Criminal Background Check Apostille in Delaware

Delaware Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Delaware Secretary of State
• Office Location: Dover
• State Fee: $30
• Important Rule: Expedited service available for an additional fee.

What Is a Criminal Background Check Apostille?

Something many Delaware residents overlook is that the apostille does not translate your document. Many countries also need a certified translation into the local language as well as the apostille. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the UAE routinely ask for the apostille plus a sworn translation. Ask us about complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.

The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the cumbersome embassy-by-embassy authentication process that was required before the Convention. Before apostilles, getting an American document accepted overseas required notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The Convention simplified this into one standardized certificate issued by one designated authority. For Criminal Background Checks issued in Delaware, that authority is the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover.

Criminal Background Checks are among the most frequently apostilled documents in the United States. The reason Criminal Background Checks come up in many international processes including visa applications, residency permits, citizenship documentation, employment verification, and foreign legal proceedings. For residents of Delaware, the apostille for a Criminal Background Check must come from the Delaware Secretary of State.

Delaware: State vs Federal Authority

The most critical 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 completely separate authentication tracks: state and federal. Documents issued by Delaware, including Criminal Background Checks go to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. Federally issued records, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C..

For Delaware-issued records, the apostille must come from the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. Typically, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The Delaware Secretary of State verifies the document's origin and seal and attaches the apostille typically in 1 to 3 weeks.

One of the most costly apostille mistakes is submitting documents to the wrong office. For example, if you mail a Criminal Background Check issued in Delaware to the US Department of State in DC, it will be rejected and returned. Similarly, mailing a federal document to a state Secretary of State office results in the same rejection. Either way, the round-trip postal time sets your application back by weeks.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

If you are working under a tight deadline, relying on postal mail to the Delaware Secretary of State is risky. A courier-assisted submission cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our team serves all cities in Delaware with full FedEx tracking and insurance on every submission.

First-time applicants in Delaware mistakenly believe they can get an apostille at a local UPS Store or notary. This is incorrect. A local notary is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — that authority belongs exclusively to.

Another reason local options fail is that foreign authorities check whether the apostille was issued by the proper office. If the apostille comes from an unauthorized office, your documents will be rejected at the destination. This could trigger a visa denial even if everything else in your application is correct.

The Delaware Apostille Authority

The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover is typically open Monday through Friday. Turnaround times for mail-in submissions typically run 1 to 3 weeks depending on submission backlog. If you are in Delaware and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service gets the apostille in 2 to 5 business days.

Before your document can be submitted to the Delaware Secretary of State: some documents require prior notarization. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits typically require notarization as a first step. We advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before submitting to the Delaware Secretary of State so you are not surprised by a rejection.

For Criminal Background Checks issued in Delaware, the official Hague authority is the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. The Delaware Secretary of State is the sole office in DE to attach Hague Apostille certificates on records from Delaware government agencies. The Delaware Secretary of State is authorized to verify the seals and signatures of all Delaware public officials and is consequently the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.

How to Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Delaware

One of the most overlooked steps is ensuring the document is not expired. Federal background checks, for example, are typically required to be dated within 6 months at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your Criminal Background Check is outdated, a new document must be requested before apostilling. We check document dates as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.

Certain Criminal Background Checks must be notarized before they can be apostilled. If your Criminal Background Check is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary prior to submission to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. We manages the full notarization and apostille process so there are no surprises at the Delaware Secretary of State.

After we receive your Criminal Background Check, our team reviews it for compliance with the Delaware Secretary of State's submission requirements. This intake review identifies issues like improper certification, wrong document versions, or missing state fees. Finding problems upfront prevents the most common cause of apostille delays — rejection from the Delaware Secretary of State that restarts the whole process.

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

Turnaround for a Criminal Background Check apostille depend on how the document is submitted and the Delaware Secretary of State's current workload. Mail-in submissions from Delaware to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover usually require 3 to 6 weeks round trip — including transit time, government processing, and return. During peak periods, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, backlogs can push timelines to 8 to 12 weeks.

If you need your Criminal Background Check apostilled urgently, the fastest path is a runner that hand-delivers to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover offer same-day service for walk-in submissions. Our courier capitalizes on this to get Delaware clients their apostilles faster than any postal alternative.

The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Regular postal submissions to the Office of Authentications can take 8 to 12 weeks because of 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 walking documents in directly.

What to Include With Your Submission

An easy-to-miss detail: for non-English documents, additional steps may be required depending on the Delaware Secretary of State. In other cases, the Delaware Secretary of State apostilles the foreign-language document as-is and the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you submit your request.

When submitting your Criminal Background Check for apostille, confirm you are sending: your original Criminal Background Check or an official certified copy, any required notarization, a completed submission form if required, payment for the state fee of $30, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Missing any of these will delay your apostille.

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 Delaware Secretary of State processes high volumes of requests and a clear cover letter reduces processing errors.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

Mailing an uncertified copy instead of an original or certified copy is a common rejection reason. The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Submitting a scan or uncertified copy will be returned immediately. Request a new certified copy before starting the apostille process.

Failing to provide a prepaid return label is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover does not automatically return documents. Without a prepaid return envelope, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. We handle return shipping as part of our flat-rate fee — you never have to worry about return logistics.

The single most expensive apostille error is routing your Criminal Background Check to the incorrect office. Delaware residents sometimes send state documents like Criminal Background Checks to the US Department of State in DC. Either way, the office will reject the submission and return the document unprocessed. This mistake costs weeks — the round-trip postal time to the wrong office — before you are even back to square one.

Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Delaware

Our courier network covers the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover, 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 Delaware