FBI Background Check Apostille
The FBI background check is one of the most frequently requested documents for international use. Whether you are moving abroad for work, applying for residency, or completing an international adoption, here is everything you need to know to get it apostilled correctly.
A Federal Document, Authenticated Federally
- Federal routing: FBI Identity History Summaries are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., not a state Secretary of State.
- Processing time: Federal apostille processing typically takes 6 to 14 business days and cannot be expedited. Shipping time is separate.
- International ready: Recognized across Hague Convention member countries. We prepare and submit your FBI document on your behalf and ship the apostilled document back to you with tracking.
Can I apostille a PDF of my FBI background check?
Yes. The FBI Identity History Summary is issued as an electronic PDF, and the U.S. Department of State issues the federal apostille for it. You do not need a printed original or a notarized copy: upload the PDF you received from the FBI or your channeler to us, and we handle the rest. This is the same federal authentication path described below, and it works whether you have the PDF or a printed copy.
You never have to mail an original document.Why You Need an Apostilled FBI Background Check
Foreign governments, employers, and institutions in Hague Convention member countries (about 129 countries as of 2026) require an apostille to recognize U.S. documents as authentic. Common situations include:
Teaching abroad (Spain, South Korea, Japan, and other countries require background checks for foreign teachers)
Work visas and employment abroad that require a clean criminal record
Immigration and residency applications
Citizenship applications in countries where you have ancestry or residency
International adoption processes
The Full Process: Step by Step
Get Fingerprinted
Visit an FBI-approved channeler (fastest, results in days) or a participating USPS location. FBI-approved channelers submit your fingerprints electronically and return results much faster than direct mail.
Receive Your FBI Identity History Summary
You will receive an official FBI Identity History Summary, either as a PDF download or a physical document. This is the document that will be apostilled.
Submit to the U.S. Department of State
Submit your FBI document to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. This is the recommended authority for federal documents. We handle the submission paperwork on your behalf.
Receive the Apostilled Document
Federal apostille processing typically takes 6 to 14 business days. Federal processing cannot be expedited.
Obtain Certified Translation if Required
Many destination countries require a certified translation of the apostilled document into the local language. Check with your receiving authority before submitting.
Getting Your FBI Report Fast: The Channeler Path
How you obtain the FBI report decides how much time you have before your country's freshness window closes. The fastest route is an FBI-approved channeler.
Get fingerprinted at an FBI-approved channeler. Channelers submit your fingerprints electronically rather than by mail.
Receive your FBI Identity History Summary PDF. Through a channeler this is often issued the same day or within a few days.
Upload the PDF to Apostilles.us. We route it to the U.S. Department of State for the federal apostille and ship the finished document back to you.
If you submit fingerprints directly to the FBI by mail instead of using a channeler, plan for a longer wait, and the U.S. Department of State currently quotes about 5 weeks of processing for mail-in authentication requests (verified June 2026), plus mailing time in both directions, so plan for longer end to end before our handling. Using a channeler plus our service keeps your report well within most countries' freshness windows.
Last verified: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Department of State
How We Help
We handle federal routing, paperwork, and timing coordination so you do not have to navigate the Department of State process on your own. Service starts at $149 per document (Economy Standard), plus a $19 Government Processing and Handling fee per document.
Correct federal routing to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications
All submission paperwork prepared and handled on your behalf
Timing coordination to help you stay within your country's freshness window
Certified translation bundling if your destination country requires it
Domestic overnight shipping ($49) and international shipping ($87) available
Federal processing typically takes 6 to 14 business days and cannot be expedited. Our service tiers reflect our handling and coordination time, not the Department of State's processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The FBI Identity History Summary is issued as an electronic PDF, and the U.S. Department of State issues the federal apostille for it. You do not need a printed original or a notarized copy. Upload the PDF you received from the FBI or your FBI-approved channeler to us, and we route it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, obtain the apostille, and ship the finished document back to you with tracking.
Related Resources
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We handle federal routing to the U.S. Department of State and coordinate timing so your FBI background check is apostilled correctly the first time.
We are an independent service provider and not affiliated with any government authority, including the U.S. Department of State, the FBI, or any state Secretary of State office.