FBI Background Check Apostille in Missouri
People in Missouri who need their FBI Background Check apostilled must submit it to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. charges $10 per document. Choose your city to find courier options.
Missouri Apostille Requirements
- Authority: US Department of State in Washington D.C.
- Office Location: Washington D.C.
- State Fee: $10
- Important Rule: Quick turnaround time.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?
FBI Background Checks are regularly among the highest-volume apostille requests. This is because FBI Background Checks come up in many international processes including immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. For residents of Missouri, the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is the correct office for FBI Background Check apostilles.
An apostille is a form of government certification established by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Unlike a notarization, an apostille is recognized internationally — meaning your FBI Background Check is valid for submission to international authorities without additional authentication. If you are in Missouri, Missouri, obtaining this certification means submitting your document to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C..
One critical distinction is that an apostille is not a translation. Most foreign authorities require a certified translation into the local language in addition to the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities typically require both the apostille and a certified translation. We offer comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.
Missouri: State vs Federal Authority
One of the most costly apostille mistakes is routing your FBI Background Check to the wrong office. For example, if you mail a FBI Background Check issued in Missouri to the US Department of State in DC, the federal office will refuse to process it. Similarly, mailing a federal document to a state Secretary of State office results in the same rejection. In both cases, the round-trip postal time sets your application back by weeks.
For urgent submissions, rush processing is available in many cases. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. provide same-day service for in-person deliveries. Our courier uses these expedited tracks by walking documents in, which is typically the only way to access same-day or next-day processing.
The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about getting a FBI Background Check apostilled is knowing which government authority issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the US, there are two distinct apostille pathways: state-level and federal-level. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and FBI Background Checks go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. Documents from US federal agencies, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C..
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 your FBI Background Check is apostilled by the wrong authority, the foreign embassy or government office will reject it. This may trigger a visa denial even if you have all other documents in order.
Beyond notaries, county clerks, municipal offices, and city government offices do not have apostille authority. Even visiting any local Missouri government office would not produce a Hague certificate. The sole authority in Missouri authorized to issue apostilles for state documents is the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C..
If you are working under a tight deadline, relying on postal mail to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. is risky. Using a physical runner cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our courier service handles Missouri-area pickups and submissions with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.
The Missouri Apostille Authority
When apostilling a FBI Background Check from Missouri, the designated apostille authority is the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. is the sole office in MO to grant Hague Apostille certificates on records from Missouri government agencies. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. maintains the official registry of state seals and is therefore the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.
Once your document arrives at the US Department of State in Washington D.C., a state official verifies the seals and signatures and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. Once verified, the apostille is attached as a separate certificate appended to your document. The apostilled document is then held for courier pickup. Our courier retrieves it and ships it back to Missouri.
The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is typically open Monday through Friday. Turnaround times without expedited service generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on current volume. For Missouri residents who need faster turnaround, an in-person submission via a runner service can reduce processing time to 2 to 5 business days.
How to Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in Missouri
After we receive your FBI Background Check, we inspect each document for any issues that could cause rejection. This intake review identifies issues like missing seals, uncertified copies, outdated notarizations, or incorrect fees. Catching these before submission avoids the need to resubmit — a first-attempt rejection.
Getting a FBI Background Check apostilled requires a defined process. Step one: confirm that your document is the original or a certified copy. Step two: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Step three: send it to the correct authority with the required state fee of $10. Step four: 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 submission to the foreign authority. If your FBI Background Check is past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before submission to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.
How Long Does a FBI Background Check Apostille Take in Missouri?
The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Standard mail-in processing to the Office of Authentications can take 8 to 12 weeks because of the national volume of federal authentication requests. A DC-based courier gets the federal authentication done in 2 to 5 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.
Knowing where your FBI Background Check is is one of the most valued aspects of a physical courier over postal mail. We provide status updates at each step: initial pickup, receipt by our team, submission to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C., apostille issuance notification, and outbound FedEx tracking back to Missouri. This level of visibility is not possible with direct mail.
Turnaround for apostille certification depend on how the document is submitted and the US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s current workload. Mail-in submissions from Missouri to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. typically take 4 to 8 weeks in total — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. At busy times, particularly during visa application seasons, government processing alone can take 4 to 6 weeks.
What to Include With Your Submission
Some Missouri residents ask whether a cover letter is needed with their apostille submission. For direct submissions to the US Department of State in Washington D.C., a brief cover letter is recommended with your contact information and document details. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. processes high volumes of requests and a clear cover letter helps the office handle your request correctly and quickly.
The US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s fee of $10 must be included. Accepted payment methods vary by state but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. We handles the fee payment so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.
An easy-to-miss detail: for non-English documents, some US Department of State in Washington D.C. offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the US Department of State in Washington D.C. apostilles the foreign-language document as-is and translation is handled separately after the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you place your order.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
The most common and costly apostille mistake is sending your document to the wrong government authority. People in Missouri sometimes mail federal records to their state Secretary of State. In both cases, the office will reject the submission and return the document unprocessed. This adds 2 to 4 weeks — the time lost in transit to and from the wrong authority — before you can resubmit correctly.
Sending original documents 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. Original government-issued documents are sometimes time-consuming and costly to replace. We use FedEx with full insurance and tracking for maximum protection from the moment we receive your document to its return to Missouri.
Mailing an uncertified copy instead of the original document is a frequent cause of delays at the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Submitting a scan or uncertified copy will be returned immediately. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before starting the apostille process.
Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in Missouri
Our courier network physically delivers to the US Department of State in Washington D.C., typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.
Order NowFrequently Asked Questions — FBI Background Check Apostille in Missouri
Why can't I apostille my FBI Background Check through my state Secretary of State?
FBI Background Checks are issued by a federal agency — the US Department of Justice — not by any state government. State Secretaries of State can only apostille documents that originated within their own state. Federal documents must be authenticated by the US Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C., regardless of which state you live in.
How long does a federal FBI Background Check apostille take from Missouri?
Standard mail-in processing at the US Department of State typically takes 6 to 11 weeks. A physical courier who walks documents directly into the Office of Authentications in Washington D.C. reduces turnaround to 2 to 5 business days — critical when you have a visa appointment or consulate deadline.
Do I need a certified translation after getting the apostille on my FBI Background Check?
The apostille certifies the document's authenticity but does not translate it. Many countries — including Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and the UAE — require a sworn or certified translation in addition to the apostille before a foreign authority will accept the document. We offer comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.
What is the difference between an FBI Background Check and a state criminal background check for apostille purposes?
An FBI Identity History Summary is a federally issued document and must be apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington D.C. A state-issued criminal background check from Missouri is apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. Many countries specifically require the federal FBI check rather than a state record — confirm the requirement with your consulate before ordering.