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FBI Background Check Apostille
FBI Identity History Summary checks are federal documents, so they are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not a state office. Upload your PDF and we handle the rest.
$119 per document, government fee included. You see the exact total before you pay.
- Upload your FBI PDF — most need no mailing
- 7 to 10 business days, the fastest there is: our D.C. agents hand-deliver it
- Government fee included, nothing added at checkout
- We check your document before it is submitted
- Tracked, insured return shipping, worldwide
Rather talk it through? Call (771) 777-4807 and we will tell you what your document needs before you pay for anything.
Current processing times
Federal apostille
7 to 10 business days
Counted in business days from when we have a usable document, not including return shipping. The State Department does not process federal apostilles faster than 7 to 10 business days for any reason, even emergencies. Our agents in Washington, D.C. hand-deliver every document, which gets you the fastest turnaround available. Tight deadline? Call us and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
An FBI background check, formally an Identity History Summary, is the document most often requested for work visas, residency applications, teaching abroad, and long-stay permits. Because it is issued by a federal agency, it does not go to a Secretary of State. It goes to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
That distinction matters, because sending a federal document to a state office gets it rejected and sending a state document to the federal office does the same. If you are unsure which applies to your document, the rule is simple: ask who issued it. A state or county office means state apostille. A federal agency such as the FBI, USCIS, IRS, USDA, or a federal court means federal apostille.
FBI checks are usually delivered as a digitally signed PDF from an approved channeler or the FBI directly. In most cases we can work from that PDF, which means you can start the process the same day it arrives without mailing anything. Some destination countries still require a printed and physically signed copy, and we will tell you if yours is one of them.
Federal apostilles run on the U.S. Department of State’s own timeline, which is generally slower than state processing. If your visa or residency deadline is tight, start early and tell us the date you are working toward.
At a glance
How to get the check, and what each route gives you
| Route | Typical speed | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| FBI directly, electronic request | Days | Digitally signed PDF |
| FBI-approved channeler | Often fastest | Digitally signed PDF, fingerprinting arranged |
| FBI by mail, fingerprint card | Weeks | Printed summary |
| State background check | Varies | Not a substitute, goes to that state instead |
The FBI now signs Identity History Summaries with a division official’s signature and watermark, which is what the State Department authenticates. If the request form offers an option for a signed or authenticated copy for apostille, choose it, and keep the result exactly as issued. See how to get an FBI background check and the approved channelers.
What makes an FBI check unusable
- It was not authenticated when issued. This cannot be fixed retroactively. It is the most common and most expensive mistake with these.
- It is too old. Many destinations will not accept one older than three or six months, and some insist on thirty days. An apostille does not reset the clock.
- It is a state check, not a federal one. A state police or BCI check is a state document and goes to that state. Many destinations specifically require the FBI one.
- The PDF has been printed and rescanned. That destroys the digital signature the Department of State validates. Send the original file.
- The destination wants a physical copy and you only have the PDF. A few still do, so confirm before ordering.
- The name does not match your passport. Consulates check this against the rest of your file.
Start your FBI background check apostille. Exact price in about two minutes.
How it works
Step 1
Upload your PDF
Send us the digitally signed summary you received from the FBI or your channeler. No mailing needed in most cases.
Step 2
We check it is usable
We confirm the signature is valid and the copy meets the destination country’s requirements before submitting.
Step 3
Federal apostille
We submit to the U.S. Department of State and track it through their process.
Step 4
Delivered back
Shipped tracked and insured, collected from one of our offices, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
FBI Background Check Apostille: common questions
Does my FBI check go to a state or the federal government?
Federal. The FBI is a federal agency, so the apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. A Secretary of State cannot apostille it and will reject the submission.
Can you work from the PDF, or do you need the original?
In most cases the digitally signed PDF is enough and you can upload it directly in our booking flow. A few countries insist on a printed, physically signed copy. Tell us your destination country and we will confirm which you need.
How old can the background check be?
Many countries will not accept a check older than three or six months, and some require it to be issued within thirty days. Check your destination’s rule before ordering, because an expired check cannot be fixed with an apostille.
My summary has no FBI seal. Is that a problem?
No. The FBI no longer places a seal on these results. They are authenticated by a watermark and the signature of a division official applied when the request is processed, and that is what the U.S. Department of State works from.
Can you authenticate a summary I received a while ago?
Not retroactively through the FBI. Authentication is applied at the time the request is processed, and the FBI declines requests to authenticate results it has already issued. If yours was not authenticated when produced, you will need a fresh check, which is another reason to confirm your destination’s recency rule before ordering.
How long does a federal apostille take?
Seven to ten business days. The U.S. Department of State does not process federal apostilles any faster for any reason, even emergencies. Our agents in Washington, D.C. hand-deliver your FBI check, which is the fastest turnaround available. See processing times.
My country is not in the Hague Convention. What then?
Then an apostille will not be accepted and the document needs full embassy legalization instead, which adds authentication and an embassy stage after the federal step. We handle that chain too.
Do I need a translation?
Frequently, yes, particularly for residency and work permits. We offer certified and sworn translation and can bundle it into the same order.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
FBI Identity History Summary FAQ · FBI-approved channelers · U.S. Dept. of State authentications
Ready to get started?
Upload your background check and get an exact price before you pay, including the federal fee.
Related: How to get an FBI check · FBI-approved channelers · Federal apostille services · Embassy legalization · Certified translation · Pricing