FBI Background Check Apostille

What Is an FBI Background Check Apostille?

An FBI background check apostille is a federal-issued authentication certificate attached to an FBI Identity History Summary (also called a criminal background check), certifying the document’s authenticity for use in any country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 1961. The apostille is a standardized international form – a square stamp or printed certificate roughly 9 cm on each side – that is recognized in all 120+ Hague member countries without further authentication.

The FBI Identity History Summary is the only criminal background check issued by the US federal government that covers an individual’s entire criminal history record at the federal level. State-issued criminal background checks cover only records within a single state’s jurisdiction.

Why Apostille an FBI Background Check?

FBI Identity History Summary documents are required in a wide range of international legal and administrative processes where proof of clean criminal record matters. Common situations that require an apostilled FBI background check include:

• Work visas abroad – many countries require an apostilled FBI background check as part of a work visa application, particularly for skilled-worker and professional visa categories
• Foreign residency applications – long-term residency permits in many countries require apostilled criminal record checks from countries of prior residence
• Citizenship applications – naturalization in some countries requires an apostilled FBI background check, particularly for those who have lived in the United States
• International adoption – both prospective adoptive parents and adult adoptees often need apostilled FBI background checks as part of the adoption process
• Foreign teaching positions – many international schools and universities require an apostilled FBI background check as part of the hiring process
• Overseas employment in sensitive fields – finance, healthcare, education, and government positions often require apostilled background checks
• Foreign professional licensing – obtaining a professional license in another country (law, medicine, engineering) often requires proof of clean criminal record
• Foreign marriage applications – some countries require proof of clean criminal record as part of the marriage registration process
• Au pair and caregiver positions – international au pair and caregiver programs typically require apostilled FBI background checks
• International volunteer programs – Peace Corps, Fulbright, and similar programs require apostilled FBI background checks
• Foreign real estate transactions – some countries require background checks as part of property purchases by foreigners
• Fighting criminal accusations abroad – defending against false accusations in a foreign jurisdiction by proving clean US record

Federal Apostille, Not State

FBI Identity History Summary documents are federal records – they are issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a federal agency. They are apostilled by the US Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, not by any state Secretary of State.

This is a critical distinction: submitting an FBI background check to a state Secretary of State will result in automatic rejection. The state office has no jurisdiction over federal documents. Similarly, a state-issued criminal background check cannot be apostilled federally – only FBI Identity History Summaries are processed by the US Department of State.

The same federal apostille pathway also applies to other federal documents such as:

• NARA records (National Archives)
• Naturalization certificates
• Federal court orders
• USCIS documents
• US Department of State certificates

How to Obtain an FBI Identity History Summary

Before you can apostille your FBI background check, you need an actual Identity History Summary document. There are three ways to obtain one:

1. FBI Direct Online (Electronic)

The fastest option. You submit your request through the FBI’s electronic request system at edo.fbi.gov. The FBI processes electronic requests in roughly 24 hours and delivers the Identity History Summary as a PDF via email. The PDF includes a unique identification code and digital signature that the US Department of State accepts for apostille purposes.

This is the method Apostille50 recommends for nearly all customers – it produces a clean electronic file that you can email or upload to us without ever needing to print or mail anything.

2. FBI Direct by Mail

You submit a fingerprint card and a request form to the FBI at:

FBI CJIS Division
Attn: Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Processing time is roughly 4 to 6 weeks. The FBI mails back a printed Identity History Summary, which you then mail to Apostille50 for the federal apostille.

3. FBI-Approved Channeler

Private companies authorized by the FBI to process Identity History Summary requests on behalf of the public. Channelers often offer same-day or next-day electronic delivery for an additional fee. Apostille50 does not require use of a channeler – the FBI direct method is sufficient for the apostille.

Once you have the Identity History Summary (electronic or paper), you can submit it to Apostille50 for the federal apostille.

Digital Submission

Unlike state-issued documents, FBI Identity History Summary documents are issued electronically by default. This means the entire apostille process can be completed without mailing a physical document:

• Email submission – attach the Identity History Summary PDF to an email sent to info@apostille50.com with your order confirmation number in the subject line
• Upload portal – upload through the secure portal on your order confirmation page (up to 10 files)
• More than 10 files – email directly to info@apostille50.com

The apostilled document is returned by trackable mail in a sealed envelope, typically within 2 weeks of receipt. If you need an electronic apostille, contact us before placing your order – e-apostille availability depends on the destination country’s acceptance of electronic apostilles.

