FBI Background Check Apostille in North Dakota
The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is the official apostille authority for FBI Background Checks. State fees are $10 per document. Our courier service handles submissions from cities across North Dakota.
North Dakota Apostille Requirements
- Authority: US Department of State in Washington D.C.
- Office Location: Washington D.C.
- State Fee: $10
- Important Rule: Straightforward process.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?
An important point is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. Most foreign authorities additionally ask for a notarized translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities routinely ask for both the apostille and a certified translation. Our service includes complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.
The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the old multi-step embassy legalization process that existed before 1961. Before apostilles, getting a US document recognized abroad required notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The apostille replaced this with one standardized certificate issued by one designated authority. In North Dakota, that authority is the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C..
FBI Background Checks are among the most frequently apostilled documents in the United States. This is because FBI Background Checks come up in many international processes including visa applications, residency permits, citizenship documentation, employment verification, and foreign legal proceedings. For residents of North Dakota, the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is the correct office for FBI Background Check apostilles.
North Dakota: State vs Federal Authority
The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about getting a FBI Background Check apostilled is determining which office processes your specific document type. In the United States, there are two completely separate authentication tracks: state and federal. 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.. Federally issued records, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C..
For documents issued by North Dakota government agencies, the apostille must come from the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. Typically, the document needs to be in certified form with an authentic seal. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. reviews the document's seals and signatures and attaches the apostille typically in 1 to 3 weeks.
The most common apostille mistake is sending documents to the wrong office. For example, if you mail a FBI Background Check issued in North Dakota to the US Department of State in DC, it will be rejected and returned. In reverse, mailing a federal document to a state Secretary of State office results in the same rejection. Either way, the round-trip postal time adds 2 to 4 weeks to your timeline.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
For North Dakota residents who need a FBI Background Check apostilled urgently, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our courier service serves all cities in North Dakota with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.
Many residents of North Dakota mistakenly believe they can handle this through any notary in ND. This assumption is wrong. A local notary is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They have no authority to issue an apostille certificate — only designated government offices hold this power.
Something else to consider is that Hague member countries will verify that the apostille came from the correct authority. If the apostille comes from an unauthorized office, your documents will be rejected at the destination. This may result in an outright rejection from the foreign authority even if everything else in your application is correct.
The North Dakota Apostille Authority
The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is typically open Monday through Friday. Processing times without expedited service generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on current volume. If you are in North Dakota and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service gets the apostille in 2 to 5 business days.
There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: some documents require prior notarization. Educational records and private documents typically require notarization as a first step. We identifies whether any notarization is needed before starting the submission so your submission is accepted on the first attempt.
For FBI Background Checks issued in North Dakota, the designated apostille authority is the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. This is the only office in North Dakota authorized to grant Hague Apostille certificates on North Dakota-issued public documents. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. holds the official seals of North Dakota government officials and is therefore the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.
How to Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in North Dakota
One of the most overlooked steps is ensuring the document is not expired. Federal background checks, for example, have a shelf life of six months or less at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your FBI Background Check is outdated, a new document must be requested before submission to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. We check document dates as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.
Depending on your document type require notarization before they can be apostilled. When your document is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary before the US Department of State in Washington D.C. will accept it. Our service handles this coordination so you never have to navigate this alone.
Once we have your documents, we inspect each document for compliance with the US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s submission requirements. This pre-flight review catches common problems like missing seals, uncertified copies, outdated notarizations, or incorrect fees. Catching these before submission avoids the need to resubmit — a first-attempt rejection.
How Long Does a FBI Background Check Apostille Take in North Dakota?
Turnaround for apostille certification vary depending on the submission method and current government backlog. Mail-in submissions from North Dakota 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, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, government processing alone can take 4 to 6 weeks.
For North Dakota residents in a rush, the fastest path is a courier service that physically delivers to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.. Many US Department of State in Washington D.C. offices offer same-day service for walk-in submissions. Our runner capitalizes on this to get North Dakota clients their apostilles within a business week.
The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Regular postal submissions to DC for federal apostilles can take 8 to 12 weeks due to the national volume of federal authentication requests. A physical courier in Washington D.C. gets the federal authentication done in 2 to 4 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.
What to Include With Your Submission
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 the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. We advise you on this when you place your order.
Before sending your document to the US Department of State in Washington D.C., ensure you have: your original FBI Background Check or an official certified copy, any required notarization, the US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s request form if applicable, payment for the state fee of $10, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Leaving out any item will delay your apostille.
A common question is whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For direct submissions to the US Department of State in Washington D.C., 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 clear cover letter reduces processing errors.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Mailing an uncertified copy instead of the original document is a common rejection reason. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. will only apostille documents with an authentic original seal and signature. Sending a photocopy will be returned immediately. Request a new certified copy before starting the apostille process.
Forgetting to include return shipping is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. does not automatically return documents. Without a prepaid return envelope, your apostilled document may sit uncollected for days. We handle return shipping as part of our flat-rate fee — you never have to worry about return logistics.
The single most expensive apostille error is sending your document to the wrong government authority. People in North Dakota sometimes mail federal records to their state Secretary of State. Either way, 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 are even back to square one.
Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in North Dakota
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 North Dakota
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 North Dakota?
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 North Dakota 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.