Criminal Background Check Apostille in Washington, ME

How to Legalize Your Criminal Background Check from Washington

When you need your Criminal Background Check recognized overseas, an apostille from the Maine Secretary of State is required. Residents of Washington send their documents to Augusta to get this done without the hassle.

In Maine, the process for getting your Criminal Background Check apostilled involves submitting to the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta after any required notarization. Our courier service handles all three on your behalf.

The Global Apostille Network picks up the entire submission process for residents of Washington. You ship your originals to us via FedEx or UPS. We physically walk them into the Maine Secretary of State, secure the apostille, and return the certified documents within 2 to 5 business days. Every submission is insured and FedEx-tracked.

What is an Apostille?

Not every document can be apostilled. Apostilles apply only to public documents: records originating from or certified by a government institution. A Criminal Background Check is considered a public document because it comes from a government agency. Private contracts and commercial invoices typically do not qualify unless a government official has first certified them.

What the Maine Secretary of State actually does is authenticate the source of the document rather than its contents. It does not verify the accuracy of the information inside. Understanding this distinction matters because some countries may still reject documents with errors even after apostilling.

An apostille is a type of Hague certification created under the Hague Convention of 1961. Unlike a notarization, an apostille is accepted by all 124 Hague member countries — meaning your Criminal Background Check is recognized by international authorities without additional authentication. If you are in Washington, Maine, obtaining this certification requires working with the Maine Secretary of State.

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

The Global Apostille Network manages both state and federal apostille submissions: and. When you place an order, we identify whether your Criminal Background Check is state or federal and route it to the right office. Washington-based clients never have to navigate the state vs federal distinction themselves.

Your Criminal Background Check is a state-issued document. This means, the apostille is handled by the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta. Routing it through any other office — including local notaries, county clerks, or the US Department of State in DC will get it turned away and add weeks to your timeline.

The rationale behind state vs federal apostilles comes down to the federal structure of the United States. The Maine Secretary of State in Augusta can only certify documents issued by that state's own agencies. It cannot certify over anything originating from a US federal agency. Apostilles for federal records belongs to the US Department of State.

Why a Local Notary in Washington Cannot Apostille Your Document

People across Maine mistakenly believe they can get an apostille through any notary in ME. This assumption is wrong. A notary public is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They cannot issue an apostille certificate — only the Maine Secretary of State can do this.

To summarize: local offices in Washington do not have the legal authority to attach the Hague Apostille certificate. Only the state's designated authority is authorized to issue apostilles for Maine-issued records. Attempting to use local offices will result in rejection. The only way forward for Washington residents is submission to the Maine Secretary of State, which our team manages for you.

One nuance worth noting: a notary stamp can be part of the apostille process. Certain documents must be notarized first. Educational records and private documents often must be notarized before being submitted to the Maine Secretary of State. For these documents, the notarization happens locally in Washington and the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta handles step two.

The Correct Authority: Maine Secretary of State in Augusta

When apostilling a Criminal Background Check from Maine, the designated apostille authority is the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta. Only the Maine Secretary of State is authorized to attach Hague Apostille certificates on records from Maine government agencies. The Maine Secretary of State maintains the official registry of state seals and is therefore the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.

When the Maine Secretary of State receives your Criminal Background Check, an authorized state officer verifies the seals and signatures and confirms that the issuing official's seals match the registry. If everything checks out, the apostille is attached as a cover page or attachment. The completed document is then returned by mail. Our runner collects it same-day or next-day.

The Maine Secretary of State in Augusta is typically open Monday through Friday. Turnaround times without expedited service generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on seasonal demand. If you are in Washington and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service dramatically cuts the wait.

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

With your apostilled Criminal Background Check in hand, it is legally valid for submission to any Hague Convention member country. In many cases, the receiving country may require a translation into their official language. Countries like Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UAE require a sworn translation. Ask us about comprehensive packages that include both apostille and translation.

The complete timeline for getting your document apostilled from Washington includes: obtaining the right version of your document, any required notarization, courier transit from Washington to the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta, government processing time, and return shipment to Washington. Via postal mail, the entire process runs 4 to 8 weeks. With a physical courier, turnaround shrinks to under a week from submission to return.

Before starting the apostille process, you need your Criminal Background Check in the right form. For vital records like birth or marriage certificates, you need a certified copy issued directly by the vital records office. In the case of your document, the document must carry an original raised seal or ink stamp — photocopies and scanned documents will be rejected.

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

Courier-assisted submissions significantly cut turnaround for Washington residents. When our runner physically walks your documents to the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta instead of using postal mail, the Maine Secretary of State processes them same-day or next-day. Including shipping from Washington to the Maine Secretary of State and back, total turnaround is 2 to 5 business days — versus the 4 to 8 week postal alternative.

