Criminal Background Check Apostille in Malta, IL

How to Legalize Your Criminal Background Check from Malta

Do you need an Criminal Background Check apostilled? Since you are in Malta, Illinois, you might wonder where to start.

Unlike simple local documents, these documents require a specific state-level certification. They have to be submitted to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield.

Residents of Malta no longer need to travel to Springfield. Our courier team hand-deliver your Criminal Background Check to the Illinois Secretary of State and return it apostilled within 3 to 7 business days. Same-week service available for urgent deadlines.

What is an Apostille?

The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the cumbersome embassy-by-embassy authentication process that was standard before the Hague system. Before apostilles, getting a US document recognized abroad involved notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The Convention simplified this into one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. For Criminal Background Checks issued in Illinois, the designated office is the Illinois Secretary of State.

One critical distinction is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. Most foreign authorities require a sworn or certified translation in addition to the apostille. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the UAE almost always require both the apostille and a certified translation. We offer complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.

An apostille is a form of Hague certification formalized by the Hague Convention of 1961. Unlike standard document certification, an apostille is valid in over 120 countries worldwide — meaning your Criminal Background Check will be accepted by international authorities without additional authentication. If you are in Malta, Illinois, obtaining this certification requires working with the Illinois Secretary of State.

State vs. Federal Apostille: Which Applies to Your Criminal Background Check?

Our courier service handles both: and federal-level apostilles through the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. Once you submit your documents, we determine the correct authority and submit accordingly. Malta-based clients do not need to navigate the state vs federal distinction themselves.

For urgent submissions, expedited apostille service may be available. Some state offices offer walk-in or expedited processing. Our courier exploits walk-in submission options by submitting in person rather than by mail, bypassing the mail queue entirely.

A frequent and expensive error is sending documents to the incorrect government authority. If you send a state Criminal Background Check to the US Department of State in DC, it will be rejected and returned. In reverse, sending an FBI Background Check to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield results in the same rejection. Either way, the wasted transit time adds 2 to 4 weeks to your timeline.

Why a Local Notary in Malta Cannot Apostille Your Document

Some people encounter document preparation companies in IL claiming to offer apostilles. These are document preparation services, not government offices. Their role is act as couriers to the Illinois Secretary of State. The Global Apostille Network does exactly this but with a dedicated runner network at both state and federal offices.

For Malta residents who need a Criminal Background Check apostilled urgently, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our team serves all cities in Illinois with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.

Beyond notaries, county clerks, municipal offices, and city government offices do not have apostille authority. Even visiting the Malta city hall, county courthouse, or register of deeds would not produce an apostille. The sole authority in Illinois that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield.

The Correct Authority: Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield

A point often missed is that the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield does not edit the underlying document. If there are mistakes in your document, those errors must be fixed at the source before sending it to the Illinois Secretary of State. Submitting a document with errors will result in rejection abroad even if everything else is in order.

There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: some documents require prior notarization. Educational records and private documents often must be notarized before the Illinois Secretary of State will apostille them. We identifies whether any notarization is needed before starting the submission so you are not surprised by a rejection.

The Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times without expedited service generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on seasonal demand. For Malta residents who need faster turnaround, an in-person submission via a runner service can reduce processing time to 2 to 5 business days.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled from Malta

Certain Criminal Background Checks require notarization before they can be apostilled. When your document is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, a notarization is usually required by a licensed notary before submission to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield. We coordinates any required pre-notarization so you never have to navigate this alone.

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 outdated, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before submission to the Illinois Secretary of State. We check document dates as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.

Getting an apostille on your Criminal Background Check follows a clear sequence of steps. First: ensure your Criminal Background Check is in its original, certified form. Step two: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Third: submit it to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield with the required state fee of $2. Fourth: receive your apostilled document — ready for international submission.

How Long Does a Criminal Background Check Apostille Take from Malta?

Several factors can affect how long your Criminal Background Check apostille takes: whether your document is ready for submission, the current backlog at the Illinois Secretary of State, how long shipping from Malta to Springfield takes, any pre-apostille notarization requirements, and the availability of expedited options. We gives you an accurate expected turnaround before you commit, so there are no surprises.

Once the Illinois Secretary of State issues the apostille, the certified document must travel back to Malta. This return shipment typically takes 1 to 3 business days from Springfield to Malta to the overall turnaround. Our service uses FedEx Priority or equivalent for all return shipments to ensure the fastest possible return to Malta. All return shipments include full insurance and tracking.

Courier-assisted submissions significantly cut turnaround for Malta residents. By physically delivering documents to the correct government office instead of using postal mail, the Illinois Secretary of State processes them same-day or next-day. Combined with courier transit from Malta, total turnaround is 3 to 7 business days — versus 3 to 6 weeks via mail.

