FBI Background Check Apostille — All 50 States

What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?

A FBI Background Check apostille is not a simple notarization. An apostille is a specific Hague Convention certificate that authenticates the chain of custody from the original issuer to the foreign receiving authority. This certificate is accepted across all Hague signatories without requiring any additional authentication or embassy legalization. For a FBI Background Check, no other form of authentication replaces the apostille certificate.

Getting your FBI Background Check apostilled has become significantly more common as more Americans move abroad. Foreign consulates and immigration offices set strict requirements about the form in which US records must be submitted. The Hague certificate is the required form of US document authentication that satisfies these requirements. A FBI Background Check that has not been apostilled will not be processed.

Most applicants believe that a certified copy is sufficient for international use. It is not. A notarization only witnesses a signature at the local level. It carries no international legal weight. The Hague apostille on a FBI Background Check, on the other hand, is an internationally binding certificate that consulates and immigration authorities must recognize. The apostille is what transforms a domestic document into one accepted in any of the 124 Hague member countries.

Which US Authority Apostilles Your Document?

There is also the question of pre-apostille requirements. Government-issued documents with original seals typically go straight to the apostille authority. Non-government records — personal declarations and privately executed documents — must typically be notarized first. We 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 distinct apostille pathways: state-issued documents go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federal documents — including FBI Background Checks — are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington D.C. Submitting to the wrong track adds weeks of delay before you can resubmit.

Our service handles both tracks simultaneously. Once we receive your document, our team determines the correct authority immediately. This eliminates the costly mistake of routing to the wrong office. We have runners physically at both the federal authentication office in DC and Secretary of State offices nationwide.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

One important clarification: a local notarization can serve as the first step in the apostille process for certain document types. Non-government-issued records — like affidavits, powers of attorney, and private agreements — must typically be notarized first before they can be submitted for apostille. For these documents, the notarization is done locally and the state authority completes the apostille. Our team identifies any pre-apostille notarization requirements before submitting.

People unfamiliar with the process wonder whether digital authentication services can replace the physical process. The US has not implemented electronic apostilles for most document types. Apostilles for US documents are physical certificates affixed to the original by the issuing authority. Any website offering an online-only apostille for US documents should be treated with extreme caution.

Most first-time applicants begin by contacting a local notary, UPS Store, or county office. Unfortunately, none of these options can help with apostille certification. A commissioned notary is authorized by the state to certify copies and administer oaths. They are explicitly not designated apostille authorities. Apostille authority is reserved for designated government offices only.

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

Once we receive your FBI Background Check, our team performs an intake review: we verify it is the original or a certified copy, confirm it is the correct document version, check that no prior-notarization step is needed, and confirm the correct routing. This step typically takes one business day and is the most valuable part of the service: a first-attempt rejection from the apostille authority.

Getting a FBI Background Check apostilled is a physical process, not a digital one. You need to provide the original to the government authority. The authority physically reviews the document and attaches the apostille certificate directly to your document. Once completed, the document is sent back. Because apostilles are physical documents, time is determined by government processing speed and transit time.

End-to-end turnaround for a FBI Background Check apostille factors in: obtaining the correct version of your document, pre-submission preparation if needed, submission transit, government processing time, and return shipment to you. Via postal mail, this full cycle takes 3 to 8 weeks for state documents. With our runner service, the timeline compresses to 3 to 7 business days total door to door.

Processing Times and Turnaround

How long your apostille takes vary significantly depending on the submission method and current government backlogs. Postal submissions directly to the government are the slowest option: state documents typically take 3 to 6 weeks, and records going to the US Department of State can take 6 to 11 weeks at peak periods. In peak seasons, both state and federal offices can add 2 to 4 weeks beyond standard processing.

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, must often be dated within 6 months. If your FBI Background Check was apostilled more than 6 months ago, you will need to obtain and apostille a fresh copy. We advise you on destination-country validity requirements when you contact us.

Several factors affect your apostille turnaround: the current backlog at the issuing authority, whether your document requires pre-apostille notarization, shipping time in each direction, and the submission method. Our service includes a realistic timeline estimate based on current government processing times when you place your order. When timing is critical — such as a consulate deadline or immigration hearing — we prioritize accordingly.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Apostille

Not researching the destination country's specific apostille requirements causes problems even when the apostille itself is correct. While the apostille format is standardized, 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 any requirements beyond the apostille itself when you place your order.

The number one apostille error is submitting to the wrong government authority. A state-issued FBI Background Check mailed to the federal office will be rejected without action. Federal documents sent to a Secretary of State meet the same fate. Either way, the transit time lost — typically 2 to 4 weeks — delays your timeline and forces you to start the submission over.

Sending original documents via standard postal mail is a significant risk. Original FBI Background Checks can be lost, delayed, or damaged when sent without tracked and insured shipping. Original apostillable documents are sometimes impossible or expensive to replace if lost. Every document we handle are insured for full replacement value and shipped via FedEx.

Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Our nationwide courier service handles the entire FBI Background Check apostille process for clients across all 50 states. Mail your FBI Background Check to our secure processing hub via FedEx or UPS with tracking. Our team inspect it against submission requirements before physically delivering it to the right office. We secure the apostille and return it to you in 2 to 5 business days. All shipments are fully insured and tracked via FedEx.

Frequently Asked Questions — FBI Background Check Apostille