Criminal Background Check Apostille in Alaska

Alaska Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Lieutenant Governor
• Office Location: Juneau
• State Fee: $5
• Important Rule: Requires original signatures.

What Is a Criminal Background Check Apostille?

Criminal Background Checks are among the most frequently apostilled documents in the United States. This is because Criminal Background Checks are routinely required for immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. If you are in Alaska, only the Lieutenant Governor can issue this certification in AK.

An apostille is a type of Hague certification established by the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike a local notary stamp, an apostille is valid in over 120 countries worldwide — meaning your Criminal Background Check is recognized by international authorities without additional authentication. If you are in Alaska, Alaska, obtaining this certification goes through the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau.

One critical distinction is that the apostille does not translate your document. Many countries require a sworn or certified translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities typically require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Ask us about complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.

Alaska: State vs Federal Authority

One of the most costly apostille mistakes is submitting your Criminal Background Check to the wrong office. For example, if you mail a Criminal Background Check issued in Alaska to Washington D.C., it will be rejected and returned. In reverse, mailing a federal document to a state Secretary of State office will also come back unprocessed. In both cases, the wasted transit time adds 2 to 4 weeks to your timeline.

If you have a deadline, same-day processing may be available. Some state offices have expedited tracks for urgent requests. Our team uses these expedited tracks by submitting in person rather than by mail, getting you the fastest possible turnaround from Alaska.

The single most important thing to know about the apostille process for your document is determining which government authority issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the United States, there are two distinct apostille pathways: state-level and federal. Documents issued by Alaska, including Criminal Background Checks go to the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau. Documents from US federal agencies, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C..

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Something else to consider is that Hague member countries will verify that the apostille came from the correct authority. If the apostille comes from an unauthorized office, your documents will be rejected at the destination. This could delay your entire application even if everything else in your application is correct.

Beyond notaries, county clerks, municipal offices, and city government offices in AK also cannot issue apostilles. Even a trip to any local Alaska government office will not produce an apostille. The sole authority in Alaska that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Lieutenant Governor.

If you are working under a tight deadline, relying on postal mail to the Lieutenant Governor is risky. A courier-assisted submission is the only way to access same-day processing at the Lieutenant Governor. Our team serves all cities in Alaska with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.

The Alaska Apostille Authority

In AK, the correct office is the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau. This is the only office in Alaska authorized to issue Hague Apostille certificates on Alaska-issued public documents. The Lieutenant Governor holds the official seals of Alaska government officials and is consequently the only authorized source for apostilles on Alaska-issued records.

Once your document arrives at the Lieutenant Governor, an authorized state officer verifies the seals and signatures and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. If everything checks out, the apostille is attached as a separate certificate appended to your document. The apostilled document is then held for courier pickup. Our runner picks it up within 24 hours.

The Lieutenant Governor in Juneau is typically open Monday through Friday. Turnaround times without expedited service generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on submission backlog. If you are in Alaska and need it faster, a physical courier dramatically cuts the wait.

How to Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Alaska

Once we have your documents, our team reviews it for compliance with the Lieutenant Governor's submission requirements. This intake review identifies issues like improper certification, wrong document versions, or missing state fees. Catching these before submission saves days or weeks — rejection from the Lieutenant Governor that restarts the whole process.

Getting a Criminal Background Check apostilled involves a clear sequence of steps. Step one: confirm that your document is the original or a certified copy. Step two: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Step three: send it to the correct authority with the required state fee of $5. Fourth: receive your apostilled document — ready for international submission.

One of the most overlooked steps is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. Federal background checks, for example, are typically required to be dated within 6 months at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your document is past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before submission to the Lieutenant Governor. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.

How Long Does a Criminal Background Check Apostille Take in Alaska?

The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Standard mail-in processing to DC for federal apostilles often takes 6 to 11 weeks due to the national volume of federal authentication requests. A physical courier in Washington D.C. can complete the federal apostille in 2 to 5 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.

Knowing where your Criminal Background Check is is one of the most valued aspects of using our courier service. We provide status updates at each step: pickup from your Alaska address, arrival at our processing hub, submission to the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau, apostille issuance notification, and dispatch of the return shipment to Alaska. This level of visibility is not possible with direct mail.

Processing times for a Criminal Background Check apostille vary depending on how the document is submitted and the Lieutenant Governor's current workload. Documents sent by postal mail from Alaska to the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau usually require 3 to 6 weeks round trip — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, particularly during visa application seasons, government processing alone can take 4 to 6 weeks.

What to Include With Your Submission

A common question is whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For mail-in submissions, a brief cover letter is recommended with your contact information and document details. The Lieutenant Governor handles many submissions daily and a simple cover sheet helps the office handle your request correctly and quickly.

Payment for the state fee is required. Accepted payment methods vary by state but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. We includes fee payment in our all-in-one courier package so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.

One detail that matters: if your Criminal Background Check was issued in a language other than English, some Lieutenant Governor offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the apostille is issued without requiring a translation and the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. We advise you on this when you submit your request.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

The number one mistake is sending your document to the wrong government authority. Alaska residents sometimes send federal records to their state Secretary of State. In both cases, the office will reject the submission and return the document unprocessed. This adds 2 to 4 weeks — the round-trip postal time to the wrong office — before you are even back to square one.

Mailing irreplaceable originals through standard postal mail without insurance is something we strongly advise against. Uninsured postal shipments can be lost, delayed, or damaged. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are difficult or expensive to replace. We use FedEx with full insurance and tracking for maximum protection from the moment we receive your document to its return to Alaska.

Submitting a photocopy instead of the original document is a frequent cause of delays at the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor in Juneau will only apostille documents with an authentic original seal and signature. Sending a photocopy will be returned immediately. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before submitting your documents.

Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Alaska

Our courier network covers the Lieutenant Governor in Juneau, typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.

Frequently Asked Questions — Criminal Background Check Apostille in Alaska