An FBI background check may be required when you are moving abroad, applying for foreign residency or citizenship, starting an international job, completing an adoption, obtaining a visa, or handling another legal matter outside the United States. In many cases, receiving the background check itself is only the first step. The document may also need an apostille before a foreign authority will accept it.
If you are researching how to get an apostille for FBI background check documents, it is important to understand that an FBI background check is a federal document. That means the apostille process is different from the process used for California birth certificates, marriage certificates, notarized documents, and other state-level records.
Below, we explain how to get an FBI background check apostille, where it must be submitted, what documents you need, and how to avoid common delays.
What Is an FBI Background Check Apostille?
An FBI background check, formally known as an FBI Identity History Summary Check, provides information associated with fingerprints submitted to the FBI. The FBI currently authenticates these results with an FBI watermark and the signature of a division official. The FBI itself does not issue the apostille. Once the FBI background check has been properly issued, it can be submitted to the U.S. Department of State for an apostille when one is required.
An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate a public document for use in another country that participates in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. The certificate helps a receiving authority abroad verify the authenticity of the signature and authority associated with the U.S. document.
Common reasons someone may need an apostilled FBI background check include:
- Applying for residency in another country
- Obtaining a work or long-term visa
- Applying for dual citizenship
- Teaching or working overseas
- Completing an international adoption
- Getting married abroad
- Applying for professional licensing overseas
- Meeting foreign immigration requirements
The exact requirements can vary by country and by the organization receiving your documents, so confirming the destination country’s requirements before beginning the process can help prevent unnecessary delays.
Expedite Your FBI Background Check Apostille With VIP Notary Services
If you need your FBI background check apostilled quickly, you do not have to navigate the standard mail-in process on your own. VIP Notary Services can expedite the federal apostille process by at least a month through in-person services, helping you avoid the lengthy turnaround associated with mailing your documents to the U.S. Department of State.
Instead of sending your FBI background check by mail and waiting five plus weeks for processing and return shipping, VIP Notary Services can handle the process in person on your behalf. This can be especially valuable if you are working against a deadline for a visa, residency application, international job, citizenship application, marriage abroad, or other time-sensitive requirement.
VIP Notary Services will help ensure your documents are properly prepared for submission, coordinate the federal apostille process, and keep the process moving as quickly as possible. If time matters, contact VIP Notary Services before submitting your FBI background check by mail to learn about expedited in-person apostille service.
How to Get an Apostille for FBI Background Check Documents
Because FBI background checks are issued by a federal agency, they generally must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, rather than through the California Secretary of State.
Here is the process step by step.
Step 1: Request Your FBI Identity History Summary
Before learning how to get an apostille FBI background check documents require, you first need an eligible FBI background check.
You can request your Identity History Summary directly from the FBI. The FBI currently charges $18 for an Identity History Summary Check. Requests may be submitted through the FBI’s available application process, and fingerprints are required.
The FBI also maintains a list of approved channelers that can electronically submit fingerprint information and related data to the FBI on an individual’s behalf.
Make sure the information you submit is accurate, particularly:
- Your full legal name
- Date of birth
- Mailing information
- Fingerprint information
- Any identifying information requested by the FBI
Errors at this stage can create complications later when the document is being prepared for international use.
Step 2: Make Sure You Have the Proper FBI-Issued Document
The U.S. Department of State requires federal documents submitted for an apostille to meet its document-preparation requirements.
The document should be an original or qualifying certified copy and should contain the appropriate federal official’s signature and identifying information. Federal documents should also contain the issuing agency’s required markings or letterhead.
The FBI states that its fingerprint search results are authenticated at the time they are issued by including the FBI watermark and the signature of a division official. Previously processed results cannot simply be returned to the FBI later for authentication.
For this reason, it is important to begin with the correct version of your FBI background check rather than attempting to alter, certify, or notarize an inappropriate copy.
Step 3: Determine Whether You Need an Apostille or Authentication Certificate
Before submitting anything, identify the country where the FBI background check will be used.