What to Include with Your Criminal Background Check Apostille Submission

The Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield will only process the original document or a certified copy. Uncertified photocopies or digital prints are not accepted. If your original Criminal Background Check was lost, you will need to request a new certified copy from the issuing agency before submitting for an apostille. For vital records, the relevant Illinois agency can issue a new certified copy.

For Malta clients using our courier service, the steps are straightforward: package your original Criminal Background Check securely, add your contact details and any specific instructions, and ship it our way with tracking. We handle everything from document inspection to government submission and return delivery to Malta.

If you are submitting multiple documents, each document requires its own apostille certificate and a separate $2 fee. One apostille cannot cover multiple documents. We handle multi-document packages and ensures every document is individually apostilled and returned.

Common Apostille Mistakes Malta Residents Make

A mistake that affects many Malta residents is starting too late. Many applicants incorrectly expect the process takes a few days. Without a courier, the full process from Malta takes 3 to 6 weeks. Even with expedited courier processing, allow at least 5 to 7 business days. Begin the process as soon as you know you need it.

One more pitfall is not researching the destination country's specific requirements. Although the apostille certificate is universally recognized, requirements for supporting documents vary significantly. Spain, Italy, Germany, and Brazil require certified translations. Others additionally require specific document formatting or apostilled translations. Researching what the receiving country needs before apostilling prevents problems at the foreign authority.

Another common problem is submitting documents that are expired or outdated. The majority of Hague member countries require that apostilled documents criminal record documents, especially, be dated within the last 6 months. If your document is past its expiration window, a new document must be requested before apostilling. We check document dates as part of our intake review.

Shipping Your Criminal Background Check from Malta — What to Know

To begin the apostille process from Malta, ship your Criminal Background Check to our secure document hub via FedEx or UPS with tracking. Use a padded envelope or rigid mailer to protect it in transit. Include a brief note with your contact details and the destination country for the apostille. Shipping from Malta to our hub generally takes 1 to 2 business days.

Processing time begins from the day your document arrives at our hub. From Malta typically takes 1 to 2 business days. Allow one business day for intake review. Government processing takes 1 to 3 business days with our courier. Return shipping takes another 1 to 2 business days. Total door-to-door from Malta: typically 4 to 8 business days.

If you are an expat in needing a US Criminal Background Check apostilled, international clients are welcome. Send your Criminal Background Check internationally via FedEx International Priority or DHL Express. These carriers provide tracked, insured international shipping and document shipments typically clear customs without issues. We return apostilled documents to your international address via FedEx International Priority.

After the Apostille: Using Your Criminal Background Check Abroad

A critical timing consideration is how long your apostilled Criminal Background Check remains valid. Apostilles do not have a formal expiration date — however, most consulates specify that the apostilled document was issued recently. Federal criminal documents, for example, are routinely required to be within 6 months old. Plan accordingly by scheduling the apostille close to your submission date.

For business and corporate use, the post-apostille process often differs from personal immigration use. Companies using an apostilled Criminal Background Check for international contracts, foreign business registration, or regulatory filings often also require notarization of the translation, legalization at an embassy, or filing with a foreign corporate registry. In countries that are not Hague members, the apostille does not satisfy authentication requirements — a separate legalization process through the destination country's embassy in Washington D.C. is needed.

After getting your Criminal Background Check back with the apostille attached, review the apostille certificate before submitting it abroad. Verify that: the apostille is physically attached to the original document, your name and document details appear correctly on the apostille, and the issuing authority's name and date are present and correct. Errors in apostille certificates are rare but are best identified before your consulate appointment.

Why Malta Residents Use Our Apostille Courier Service

Residents of Malta choose our courier service because: speed. Mail-in self-processing from Malta takes 4 to 8 weeks on average. Our courier hand-delivers to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield, skipping the mail backlog entirely, and brings your apostilled document back to you in 2 to 5 business days. When timing is critical, that difference matters enormously.

Thousands of US residents have used our service for visa applications, foreign work permits, citizenship by descent, and international corporate transactions. We have refined the process to be as simple as possible: ship your original Criminal Background Check to us, we manage the Illinois Secretary of State submission, and ship it back to you apostilled. You never need to visit a government office. No bureaucracy for you to navigate. Just the completed apostille, returned to your door.

Navigating the apostille process alone involves determining the correct government authority, getting the right version of your document, managing the transit to and from Springfield, submitting the right amount to the Illinois Secretary of State, and getting the document back. Our service handles every one of these steps for a flat rate. Malta clients submit their document and receive it back apostilled — without ever dealing with a government office yourself.

Not sure what an apostille is? Read our complete guide.