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FBI Background Check Apostille

We authenticate the FBI Identity History Summary you already have. Send us the original report, and we hand deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, so it comes back apostilled and ready for use abroad. We do not order, obtain, or correct the background check for you.

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We are a private document service and are not affiliated with any government agency. The federal filing fee is included in our price.

How it works

A simple, tracked path from your mailbox to the Department of State and back.

Send us the original FBI Identity History Summary you already have. We do not order, obtain, or request this document from the FBI on your behalf. A No Record result is accepted and apostilled the same way as any other result.

Mail us the original, unopened FBI report. We check it for the raw seal and signature the Department of State requires, then hand deliver it in Washington, DC.

We ship your apostilled FBI report back to you with tracking, ready to use with the foreign country or agency that requested it.

What you need to know

A few plain notes that help your document move through the process without delay.

  • We authenticate the FBI Identity History Summary you send us. We do not order, obtain, or correct the background check for you, so you will need to request it from the FBI yourself before you send it to us.
  • The FBI Identity History Summary must have the FBI's raw seal and an authorized signature. Copies or printouts without the raw seal cannot be apostilled.
  • A No Record result is a completely valid, apostillable document. It simply confirms the FBI has no criminal history on file for you.
  • Do not have your FBI background check notarized. Notarizing it can void the raw seal and cause the Department of State to reject it.
  • A state notary or state apostille office cannot apostille an FBI report. Only the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, DC can apostille federal documents like this one.
  • If your FBI report is older than a few months, some countries may ask for a newer one. Check with the requesting agency or embassy if you are unsure.
  • Typical turnaround is a matter of days once we receive your document, thanks to hand delivery instead of mailing it in yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Can an FBI background check with a No Record result be apostilled

Yes. A No Record result means the FBI found no criminal history matching your fingerprints or information. It is treated the same as any other FBI Identity History Summary and can be apostilled without any special steps.

Do I need to get my FBI report notarized first

No. Notarizing an FBI background check is not required and can actually cause problems, since the notary stamp can interfere with the FBI's raw seal that the Department of State checks. Send us the original FBI report as issued.

Can a state apostille office handle my FBI background check

No. FBI background checks are federal documents, so they must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, DC. State apostille offices only handle documents issued or notarized within that state.

How long does an FBI apostille take

Because we hand deliver your FBI report to the Department of State in Washington, DC instead of relying on the mail, most orders are finished in a matter of days rather than the weeks it can take when mailing it in yourself.

What if I only have a digital copy of my FBI report

The Department of State requires the original paper document with the FBI's raw seal. If you only have a digital copy, you will need to request a new Identity History Summary from the FBI, either by mail or through an approved channel that provides a certified paper copy.

Is the federal filing fee included

Yes. Our price includes the federal filing fee charged by the Department of State, along with our hand delivery and return shipping.

Do you order or obtain the FBI background check for me

No. We authenticate the FBI Identity History Summary you already have. We do not order, obtain, or correct the background check on your behalf, and we cannot request one from the FBI for you. If you do not yet have a copy, request it directly from the FBI before sending it to us.

Related resources

Federal document apostilleSee how FBI reports fit into the broader federal apostille process.Read moreDocument requirementsCheck the raw seal and signature rules before you mail anything.Read moreProcessing timesSee how long hand delivery takes compared to mailing it in yourself.Read moreWhat is an apostilleA plain language explanation of what an apostille certifies.Read moreApostille vs authenticationLearn which one your destination country requires.Read moreHague Convention countriesCheck whether your destination country accepts an apostille.Read more

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