This is one of the most important parts of understanding how to get an FBI background check apostille.
The U.S. Department of State issues:
- Apostille certificates for documents being used in countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
- Authentication certificates for documents being used in countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, additional legalization through the country’s embassy or consulate may also be required.
Always verify the requirements of the country and organization receiving your background check before submitting your documents.
Step 4: Do Not Notarize the FBI Background Check
A common mistake is assuming that an FBI background check must first be notarized in California before it can receive an apostille.
It should not.
The U.S. Department of State specifically instructs applicants not to notarize the original federal document. Notarizing the FBI background check can make the document unacceptable for the federal authentication process.
This is an important distinction because many state-level documents follow a different apostille process. Although notarization may be required for certain private or state documents, the federal FBI document has its own authentication path.
If a translation of your background check is required by the receiving country, the translation may have separate notarization requirements. The original FBI document itself, however, should not be notarized.
Step 5: Complete Form DS-4194
The next step in how to get an apostille for FBI background check documents is completing U.S. Department of State Form DS-4194.
This form is used to request authentication services from the Office of Authentications.
You will need to provide information including the country where the document will be used. This is especially important because the destination country determines whether the Department of State issues an apostille or another form of authentication.
Review the form carefully before submitting it. Missing or incorrect information can slow down the process.
Step 6: Prepare Your Apostille Request Package
A mail-in federal apostille request generally needs to include:
- Completed Form DS-4194
- Your qualifying FBI background check
- The applicable U.S. Department of State fee
- A self-addressed, prepaid return envelope
The U.S. Department of State currently charges $20 per document for authentication services. Mail-in payments must currently be made by check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Because government requirements and fees can change, it is wise to confirm the latest instructions before sending your package.
Step 7: Submit the FBI Background Check to the U.S. Department of State
Mail-in apostille applications are submitted to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
Current mail-in instructions direct applications to:
Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O. Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206
The Department of State recommends using trackable USPS mail for the outgoing request. Applicants must also include a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope. USPS or UPS may be used for the return envelope; the Department currently advises against using FedEx for the return shipment.
Carefully confirm these details with the Department of State before mailing, particularly if you are reading this guide well after its publication date.
Step 8: Allow Enough Time for Federal Processing
Processing times are an important consideration when determining how to get an apostille FBI background check documents need before an international deadline.
The Department of State currently states that mailed requests are processed within approximately five weeks after the Office of Authentications receives them. Walk-in requests in Washington, D.C. have a different process and are currently intended for applicants traveling within roughly two to three weeks.
Remember that processing time does not necessarily include:
- Time required to obtain the original FBI background check
- Shipping time to the Department of State
- Return shipping
- International mailing
- Translation
- Embassy or consular legalization when applicable
- Processing by the foreign agency receiving the document
If you have a visa, immigration, employment, or relocation deadline, start the process as early as possible.
What Happens After You Receive the FBI Background Check Apostille?
Once the U.S. Department of State issues the apostille, the apostille becomes attached to or associated with your FBI document.
At that point, the document is generally prepared for presentation in the Hague Convention country for which it was processed, subject to that country’s specific requirements.
You may still need to complete additional steps such as:
- Obtaining a certified or professional translation
- Providing copies to an immigration attorney
- Submitting the document to a foreign consulate
- Sending the original to an employer or government agency
- Completing additional application forms
Do not separate or alter the apostille and underlying document unless the receiving organization specifically instructs you to do so.
How Long Does It Take to Get an FBI Background Check Apostille?
There is no single processing time that applies to every situation.
As of early 2026, the U.S. Department of State states that mailed authentication requests are processed within approximately five weeks from the date they are received. Government processing times can change, however, and shipping adds additional time.
Your overall timeline may also depend on how quickly you obtain the FBI background check itself.
If your document is connected to an upcoming move, visa appointment, employment start date, school enrollment, or another international deadline, do not assume the process can be completed at the last minute.
