FBI Background Check Apostille in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, FBI Background Check apostilles must be processed through the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. The state fee is $10 per document. Select your city below to see local courier options and processing times.
New Hampshire Apostille Requirements
- Authority: US Department of State in Washington D.C.
- Office Location: Washington D.C.
- State Fee: $10
- Important Rule: Justices of the peace can also notarize.
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. The reason FBI Background Checks come up in many international processes including immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. If you are in New Hampshire, the apostille for a FBI Background Check must come from the US Department of State in Washington D.C..
An apostille is a form of Hague certification created under the Hague Convention of 1961. Unlike a local notary stamp, an apostille is accepted by all 124 Hague member countries — meaning your FBI Background Check is valid for submission to foreign embassies, government offices, and employers. If you are in New Hampshire, New Hampshire, obtaining this certification goes through the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C..
An important point is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. Most foreign authorities additionally ask for a certified translation into the local language as well as the apostille. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the UAE typically require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Our service includes comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.
New Hampshire: State vs Federal Authority
The most common apostille mistake is submitting documents to the incorrect government authority. For example, if you mail a FBI Background Check issued in New Hampshire to the US Department of State in DC, the federal office will refuse to process it. Similarly, mailing a federal document to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. will also come back unprocessed. Either way, the wasted transit time sets your application back by weeks.
For urgent submissions, expedited apostille service is offered by our courier service. Some state offices offer walk-in or expedited processing. Our team takes advantage of in-person processing by walking documents in, which is typically the only way to access same-day or next-day processing.
The single most important thing to know about the apostille process for your document is determining which office issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the US, there are two parallel systems: state-level and federal-level. Documents issued by New Hampshire, including 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 federal authentication office in DC.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
Another reason local options fail 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 receiving country will refuse the document. This could result in an outright rejection from the foreign authority even if everything else in your application is correct.
Beyond notaries, county clerks, municipal offices, and city government offices in NH also cannot issue apostilles. Even visiting the New Hampshire city hall, county courthouse, or register of deeds will not produce an apostille. The only office in NH that can attach the Hague certificate 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. A courier-assisted submission is the only way to access same-day processing at the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. Our team serves all cities in New Hampshire with full FedEx tracking and insurance on every submission.
The New Hampshire Apostille Authority
When apostilling a FBI Background Check from New Hampshire, the designated apostille authority is the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. Only the US Department of State in Washington D.C. is authorized to grant Hague Apostille certificates on New Hampshire-issued public documents. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. holds the official seals of New Hampshire government officials and is therefore the only authorized source for apostilles on New Hampshire-issued records.
When the US Department of State in Washington D.C. receives your FBI Background Check, an authorized state officer reviews the document and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. Once verified, the apostille is attached as a separate certificate appended to your document. The completed document is then mailed back to you. Our runner collects it same-day or next-day.
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 submission backlog. For New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
After we receive your FBI Background Check, we inspect each document for any issues that could cause rejection. This pre-flight review catches common problems like improper certification, wrong document versions, or missing state fees. Catching these before submission saves days or weeks — rejection from the US Department of State in Washington D.C. that restarts the whole process.
Getting an apostille on your FBI Background Check follows a clear sequence of steps. First: confirm that your document is the original or a certified copy. Step two: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Step three: submit it to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. along with the applicable state fee. Step four: collect the completed apostille — ready for any Hague member country.
Something many applicants miss is ensuring the document is not expired. FBI Background Checks, for example, are typically required to be dated within 6 months at the time of submission to the foreign authority. If your document is past its useful window, a new document must be requested before submission to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. We check document dates as a standard step to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.
How Long Does a FBI Background Check Apostille Take in New Hampshire?
The US Department of State has its own processing timeline for federal documents. Standard mail-in processing to DC for federal apostilles can take 6 to 11 weeks due to the national volume of federal authentication requests. A DC-based courier can complete the federal apostille in 2 to 4 business days by walking documents in directly.
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, arrival at our processing hub, submission to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C., apostille issuance notification, and outbound FedEx tracking back to New Hampshire. This end-to-end tracking is not possible with direct mail.
Processing times for a FBI Background Check apostille vary depending on the submission method and current government backlog. Mail-in submissions from New Hampshire to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. usually require 4 to 8 weeks in total — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, wait times can extend further.
What to Include With Your Submission
Some New Hampshire residents ask whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For mail-in submissions, a brief cover letter is recommended stating your name, document type, document count, and return address. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. handles many submissions daily and a simple cover sheet helps the office handle your request correctly and quickly.
The US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s fee of $10 must accompany your submission. Accepted payment methods vary by state but generally include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. Our courier service pays the US Department of State in Washington D.C. fee as part of the service so you never worry about wrong payment forms.
One detail that matters: for non-English documents, additional steps may be required depending on the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. In other cases, the US Department of State in Washington D.C. apostilles the foreign-language document as-is and the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you submit your request.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
The number one mistake is sending your document to the wrong government authority. People in New Hampshire 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 mistake costs weeks — the time lost in transit to and from the wrong authority — before you are even back to square one.
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. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are difficult or expensive to replace. We use FedEx with full insurance and tracking for maximum protection from the moment we receive your document to its return to New Hampshire.
Mailing an uncertified copy instead of an original or certified copy 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 rejected without processing. Request a new certified copy before submitting your documents.
Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire?
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 New Hampshire 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.