Processing times for Criminal Background Check apostilles have historically been elevated in Q1 and Q2 when immigration and visa application activity peaks. During these periods, the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta may add 2 to 4 weeks to normal processing times. Submitting in fall or winter when your timeline allows can result in faster processing.

If you have a specific deadline — like a visa application deadline or an immigration hearing — building in extra time is important. Budget at least 2 to 3 weeks for mail-in service and at least 5 to 7 business days for courier service. Expedited processing is sometimes possible on shorter notice depending on availability at the time of order.

What to Include with Your Criminal Background Check Apostille Submission

When apostilling more than one document, every document needs a separate apostille and a separate $10 fee. One apostille cannot cover multiple documents. Our service coordinates bulk submissions and ensures every document is individually apostilled and returned.

After receiving your apostilled Criminal Background Check, inspect the apostille to confirm that the Hague certificate is correctly affixed, the information on the apostille matches your document, and everything is in order. If you notice any discrepancies, notify the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta promptly. Errors in the apostille are rare but do occur and are easier to fix before submission abroad.

The Maine Secretary of State in Augusta will only process original or properly certified versions. Uncertified photocopies or digital prints will be rejected. If your original Criminal Background Check was lost, a new certified copy must be obtained from the source before the apostille process can begin. For vital records, the relevant Maine agency can issue a new certified copy.

Common Apostille Mistakes Washington Residents Make

A frequently overlooked issue is submitting documents that are expired or outdated. Most consulates require that apostilled documents criminal record documents, in particular, be dated within the last 6 months. If your document is past its expiration window, a new document must be requested before submitting for the apostille. Our team verifies document dates as a standard step in our process.

Some Washington residents try to use an apostille from the wrong state. If your Criminal Background Check was issued in a different state, the apostille must come from the issuing state — not from the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta. Always apostille through the issuing state. We confirm the originating state for each document to ensure correct routing.

Incorrect payment is an easily avoidable mistake. The Maine Secretary of State in Augusta charges $10 per apostille document. Underpaying or overpaying will cause rejection. We submit the correct fee for each document so you are never delayed by a payment issue.

Shipping Your Criminal Background Check from Washington — What to Know

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 or DHL Express. Both services offer reliable international tracking and customs documentation is straightforward for government documents. We return apostilled documents to your address in via FedEx International Priority.

Insurance for your Criminal Background Check during shipping and processing is included at no extra charge. Every document handled by our service is insured for full replacement value during transit. If an issue arises, we coordinate the resolution directly — including coordinating with shipping carriers and issuing authorities. Our goal is that you always receive your apostilled document back exactly as submitted.

Return shipping is covered by the service price. After the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta attaches the apostille, we ships your Criminal Background Check back to Washington via FedEx with priority shipping with full insurance and end-to-end tracking. Most return shipments take 1 to 3 business days depending on destination. Overnight return shipping is an option for urgent situations.

After the Apostille: Using Your Criminal Background Check Abroad

When you receive your returned apostilled Criminal Background Check, review the apostille certificate before sending it to the foreign authority. Verify that: the certificate is properly affixed, the information on the certificate matches your document, and the Maine Secretary of State's seal and signature are on the certificate. Problems with the certificate itself are uncommon but are best identified before your consulate appointment.

Something important to know about apostilled Criminal Background Checks is that the apostille authenticates the document's official origin. If the underlying document contains incorrect information — errors in the dates, names, or other details — the apostille does not fix it. A consulate can still refuse an apostilled Criminal Background Check if the information inside is incorrect. Any corrections must be addressed at the source agency — not at the apostille stage.

Once you have the apostille back from Washington, you are ready to submit it to the foreign consulate, embassy, immigration authority, or employer. Submission requirements vary by country and institution: certain consulates require you to appear in person, others accept mailed or digital submissions. Confirm the specific submission process with the receiving authority in advance to ensure your submission is accepted.

Why Washington Residents Use Our Apostille Courier Service

Beyond speed, what sets our service apart is our intake review process. Prior to any government submission, we review every document for common issues that cause rejection: expired dates, missing seals, uncertified copies, wrong document versions, and incorrect routing. Catching these before submission saves days or weeks. Most apostille services skip this step and just forward documents to the government.

One concern Washington residents often have is whether using a courier service for something as sensitive as a Criminal Background Check is safe. Every person who handles your Criminal Background Check in our service is a vetted US-based professional. Documents are never left unattended. Every document we process is handled with the same care as the most sensitive possible record. We are a registered US LLC and operate under the same legal framework as any US courier service handling sensitive documents.

Handling the Criminal Background Check apostille process without help involves figuring out which office has jurisdiction, ensuring your document is in the correct form, handling shipping in both directions, submitting the right amount to the Maine Secretary of State, and getting the document back. Our service handles every one of these steps for a flat rate. Washington 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.