Common FBI Background Check Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Knowing how to get an apostille for FBI background check records correctly can save significant time. Some of the most common problems occur because applicants confuse the federal apostille process with a state apostille.
Watch for these mistakes:
- Sending an FBI background check to the California Secretary of State. FBI background checks are federal documents and follow the federal apostille process.
- Notarizing the original FBI background check. The Department of State instructs applicants not to notarize the federal document.
- Failing to verify the destination country. Hague Convention countries use apostilles, while non-Hague countries follow a different authentication process.
- Submitting the wrong type of FBI document. Make sure you have properly issued FBI results containing the required authentication elements.
- Leaving Form DS-4194 incomplete. Missing information can cause avoidable processing delays.
- Forgetting the return envelope. Mail-in requests must include a self-addressed prepaid return envelope.
- Waiting until the last minute. Federal processing and shipping can take 5+ weeks.
A professional apostille service can be especially helpful when you are dealing with an international deadline or are uncertain about which authentication procedure applies.
Does an FBI Background Check Need a California Apostille?
Generally, no.
This is an important point for California residents searching how to get an FBI background check apostille.
The California Secretary of State issues apostilles for qualifying documents associated with California authorities, such as certain state and county records and qualifying notarized documents.
An FBI background check, however, is issued at the federal level. The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications is therefore the appropriate federal authority for obtaining its apostille.
This difference between state and federal documents is one of the most frequent sources of confusion in the apostille process.
Do You Need an Apostille If the Destination Country Is Not in the Hague Convention?
No. If the receiving country does not participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is generally not the correct certificate.
Instead, the U.S. Department of State provides an authentication certificate for qualifying documents being used in non-Hague countries. Additional legalization requirements may then apply depending on the destination country’s procedures.
Because international document rules differ considerably, checking the receiving authority’s requirements before beginning can prevent you from ordering the wrong certification.
Get Help From VIP Notary Services in Santa Monica
At VIP Notary Services, we provide mobile notary and apostille services for individuals and businesses throughout Santa Monica and surrounding Los Angeles communities. We are a California certified traveling mobile Notary Public, and our services include high-volume notarizations, real estate and loan document signing, legal-document notarization, and apostille assistance. Our 24/7 mobile service is available by appointment and is designed to bring professional document assistance directly to our clients.
We serve Santa Monica and communities throughout the surrounding area, including Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, Century City, Culver City, Venice, Malibu, Marina del Rey, Bel Air, West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Westwood, Hollywood, West Hollywood, and more. For documents that require international authentication, we also provide apostille services, including assistance with federal documents such as FBI background checks.
Need an FBI Background Check Apostille? Contact VIP Notary Services
Understanding how to get an apostille for FBI background check documents is much easier once you know that an FBI record follows the federal—not California state—apostille process. You need the proper FBI-issued document, must determine whether the destination country requires an apostille, complete the appropriate Department of State paperwork, and submit the document through the federal authentication process.
If you would rather have professional assistance navigating those steps, contact VIP Notary Services today. We help clients in Santa Monica and throughout the surrounding Los Angeles area with both mobile notary and apostille needs, including federal apostille services for FBI background checks.
Request a free quote or schedule an appointment with VIP Notary Services today to get started with your FBI background check apostille.
FAQs
Because an FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, qualifying FBI background checks are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications rather than by a state Secretary of State.
No. The FBI authenticates qualifying fingerprint search results when they are issued, but the apostille itself is obtained from the U.S. Department of State.
No. The Department of State specifically states that the original federal document should not be notarized. Doing so can make the document invalid for the federal authentication process.
The U.S. Department of State currently charges $20 per document for authentication services. This government fee does not include shipping, FBI background check fees, professional service fees, translation, or any additional legalization that may be required.
Apostilles are intended for countries participating in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Documents going to non-Hague countries require a different authentication process.
Yes. VIP Notary Services provides federal apostille assistance and identifies FBI background checks among the federal documents it handles for international use.