under the federal authentication office in Washington D.C.

There is also the question of what condition your FBI Background Check must be in before submission. Official records bearing authentic government seals can generally be submitted directly. Non-government records — like affidavits, powers of attorney, or private agreements — must typically be notarized first. Our intake process determine whether notarization is needed for your specific document type.

The single most critical aspect of getting your FBI Background Check apostilled is determining which US government authority has jurisdiction over your document. Under the US apostille system, there are two separate authentication tracks: state-issued documents go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federal documents — like the FBI Background Check — are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington D.C. Routing your document incorrectly adds weeks of delay before you can resubmit.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

The physical submission requirement means you cannot email or fax a document for apostille. The physical FBI Background Check itself must travel to the apostille authority. The reason processing time is measured in weeks for mail-in submissions and days when a courier physically delivers. The only variable you control is the delivery method: postal mail takes weeks in transit each way.

There is one nuance worth noting: a local notarization can be a required step before the apostille process for some FBI Background Check categories. Private documents — personal declarations — require prior notarization before a Secretary of State will apostille them. For these documents, the notarization is done locally and the Secretary of State handles step two. Our team identifies any pre-apostille notarization requirements before submitting.

Some applicants ask if online apostille services are a legitimate option. The US has not implemented electronic apostilles for most document types. All US FBI Background Check apostilles must be physical paper certificates attached to the original document. Any website offering a digital or instant apostille for US documents should be treated with extreme caution.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Getting your FBI Background Check apostilled follows a defined order of operations. First: obtain the correct version of your FBI Background Check — the original or a properly certified copy. Second: determine whether your document needs notarization before submission. Step three: submit to the correct authority — state Secretary of State or US Department of State based on the document's origin. Step four: collect your completed apostille and submit it to the foreign authority.

Once we receive your FBI Background Check, we performs an intake review: we check for original seals and signatures, ensure it is not outdated, check that no prior-notarization step is needed, and confirm the correct routing. This review typically takes one business day and is the most valuable part of the service: submitting an incorrect document to the wrong office.

Getting a FBI Background Check apostilled requires actual physical document submission. You must submit the original document to the correct apostille office. That office physically reviews the document and affixes the Hague certificate directly to your document. Once completed, the document is sent back. Because apostilles are physical documents, turnaround depends on how quickly the authority processes your submission.

Processing Times and Turnaround

The quickest path to getting your document apostilled requires a runner that hand-delivers to the apostille office. The relevant government authorities process walk-in documents same-day. Our runner uses this option where available to get clients their apostilles in 2 to 5 business days. When you have a firm deadline, reach out with your timeline so we can advise on the fastest realistic option.

Apostille processing times differ considerably depending on the submission method and current government backlogs. Postal submissions directly to the government are the slowest option: state documents typically take 1 to 4 weeks processing plus 1 to 2 weeks transit each way, and records going to the US Department of State can take up to 11 weeks at peak periods. In peak seasons, government apostille offices may experience extended backlogs.

Something many applicants miss is apostilled document validity windows. Many foreign authorities specify that the apostille must have been issued recently. FBI Background Checks and criminal record documents, especially, are typically required to be no older than 6 months of the consulate submission date. If the document was apostilled more than 6 months ago, a new apostille is required. We advise you on the specific recency window for your destination when you contact us.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Apostille

Incorrect or missing payment frequently causes rejections that could easily be avoided. Government apostille authorities charge fees per apostille document. State fees vary but typically range from $5 to $25 per document. Underpaying or submitting an incorrect payment form causes the submission to be returned without processing. Our service submit the correct fees directly to the authority on your behalf so payment errors never occur.

Assuming all Hague countries have identical requirements can result in rejection at the consulate. Although the Hague certificate is universally recognized, requirements for supporting documents vary significantly. Spain, Italy, Germany, and Brazil require certified translations in addition to the apostille. Some also need notarization of the translation or embassy legalization in certain non-Hague countries. We confirm your destination country's full requirements when you place your order.

The number one apostille error is submitting to the wrong government authority. State documents sent to the US Department of State will be rejected without action. Federal documents sent to a Secretary of State meet the same fate. Either way, the postal time wasted — typically 2 to 4 weeks — sets your application back significantly.

Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Our courier service covers clients across the United States. It is straightforward: send your original FBI Background Check to our processing hub, and we route it to the correct authority: the US Department of State or your state Secretary of State, depending on document type. We manage the complete submission: intake, routing, submission, and tracked return shipment. Turnaround for most orders is in 2 to 5 business days from submission.

Frequently Asked Questions — FBI Background Check Apostille