FBI Background Check Apostille in Virginia
The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is Virginia's official apostille authority for FBI Background Checks. State fees are $10 per document. We service all cities in Virginia — find yours below.
Virginia Apostille Requirements
- Authority: US Department of State in Washington D.C.
- Office Location: Washington D.C.
- State Fee: $10
- Important Rule: Requires county clerk certification for some documents.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a FBI Background Check Apostille?
One critical distinction is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. The majority of Hague member countries require a sworn or certified translation as well as the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities almost always require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Ask us about complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.
The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the old multi-step embassy legalization process that was standard before the Hague system. Under the old system, getting a US document recognized abroad involved notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The apostille replaced this with a single certificate issued by one designated authority. For FBI Background Checks issued in Virginia, that authority is the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C..
FBI Background Checks are regularly among the highest-volume apostille requests. This is because FBI Background Checks are routinely required for immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. If you are in Virginia, only the US Department of State in Washington D.C. can issue this certification in VA.
Virginia: State vs Federal Authority
The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about the apostille process for your document is determining which government authority issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the United States, there are two parallel systems: state-level and federal. Documents issued by Virginia, including FBI Background Checks go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.. Documents from US federal agencies, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.
For documents issued by Virginia government agencies, the apostille is only available from the Virginia Secretary of State's office. Before submission, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. verifies the document's origin and seal and attaches the apostille typically in 1 to 3 weeks.
One of the most costly apostille mistakes is routing documents to the incorrect government authority. If you send a state FBI Background Check to the US Department of State in DC, it will be rejected and returned. Similarly, sending an FBI Background Check to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. will also come back unprocessed. Either way, the round-trip postal time sets your application back by weeks.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
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 courier service serves all cities in Virginia with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.
Many residents of Virginia often expect they can handle this at a local notary office in Virginia. This is incorrect. A notary public can only witness signatures and verify identity. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — only designated government offices hold this power.
Something else to consider is that foreign authorities 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 delay your entire application even if everything else in your application is correct.
The Virginia Apostille Authority
The US Department of State in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C. is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times for mail-in submissions generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on submission backlog. For Virginia residents who need faster turnaround, an in-person submission via a runner service gets the apostille in 2 to 5 business days.
Before your document can be submitted to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.: some documents require prior notarization. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits typically require notarization as a first step. We advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before starting the submission so your submission is accepted on the first attempt.
For FBI Background Checks issued in Virginia, the correct office 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 attach Hague Apostille certificates on Virginia-issued public documents. 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.
How to Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in Virginia
Something many applicants miss 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 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.. We check document dates as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.
Some document types require notarization before they can be apostilled. When your document is not a government-issued record, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary prior to 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 intake review identifies issues like missing seals, uncertified copies, outdated notarizations, or incorrect fees. Catching these before submission prevents the most common cause of apostille delays — rejection from the US Department of State in Washington D.C. that restarts the whole process.
How Long Does a FBI Background Check Apostille Take in Virginia?
Processing times for a FBI Background Check apostille vary depending on how the document is submitted and the US Department of State in Washington D.C.'s current workload. Mail-in submissions from Virginia 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, backlogs can push timelines to 8 to 12 weeks.
If you need your FBI Background Check apostilled urgently, the quickest option is a runner that hand-delivers to the US Department of State in Washington D.C. 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 return apostilled documents to Virginia faster than any postal alternative.
The US Department of State has its own processing timeline for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Standard mail-in processing to the Office of Authentications can take 8 to 12 weeks due to 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.
What to Include With Your Submission
An easy-to-miss detail: if your FBI Background Check was issued in a language other than English, some US Department of State in Washington D.C. offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. In other cases, 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.
When submitting your FBI Background Check for apostille, ensure you have: the original document or a certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, a completed submission form if required, payment for the state fee of $10, and a prepaid FedEx or USPS return. Leaving out any item will result in your documents being returned unprocessed.
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 with your contact information and document details. The US Department of State in Washington D.C. handles many submissions daily and a simple cover sheet reduces processing errors.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Sending a scanned printout 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. will only apostille documents with an authentic original seal and signature. Sending a photocopy will be rejected without processing. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before starting the apostille process.
Failing to provide a prepaid return label 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 return label, your apostilled document may sit uncollected for days. Our service includes return shipping — no separate arrangements needed.
The most common and costly apostille mistake is routing your FBI Background Check to the incorrect office. Virginia residents sometimes send 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 can resubmit correctly.
Get Your FBI Background Check Apostilled in Virginia
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 Virginia
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 Virginia?
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 Virginia 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.