FBI Background Check Apostille — All 50 States

What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?

Many people believe that a certified copy is sufficient for international use. This assumption is incorrect. A notarization simply witnesses a signature at the local level. Foreign governments have no obligation to accept it. The Hague apostille on a FBI Background Check, on the other hand, is an internationally binding certificate that overseas institutions cannot reject on authentication grounds. This certificate is what transforms a domestic document into one accepted in any of the 124 Hague member countries.

Many foreign authorities specify how recently the apostilled document must have been issued. Federal background documents, in particular, must often be dated within 6 months of the consulate appointment. Vital record apostilles do not expire, but individual country requirements vary. We advise you on destination-country validity requirements when you contact us.

A FBI Background Check apostille is not a standard document certification. An apostille is a specific Hague Convention certificate that authenticates the chain of custody from the original issuer to the foreign receiving authority. This certificate is accepted in all 124 Hague Convention member countries as the sole required form of document authentication. For a FBI Background Check, the apostille is what makes it legally valid internationally.

Which US Authority Apostilles Your Document?

The Global Apostille Network manages submissions on both the state and federal apostille tracks. When you submit a document to us, our team determines the correct authority immediately. This prevents the risk of routing to the wrong office. Our courier network covers both state apostille offices across all 50 states and the US Department of State in DC.

The reason for the state vs federal split reflects how US jurisdiction works. The state-level apostille authority can only certify the seals and signatures of that state's government officials. It has no authority over records issued by federal agencies. Authenticating federal records belongs exclusively to the federal authentication office in Washington D.C.

Beyond state and federal tracks pre-apostille requirements. Official records bearing authentic government seals typically go straight to the apostille authority. Privately executed documents — like affidavits, powers of attorney, or private agreements — require notarization by a licensed notary before the Secretary of State will apostille them. We identifies any pre-apostille requirements before submitting.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Most first-time applicants begin by contacting local document services. None of these can issue an apostille. A notary public is authorized by the state to certify copies and administer oaths. They are explicitly not designated apostille authorities. The legal authority to issue an apostille is reserved for specific government offices: state Secretaries of State and, for federal documents, the US Department of State.

The physical submission requirement means digital copies are never accepted. The actual original document must travel to the government office. The reason turnaround time is measured in weeks for mail-in submissions and days for courier services. The main factor under your control is how the document reaches the apostille office: couriers eliminate the postal transit time entirely.

One important clarification: a local notarization can be a required step before the apostille process for some FBI Background Check categories. Non-government-issued records — like affidavits, powers of attorney, and private agreements — require prior notarization before a Secretary of State will apostille them. In these cases, a local notary handles step one and the Secretary of State handles step two. We determines whether notarization is required for your specific FBI Background Check before submitting.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

End-to-end turnaround for a FBI Background Check apostille factors in: obtaining the correct version of your document, any required pre-apostille notarization, courier transit to the authority, government processing time, and return shipment to you. Without an expedited courier, the entire process runs weeks for state, longer for federal. With our runner service, turnaround shrinks to under a week from the day you ship us your document.

The FBI Background Check apostille process involves a clear sequence of steps. Step one: obtain the correct version of your FBI Background Check — the original or a properly certified copy. Second: check if pre-apostille notarization is required for your document type. Third: submit to the correct authority — state Secretary of State or US Department of State depending on whether your FBI Background Check is state or federally issued. Step four: receive the apostilled document and submit it to the foreign authority.

After your document arrives at our hub, our team inspects it against the apostille office's requirements: we verify it is the original or a certified copy, ensure it is not outdated, verify any pre-submission requirements, and confirm the correct routing. This review typically takes one business day and prevents the single most common cause of apostille delay: a first-attempt rejection from the apostille authority.

Processing Times and Turnaround

Several factors affect how long your FBI Background Check apostille takes: the current backlog at the issuing authority, any pre-processing steps required, transit time, and whether you are using postal mail or a courier. Our service includes a realistic timeline estimate based on current government processing times when you contact us. When timing is critical — like a visa appointment or consulate date — we prioritize accordingly.

The fastest possible FBI Background Check apostille turnaround requires a runner that hand-delivers to the apostille office. The relevant government authorities offer same-day service for walk-in submissions. Our courier uses this option where available to return apostilled documents in 2 to 5 business days. For time-critical situations, contact us before ordering so we can confirm whether same-day processing is available.

How long your apostille takes vary significantly based on how you submit and the authority's current volume. Direct mail-in submissions are the slowest option: FBI Background Checks going to a Secretary of State typically take 3 to 6 weeks, and federal documents can take 6 to 11 weeks due to national demand. In spring and summer immigration seasons, both state and federal offices may experience extended backlogs.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Apostille

Sending original documents without insurance or tracking is something we strongly advise against. Original FBI Background Checks can be lost in transit or delayed indefinitely when sent by uninsured postal mail. Original apostillable documents are often difficult or time-consuming to replace. All shipments in our network are sent via FedEx with insurance and end-to-end tracking.

Incorrect or missing payment frequently causes rejections that could easily be avoided. Government apostille authorities charge fees per apostille document. Secretary of State fees differ but are generally $5 to $25 per apostille. Underpaying or submitting an incorrect payment form results in rejection. We handles all fee payments on your behalf so this type of delay never occur.

Not researching the destination country's specific apostille requirements causes problems even when the apostille itself is correct. Although the Hague certificate is universally recognized, requirements for supporting documents vary significantly. Spain, Italy, Germany, and Brazil require certified translations in addition to the apostille. Some also need notarization of the translation or embassy legalization in certain non-Hague countries. We advise you on any requirements beyond the apostille itself when you contact us.

Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled

Rather than navigating the bureaucracy alone, trust our submission specialists with your FBI Background Check. We have established relationships with both state and federal apostille offices and complete most FBI Background Check apostilles in 2 to 5 business days — compared to the 6 to 11 week mail-in turnaround at the federal level for do-it-yourself postal submissions. Flat-rate pricing, full insurance, and FedEx tracking on every order.

Frequently Asked Questions — FBI Background Check Apostille