Document Requirements

To apostille an FBI background check through Apostille50, you need:

• One FBI Identity History Summary (electronic PDF or printed original)
• Order confirmation showing the destination country
• If submitting by mail: trackable return shipping envelope

For electronic submissions:

• PDF format (preferred)
• The unique FBI identification code (UAN) should be visible
• Digital signature should be intact

For mail submissions:

• The original printed Identity History Summary issued by the FBI
• Do not fold, staple, or modify the document
• Include in a flat envelope

Common Rejection Reasons

The US Department of State will reject an FBI background check submission if:

• The document is a photocopy of a paper Identity History Summary (electronic PDFs are accepted)
• The FBI digital signature has been tampered with or removed
• The document is older than the destination country’s recency window
• The submission is incomplete (missing required cover information)
• The document has been altered or annotated

If your submission is rejected, Apostille50 will contact you and recommend next steps. In most cases, obtaining a fresh Identity History Summary from the FBI resolves the issue.

Recency Requirements

The US Department of State does not enforce a recency rule on FBI background checks – the apostille is valid regardless of when the Identity History Summary was issued. However, most destination countries impose their own recency requirements, commonly requiring the Identity History Summary to have been issued within the last 3 to 6 months.

Common destination country recency windows:

Because recency requirements vary by destination and can change, confirm the requirement with the receiving authority before ordering your FBI background check.

Processing Time

Federal apostille processing times for FBI background checks:

• Standard rush processing – approximately 2 weeks from the date Apostille50 receives your documents
• Standard mail-in processing (without Apostille50) – typically 6 to 8 weeks through the Department of State directly

Apostille50’s standard 2-week turnaround is achieved by coordinating submissions directly with the US Department of State Office of Authentications and managing all routing steps in-house.

Pricing

FBI Background Check apostille pricing through Apostille50:

For orders containing only federal apostilles (such as one or more fbi background check documents), no service charge applies. If you add a state apostille to the same order, the $100 service charge applies to the entire order.

The FBI’s own fee for the underlying Identity History Summary is separate and is paid directly to the FBI or channeler – it is not part of Apostille50’s pricing.

Common Destination Countries

While any Hague Convention country accepts an apostilled FBI background check, certain countries see especially high demand:

• Mexico – temporary and permanent residency
• Spain – work visas and residency
• Germany – work visas and residency
• United Kingdom – work visas and residency
• Canada – work permits and residency
• Italy – citizenship and residency
• South Korea – work visas and E-7 visa applications
• Japan – work visas and residency
• China – work visas and residency
• United Arab Emirates – work visas and residency
• Australia – work visas and citizenship
• New Zealand – work visas and residency
• Singapore – work visas

Special Cases

Channeler-Issued Identity History Summaries

Identity History Summaries obtained through FBI-approved channelers are accepted for apostille. The apostille process is the same – the document is processed by the US Department of State Office of Authentications regardless of how the underlying Identity History Summary was obtained.

State Criminal Background Checks vs. FBI Background Checks

State criminal background checks (covering only records within one state’s jurisdiction) are different documents from FBI Identity History Summaries. Some countries accept state checks; others specifically require the FBI check. State criminal background checks are apostilled by the state where they were issued, not federally. If you have a state-level criminal background check instead of an FBI check, see our state apostille service page.

Non-US Citizens

Non-US citizens can obtain FBI Identity History Summaries if they have been fingerprinted in the United States or have had their fingerprints submitted to the FBI. Non-citizens typically apply through the FBI’s mail-in process using a fingerprint card from a US-based fingerprinting service.

Multiple Identity History Summaries

You can apostille multiple FBI Identity History Summaries in a single order (for example, family members applying for visas together). Each document incurs its own $75 federal apostille fee. No service charge applies for orders containing only federal apostilles.

How to Order

To order a FBI Background Check apostille through Apostille50:

1. Add a Federal Apostille item to your order on the Order page (one per document being apostilled) 2. Select your destination country (this confirms Hague status) 3. Complete checkout – you’ll receive an order confirmation email with upload instructions 4. Submit your FBI Identity History Summary by:

• Email to info@apostille50.com with your order confirmation number, OR
• Upload through the secure portal on your order confirmation page (up to 10 files) 5. Apostille50 submits your document to the US Department of State and returns it apostilled by trackable mail

Typical turnaround is approximately 2 weeks from receipt of your documents.

Related Pages

• Federal Apostille Service overview – for all federal documents

• State Apostille Service overview – for state criminal background checks and other state documents

• All 50 state apostille pages – state-specific fees and processing times