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Taking new files today(415) 439-0289
Federal Route · U.S. Dept of State · International Employment Ready

Apostille Your
FBI Background Check

FBI Identity History Summary apostilles are processed by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. — not California’s Secretary of State. We coordinate the federal filing from our San Francisco office so you don’t have to navigate the federal process alone.

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At a glance
DocumentFBI Identity History Summary · issued by the CJIS Division
Apostille byU.S. Department of State · Washington D.C., not Sacramento
Not this routeCalifornia DOJ Live Scan results · different authentication path
Turnaround5–7 weeks by mail · U.S. Dept of State
Price$350 federal route · $45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille
Is this page right for me?

You need this page if…

01You have an FBI Identity History Summary (the official letter from the FBI CJIS Division or via FBI.gov)
02A foreign employer, immigration authority, or visa agency requires it apostilled for use abroad
03The destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention

California DOJ background checks (Live Scan results) are NOT the same as an FBI check — they require a different apostille path. See federal apostille process →

Requirements

What You Need to Submit

Gather these before submitting. We verify each item during the $45 Document Check.

01

FBI Identity History Summary

Must be the official letter issued by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Obtain it via FBI.gov → Identity History Summary Checks. FBI processing times vary, and electronic submission is faster than mail. Request it early.

02

FBI Watermark & Signature

The document must be the FBI’s results bearing the FBI watermark and the signature of an FBI division official. If you used an FBI-approved channeler (Fieldprint, Identogo, etc.), keep the original results you received rather than a printout of a PDF. We confirm eligibility during the $45 Document Check.

03

Destination Country & Purpose

Different countries require different formatting. Employment visas, residency permits, and teaching credentials each have distinct consulate requirements. Specify the destination country and your visa or permit type.

04

Payment

$350 flat for the FBI Background Check apostille. The $45 Document Check puts $20 toward your apostille. Courier charges to Washington D.C. are included.

Note: Do NOT confuse the FBI Identity History Summary with a California DOJ Live Scan result. Only the FBI summary (the letter from CJIS) can receive a federal apostille. State DOJ results go through a different authentication path. If you’re unsure which document you have, the $45 Document Check resolves this.

Our fees

Price & Turnaround

Flat Priceper apostille · federal route$350
Standard Turnaroundby mail · U.S. Dept of State5–7 weeks

Includes courier to U.S. Dept of State in Washington D.C. · Same-day Sacramento n/a (federal process only) · $45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille

Federal processing is longer than California SOS. File early for visa and employment deadlines. For travel within two weeks, the Department of State offers limited emergency appointments.

What you get

What’s Included

01

Document Verification

We confirm your FBI summary is the correct CJIS format and hasn’t expired for your destination country’s requirements before we file anything.

02

Federal Filing

We ship your document to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C. via tracked overnight courier and monitor processing status.

03

Return Shipping

USPS Priority or FedEx return included once the U.S. Dept of State issues the apostille. International courier to your destination country available on request.

Verification that your FBI summary is in CJIS format (apostille-eligible)

Overnight courier to U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, D.C.

Processing status updates via email or text

Return Priority shipping once apostille is issued

Destination country requirement verification

Guidance if FBI summary needs reissuance (format issues)

Process

How Your FBI Background Check Apostille Gets Filed

01

Document Check

Submit your FBI Identity History Summary. We verify it is the correct CJIS format and meets your destination country’s specific requirements within 24 hours.

02

Federal Filing

We courier your document overnight to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C. — not Sacramento. Federal apostilles only process through D.C.

03

Dept of State Processing

The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications attaches the apostille. By mail, plan on 5–7 weeks. For travel within two weeks, the Department of State offers limited emergency appointments.

04

Returned to You

The apostilled FBI summary is shipped back by USPS Priority or FedEx, or forwarded internationally if you need delivery directly to a foreign consulate or employer.

$350Per apostille · federal route
How we handle it

We confirm it is the FBI summary, courier it to the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., then ship the apostille back.

$45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille. Courier to Washington D.C. included. By mail, plan on 5–7 weeks.

Call (415) 439-0289Document Check

FBI Background Check Apostille — Common Questions

01

Why does an FBI background check go to Washington D.C. instead of Sacramento?

FBI background checks are federal documents — they carry a federal (CJIS Division) signature, not a California state signature. The California Secretary of State can only apostille documents with registered California signatures. Federal documents must go through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C., which is the designated federal apostille authority under the 1961 Hague Convention.
02

How do I get the FBI Identity History Summary before I can apostille it?

Request it at FBI.gov → Identity History Summary Checks. You can submit fingerprints by mail or through an FBI-approved channeler (Fieldprint, Identogo). FBI processing times vary, and electronic submission is faster than mail. Then allow 5–7 weeks for the federal apostille by mail. Start early.
03

My California DOJ Live Scan results came back. Can I apostille those?

Not with a federal apostille. California DOJ results are state documents, not FBI documents. Many foreign countries specifically require the FBI Identity History Summary (federal), not a state DOJ result. If a foreign employer says “apostilled background check,” they almost always mean the FBI summary. Confirm with the requesting party before ordering any document.
04

Does the FBI background check expire for apostille purposes?

The FBI does not put an expiration date on the Identity History Summary itself. However, foreign governments and employers often impose their own currency requirements — typically requiring the background check be issued within 3 to 12 months of your visa or permit application. Check your specific destination country’s requirements before requesting the FBI summary.
05

Which countries require an apostilled FBI background check?

Common requirements include: Mexico, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia for employment visas, residency permits, and teaching or healthcare credentials. Some countries (Qatar) are not Hague members and require embassy legalization instead of an apostille. We verify the correct path for your destination.
06

Can you send the apostilled FBI background check directly to a foreign consulate or employer?

Yes. We offer international courier service from our San Francisco office. Once the U.S. Department of State returns the apostilled document to us, we can forward it directly to your foreign destination. Mention this requirement when you submit — we’ll include a courier quote alongside the apostille fee.
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