U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — NOT your state Secretary of State. FBI background checks are federal documents and must go through the federal apostille process.
What You Need Before Submitting for Apostille
An Identity History Summary from the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Order at edo.cjis.gov. The FBI provides the document with a special certification for apostille purposes — do not request an uncertified copy.
Step-by-Step Process
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1
Obtain the Correct Document Version
See the preparation requirements above. The most common reason apostille requests fail at step one is submitting the wrong version of the document. When in doubt, contact the issuing authority (vital records office, court clerk, school) and confirm you have the right certified copy before proceeding.
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2
Identify Your State's Apostille Office
The apostille is issued by the state where the document was issued or notarized — not where you live now. Use our state directory to find the correct office, current fee, and mailing address for your state.
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3
Prepare Your Submission Package
Include: the original certified document, a cover letter (your name, return address, destination country, document count), payment (check or money order to the state authority for the per-document fee), and a pre-addressed return envelope with tracking.
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4
Submit and Wait
Mail to the address on your state's official website (always verify — addresses change). Use a tracked mailing method. Standard processing: 5–15 business days depending on state. See the state table for your state's specific timeline.
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5
Receive and Submit to Destination
Verify the apostille is securely attached. Do not separate it from the original. If a translation is required, send the complete apostilled document to a certified translator. Then submit the full package to your foreign authority.
Common Uses: Apostilling a FBI Background Check
| Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|
| Work visa applications (EU, Latin America) | Most non-tourist visas require apostilled criminal background checks. |
| Teaching English abroad (EPIK, JET, etc.) | South Korea (EPIK), Japan (JET), China, and other programs require FBI apostille. |
| Spain non-lucrative visa | Required along with apostilled birth certificate for initial application. |
| Long-term residency in Mexico, Colombia, Portugal | Criminal background check with apostille required for most residency categories. |
| Adoption proceedings | International adoption agencies typically require apostilled background checks. |
The FBI currently takes 3–5 business days to process requests submitted through their online portal. The U.S. Department of State processes federal apostilles in approximately 6–8 weeks by mail. Factor this into your visa or program application timeline — this step alone can take 2–3 months from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apostille jurisdiction follows the issuing authority. The FBI is a federal agency — its documents are not issued by any state, so no state has authority to authenticate them. The U.S. Department of State is designated as the apostille authority for all documents issued by federal agencies.
The U.S. Department of State offers a standard processing time of 6–8 weeks by mail. For faster turnaround, the Washington Passport and Visa Examination Center accepts walk-in apostille requests for federal documents on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Some professional courier services specialize in federal apostille submissions and can reduce turnaround to 1–2 weeks.
Technically no — one apostilled FBI background check can sometimes be used for multiple applications if the timeline permits. However, many countries require the check to be less than 3–6 months old at the time of submission, and the apostille lists the destination country. Check whether your destination countries require a country-specific apostille or accept a general-purpose one.
The apostille process does not screen for criminal records — it simply authenticates the signature and seal of the FBI. The apostille will be issued regardless of what's in the record. Whether the record affects your visa or residency application is a separate question determined by the destination country's immigration rules.