FBI Background Check Apostille — All 50 States

What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?

Most applicants believe that a notarization 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, by contrast, is a treaty-backed certification that foreign governments are legally required to accept. The apostille is the step that converts a US-issued FBI Background Check into one accepted in any of the 124 Hague member countries.

Consulates and immigration offices in most countries specify a recency window for accepted apostilles. Federal background documents, especially, are commonly required to be dated within 6 months. Vital record apostilles do not expire, but individual country requirements vary. We advise you on destination-country validity requirements when you place your order.

A FBI Background Check apostille is fundamentally not a simple notarization. An apostille is a standardized international authentication certificate that authenticates the chain of custody from the original issuer to the foreign receiving authority. The apostille is recognized across all Hague signatories as the sole required form of document authentication. For a FBI Background Check, the apostille is what makes it legally valid internationally.

Which US Authority Apostilles Your Document?

Our service handles both the state and federal apostille tracks. When you submit a document to us, we determines the correct authority immediately. This prevents the costly mistake of routing to the wrong office. We have runners physically at both state apostille offices across all 50 states and the US Department of State in DC.

The reason for the state vs federal split is rooted in how US jurisdiction works. A state Secretary of State can only certify the seals and signatures of that state's government officials. It cannot certify 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 typically go straight to the apostille authority. Non-government records — personal declarations and privately executed documents — must typically be notarized first. Our intake process determine whether notarization is needed before submitting.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Most first-time applicants begin by contacting local document services. Unfortunately, none of these options can help with apostille certification. A notary public is authorized by the state to witness signatures and verify identity. Notaries are not authorized to issue Hague certificates. Apostille authority is reserved for designated government offices only.

The physical submission requirement means you cannot email or fax a document for apostille. The actual original document must travel to the apostille authority. This is why turnaround time is measured in weeks for mail-in submissions and days for courier services. The only variable you control is the delivery method: couriers eliminate the postal transit time entirely.

One important clarification: notary certification can serve as the first step in the apostille process for certain document types. Private documents — like affidavits, powers of attorney, and private agreements — must typically be notarized first before a Secretary of State will apostille them. For these documents, a local notary handles step one and the state authority completes the apostille. We determines whether notarization is required for your specific FBI Background Check before submitting.

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

End-to-end turnaround for a FBI Background Check apostille factors in: obtaining the correct version of your document, any required pre-apostille notarization, submission transit, time at the apostille office, and return delivery. Via postal mail, this full cycle takes weeks for state, longer for federal. With our runner service, the timeline compresses to 3 to 7 business days total door to door.

Getting your FBI Background Check apostilled involves a defined order of operations. Step one: 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 depending on whether your FBI Background Check is state or federally issued. Finally: receive the apostilled document and submit it to the foreign authority.

Once we receive your FBI Background Check, we inspects it against the apostille office's requirements: we check for original seals and signatures, confirm it is the correct document version, check that no prior-notarization step is needed, and identify which government office has jurisdiction. This step takes one business day and is the most valuable part of the service: submitting an incorrect document to the wrong office.

Processing Times and Turnaround

Several factors influence your apostille turnaround: government processing volume at time of submission, any pre-processing steps required, transit time, and the submission method. Our service includes a realistic timeline estimate reflecting current backlogs when you contact us. If you have a specific deadline — like a visa appointment or consulate date — we factor that into our routing.

The quickest path to getting your document apostilled requires a runner that hand-delivers to the apostille office. Many apostille offices process walk-in documents same-day. Our courier uses this option where available to get clients their apostilles within a business week. For time-critical situations, contact us before ordering so we can confirm whether same-day processing is available.

Apostille processing times differ considerably depending on the submission method and current government backlogs. Postal submissions directly to the government take the longest: 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 6 to 11 weeks at peak periods. During spring and summer immigration seasons, government apostille offices may experience extended backlogs.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Apostille

Sending original documents via standard postal mail is a significant risk. Government-issued originals can be lost, delayed, or damaged when sent without tracked and insured shipping. Vital records and federal documents are sometimes impossible or expensive to replace if lost. All shipments in our network are sent via FedEx with insurance and end-to-end tracking.

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 results in rejection. Our service handles all fee payments on your behalf so payment errors cannot happen.

Not researching the destination country's specific apostille requirements can result in rejection at the consulate. Although the Hague certificate is universally recognized, each destination country has additional requirements beyond the apostille. Spain, Italy, Germany, and Brazil require certified translations in addition to the apostille. Others additionally require specific document formatting or additional attestation. We confirm any requirements beyond the apostille itself when you place your order.

Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Rather than navigating the bureaucracy alone, let our courier network handle your FBI Background Check apostille. We have established relationships with both state and federal apostille offices and complete most FBI Background Check apostilles in 2 to 5 business days — versus the 6 to 11 week mail-in turnaround at the federal level typical of self-submission. Flat rates, insurance, and tracking on every submission.

Frequently Asked Questions — FBI Background Check Apostille