Criminal Background Check Apostille in Minnesota

Minnesota Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Minnesota Secretary of State
• Office Location: St. Paul
• State Fee: $5
• Important Rule: Mail-in only.

What Is a Criminal Background Check Apostille?

An apostille is a standardized Hague certification established by the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike a notarization, an apostille is recognized internationally — meaning your Criminal Background Check is valid for submission to foreign embassies, government offices, and employers. If you are in Minnesota, Minnesota, obtaining this certification goes through the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul.

Something many Minnesota residents overlook is that the apostille does not translate your document. Most foreign authorities additionally ask for a sworn or certified translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities almost always require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Our service includes complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.

The Hague Apostille Convention eliminated the cumbersome embassy-by-embassy authentication process that existed before 1961. Previously, getting an American document accepted overseas involved multiple rounds of authentication at different government levels followed by embassy stamps. The Convention simplified this into one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. For Criminal Background Checks issued in Minnesota, the designated office is the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Minnesota: State vs Federal Authority

If you have a deadline, expedited apostille service is offered by our courier service. Some state offices have expedited tracks for urgent requests. Our team takes advantage of in-person processing by submitting in person rather than by mail, bypassing the mail queue entirely.

The most critical thing to know about getting a Criminal Background Check apostilled is knowing which government authority issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the United States, there are two parallel systems: state and federal. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and Criminal Background Checks go to the state apostille office. Federally issued records, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.

For documents issued by Minnesota government agencies, the apostille can only be issued by the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. Typically, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The Minnesota Secretary of State reviews the document's seals and signatures and issues the Hague certificate within 1 to 4 weeks depending on current volume.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Beyond notaries, local government offices in Minnesota in MN also cannot issue apostilles. Even a trip to the Minnesota city hall, county courthouse, or register of deeds will not produce an apostille. The sole authority in Minnesota authorized to issue apostilles for state documents is the Minnesota Secretary of State.

For Minnesota residents who need a Criminal Background Check apostilled urgently, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner reduces turnaround from weeks to days. Our courier service serves all cities in Minnesota with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.

Many residents of Minnesota initially assume they can handle this through any notary in MN. This assumption is wrong. A local notary can only witness signatures and verify identity. They cannot issue an apostille certificate — that authority belongs exclusively to.

The Minnesota Apostille Authority

When the Minnesota 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. Once verified, the apostille is attached as a cover page or attachment. The completed document is then returned by mail. Our runner retrieves it and ships it back to Minnesota.

The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul is typically open Monday through Friday. Processing times for mail-in submissions typically run 1 to 3 weeks depending on submission backlog. For Minnesota residents who need faster turnaround, an in-person submission via a runner service can reduce processing time to 2 to 5 business days.

There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: it may need to be notarized or certified first. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits often must be notarized before the Minnesota Secretary of State will apostille them. Our team advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before submitting to the Minnesota Secretary of State so there are no delays from missing prerequisites.

How to Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Minnesota

Getting your Criminal Background Check apostilled follows a clear sequence of steps. First: ensure your Criminal Background Check is in its original, certified form. Second: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Step three: submit it to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul along with the applicable state fee. Fourth: receive your apostilled document — ready for any Hague member country.

Something many applicants miss 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 past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before submission to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.

Depending on your document type 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, a notarization is usually required by a licensed notary prior to submission to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. We handles this coordination so you never have to navigate this alone.

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

Knowing where your Criminal Background Check is is a key advantage of a physical courier over postal mail. Our service includes status updates at each step: initial pickup, arrival at our processing hub, delivery to the government office, completion confirmation, and dispatch of the return shipment to Minnesota. This end-to-end tracking is not possible with direct mail.

Turnaround for a Criminal Background Check apostille depend on the submission method and current government backlog. Mail-in submissions from Minnesota to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul usually require 4 to 8 weeks in total — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, particularly during visa application seasons, backlogs can push timelines to 8 to 12 weeks.

For Minnesota residents in a rush, the quickest option is a courier service that physically delivers to the Minnesota Secretary of State. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul can complete apostilles same-day for in-person deliveries. Our runner capitalizes on this to get Minnesota clients their apostilles within a business week.

What to Include With Your Submission

The Minnesota Secretary of State's fee of $5 is required. Forms of payment differ at each Minnesota Secretary of State but generally include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. Our courier service includes fee payment in our all-in-one courier package so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.

An easy-to-miss detail: if your Criminal Background Check was issued in a language other than English, some Minnesota Secretary of State offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the apostille is issued without requiring a translation and translation is handled separately after the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you place your order.

Before sending your document to the Minnesota Secretary of State, confirm you are sending: your original Criminal Background Check or an official certified copy, any required notarization, a completed submission form if required, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Missing any of these will cause rejection.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

Mailing irreplaceable originals through the US Postal Service without a tracking number is a significant risk. Documents sent by uninsured mail are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are difficult or expensive to replace. We ship all documents via FedEx for complete end-to-end protection.

Sending a scanned printout instead of an original or certified copy is a common rejection reason. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Sending a photocopy will be rejected without processing. Request a new certified copy before submitting your documents.

Failing to provide a prepaid return label is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul will not return your document without a prepaid return method. Without a prepaid return envelope, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. Our service includes return shipping — no separate arrangements needed.

Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Minnesota

Our courier network covers the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul, 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 Minnesota