Criminal Background Check Apostille in Texas

Texas Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Texas Secretary of State
• Office Location: Austin
• State Fee: $15
• Important Rule: Walk-in service available.

What Is a Criminal Background Check Apostille?

Criminal Background Checks are regularly among the highest-volume apostille requests. 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 Texas, the Texas Secretary of State in Austin is the correct office for Criminal Background Check apostilles.

An apostille is a standardized government certification created under the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike a notarization, an apostille is recognized internationally — meaning your Criminal Background Check is recognized by international authorities without additional authentication. If you are in Texas, Texas, obtaining this certification goes through the Texas Secretary of State in Austin.

One critical distinction is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. The majority of Hague member countries additionally ask for a sworn or certified translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities typically require both the apostille and a certified translation. Our service includes comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.

Texas: State vs Federal Authority

The most common apostille mistake is routing documents to the wrong office. If you send a state Criminal Background Check to the US Department of State in DC, the federal office will refuse to process it. In reverse, sending an FBI Background Check to a state Secretary of State office will also come back unprocessed. In both cases, the round-trip postal time adds 2 to 4 weeks to your timeline.

When timelines are tight, rush processing is offered by our courier service. Some state offices provide same-day service for in-person deliveries. Our team exploits walk-in submission options by walking documents in, getting you the fastest possible turnaround from Texas.

The most critical thing to know about getting a Criminal Background Check apostilled is knowing which government authority processes your specific document type. In the United States, there are two distinct apostille pathways: state and federal-level. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and Criminal Background Checks go to the state apostille office. Documents from US federal agencies, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Something else to consider is that the receiving country check whether the apostille was issued by the proper office. If the apostille comes from an unauthorized office, the receiving country will refuse the document. This could result in an outright rejection from the foreign authority even if you have all other documents in order.

Beyond notaries, local government offices in Texas are equally unable to apostille documents. Even visiting any local Texas government office will not produce an apostille. The sole authority in Texas authorized to issue apostilles for state documents is the Texas Secretary of State.

If you are working under a tight deadline, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner is the only way to access same-day processing at the Texas Secretary of State. Our courier service handles Texas-area pickups and submissions with full FedEx tracking and insurance on every submission.

The Texas Apostille Authority

For Criminal Background Checks issued in Texas, the designated apostille authority is the Texas Secretary of State in Austin. The Texas Secretary of State is the sole office in TX to issue Hague Apostille certificates on records from Texas government agencies. The Texas Secretary of State maintains the official registry of state seals and is consequently the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.

Once your document arrives at the Texas Secretary of State, a state official verifies the seals and signatures and confirms that the issuing official's seals match the registry. Once verified, the apostille is affixed as a cover page or attachment. The apostilled document is then held for courier pickup. Our runner picks it up within 24 hours.

The Texas Secretary of State in Austin is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Processing times for mail-in submissions typically run 1 to 3 weeks depending on current volume. If you are in Texas and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service can reduce processing time to 2 to 5 business days.

How to Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Texas

After we receive your Criminal Background Check, we inspect each document for any issues that could cause rejection. This intake review catches common problems like improper certification, wrong document versions, or missing state fees. Catching these before submission saves days or weeks — a first-attempt rejection.

Getting an apostille on your Criminal Background Check involves a clear sequence of steps. First: confirm that your document is the original or a certified copy. Second: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Third: send it to the correct authority along with the applicable state fee. Step four: receive your apostilled document — ready for international submission.

Something many applicants miss is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. Federal background checks, for example, have a shelf life of six months or less 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 Texas Secretary of State. We check document dates as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.

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

The US Department of State has its own processing timeline for federal documents. Regular postal submissions to the Office of Authentications often takes 6 to 11 weeks due to the volume of requests from all 50 states. A DC-based courier gets the federal authentication done in 2 to 4 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.

Knowing where your Criminal Background Check is is one of the most valued aspects of a physical courier over postal mail. We provide real-time tracking at each step: initial pickup, receipt by our team, submission to the Texas Secretary of State in Austin, completion confirmation, and outbound FedEx tracking back to Texas. This level of visibility is not possible with direct mail.

Turnaround for a Criminal Background Check apostille vary depending on the submission method and current government backlog. Documents sent by postal mail from Texas to the Texas Secretary of State in Austin 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.

What to Include With Your Submission

A common question is whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For direct submissions to the Texas Secretary of State, including a short cover page is advisable stating your name, document type, document count, and return address. The Texas Secretary of State handles many submissions daily and a clear cover letter reduces processing errors.

Payment for the state fee must accompany your submission. Accepted payment methods vary by state but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. Our courier service handles the fee payment so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.

An easy-to-miss detail: for non-English documents, additional steps may be required depending on the Texas Secretary of State. 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 place your order.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

The single most expensive apostille error is sending your document to the wrong government authority. Texas residents sometimes send federal records to their state Secretary of State. In both cases, the documents come back with a rejection notice. This mistake costs weeks — the round-trip postal time to the wrong office — before you can resubmit correctly.

Sending original documents through standard postal mail without insurance is something we strongly advise against. Documents sent by uninsured mail are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Original government-issued documents are difficult or expensive to replace. We ship all documents via FedEx for complete end-to-end protection.

Sending a scanned printout instead of the original document is a common rejection reason. The Texas Secretary of State in Austin will only apostille documents with an authentic original seal and signature. Submitting a scan or uncertified copy will be rejected without processing. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before submitting your documents.

Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Texas

Our courier network covers the Texas Secretary of State in Austin, 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 Texas