--- title: "How to Apostille an FBI Background Check | Complete Guide — 1Apostille" url: https://1apostille.com/guides/fbi-background-check description: "Step-by-step guide to apostilling an FBI Identity History Summary for international use. Federal document processing, U.S. Department of State requirements, and timelines." lang: en --- FBI Identity History Summary Apostille Guide # How to Apostille an FBI Background Check An FBI background check (officially called an Identity History Summary) is a federal document — meaning it cannot be apostilled through a state Secretary of State. Instead, it must go through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. This guide explains the complete process for getting your FBI background check apostilled for international use, including immigration, work permits, and residency applications. Last reviewed: February 2026 Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call (833) 725-8001: 8337258001 Nationwide — All 50 States Fast Processing Immigration & International Use Expedited Rush Available ## When Do You Need an FBI Background Check Apostille? - Foreign work permit and employment visa applications — many countries require a clean criminal background check for work authorization - Residency permit applications — countries like Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UAE require FBI checks for long-stay visas - Immigration proceedings — USCIS and foreign immigration agencies use FBI checks to verify criminal history - Teaching positions abroad — ESL/TEFL positions in China, South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East require authenticated FBI checks - International adoption — Hague Convention adoptions require FBI background checks for all household members - Foreign citizenship applications — dual citizenship and naturalization processes often require FBI clearance - Professional licensing abroad — healthcare, legal, and financial professionals may need authenticated background checks ### Common Mistakes That Cause Delays - Submitting to a state Secretary of State — FBI checks are federal documents that MUST go through the U.S. Department of State - Using an expired FBI check — many countries require checks issued within the last 3–6 months - Submitting a copy instead of the original FBI result - Not obtaining the check through official FBI channels or approved channelers - Forgetting that non-Hague countries (China, UAE) require full legalization, not just an apostille - Not accounting for the longer federal processing times compared to state-level apostilles ### Apostille vs. Notarization A notarization verifies a signer's identity. An apostille is a government certification that authenticates a document for international legal use. Foreign governments require apostilles — notarization alone is insufficient. ### Top Reasons for Rejection Hospital-issued birth certificates, photocopies, unsigned documents, and sending to the wrong state office are the most common causes of apostille rejections. Our free document review catches these issues before submission. ### Ready to Get Started? Submit your documents for apostille processing today. Our team reviews every submission to ensure it meets requirements. Free document review included — we verify eligibility before processing. Submit Documents for Apostille (https://1apostille.com/order) ## Step-by-Step Process 1 ### Obtain FBI Identity History Summary Request your FBI Identity History Summary through the FBI's official channels or an approved FBI channeler. The result is a federal document that shows your criminal history (or lack thereof). Keep the original — copies cannot be apostilled. 2 ### Verify Document Validity Many countries require FBI checks to be recent — typically issued within the last 6 months. Verify your destination country's recency requirements before proceeding. An expired FBI check will be rejected. 3 ### Submit to U.S. Department of State Because the FBI check is a federal document, it must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State — NOT a state Secretary of State. We handle the federal submission process in Washington, D.C. 4 ### Translation (If Required) For non-English-speaking countries, a certified translation of your apostilled FBI check may be required. We coordinate translations into Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, and more. 5 ### Secure Return & Delivery Your apostilled FBI background check is returned via insured, trackable shipping. We provide confirmation and tracking immediately upon processing. ### State Considerations While the FBI background check itself is a federal document apostilled in Washington, D.C., your fingerprinting for the FBI check can be done in any state. Many people confuse the state where they were fingerprinted with the apostille authority — the apostille ALWAYS goes through the U.S. Department of State for federal documents. View All 50 State Pages (https://1apostille.com/coverage) ### International Considerations For Hague Convention countries, the U.S. Department of State apostille is sufficient. For non-Hague countries like China and the UAE, additional embassy/consulate legalization is required after the federal authentication. China is one of the most common destinations for FBI check authentication — especially for teaching positions and Z-visas. View Country Guides (https://1apostille.com/services/international-document-use) ## Frequently Asked Questions Can I apostille an FBI background check through a state Secretary of State?+ No. FBI background checks are federal documents and must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not a state office. How long does it take to apostille an FBI background check?+ U.S. Department of State processing typically takes 4–8 weeks for standard requests. We offer expedited processing options that can reduce this to 1–2 weeks. How recent must my FBI background check be?+ Most countries require FBI checks issued within the last 6 months. Some countries (like China) may require checks less than 3 months old. Verify with your destination country. Can I use an FBI channeler result for apostille?+ Yes. FBI Identity History Summary results obtained through approved channelers are valid for apostille through the U.S. Department of State. What if I need the FBI check for a non-Hague country?+ For non-Hague countries like China and the UAE, the FBI check requires full authentication through the U.S. Department of State followed by embassy/consulate legalization. We handle the complete multi-step process. Is the FBI background check the same as a state background check?+ No. The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal criminal background check that covers all 50 states. State-level background checks are different documents processed differently. ## Related Guides & Services FBI Background Check Apostille Service: https://1apostille.com/services/fbi-background-check Apostille for Immigration: https://1apostille.com/services/immigration Apostille for China: https://1apostille.com/countries/china Apostille for UAE: https://1apostille.com/countries/uae Non-Hague Authentication: https://1apostille.com/services/non-hague-authentication Embassy Legalization: https://1apostille.com/services/embassy-legalization ## Start Your Apostille Order Today Don't risk delays. Let our expert team handle the apostille process for you. Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call (833) 725-8001: 8337258001 Documents handled securely and confidentially • Not affiliated with any government agency • Processing times vary by issuing authority Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call: 8337258001 Disclaimer: 1Apostille is a private document processing service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office or the U.S. Department of State. Our service fees are separate from government filing fees. Processing times are estimates and may vary based on state office workload and document type. This website does not provide legal advice. ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "1Apostille", "url": "https://1apostille.com", "logo": "https://1apostille.com/favicon.png", "description": "Fast, reliable apostille and document authentication services nationwide. Trusted by individuals, businesses, and legal professionals across all 50 states.", "telephone": "+1-833-725-8001", "email": "info@1Apostille.com", "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" }, "sameAs": [], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-833-725-8001", "contactType": "customer service", "areaServed": "US", "availableLanguage": [ "English", "Spanish" ] }, "serviceArea": { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "All 50 U.S. States" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I apostille an FBI background check through a state Secretary of State?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. FBI background checks are federal documents and must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not a state office." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does it take to apostille an FBI background check?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "U.S. Department of State processing typically takes 4–8 weeks for standard requests. We offer expedited processing options that can reduce this to 1–2 weeks." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How recent must my FBI background check be?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most countries require FBI checks issued within the last 6 months. Some countries (like China) may require checks less than 3 months old. Verify with your destination country." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I use an FBI channeler result for apostille?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. FBI Identity History Summary results obtained through approved channelers are valid for apostille through the U.S. Department of State." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if I need the FBI check for a non-Hague country?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For non-Hague countries like China and the UAE, the FBI check requires full authentication through the U.S. Department of State followed by embassy/consulate legalization. We handle the complete multi-step process." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the FBI background check the same as a state background check?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal criminal background check that covers all 50 states. State-level background checks are different documents processed differently." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "How to Apostille an FBI Background Check", "description": "Step-by-step guide to apostilling an FBI Identity History Summary for international use. Federal document processing, U.S. Department of State requirements, and timelines.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1Apostille", "url": "https://1apostille.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1Apostille", "url": "https://1apostille.com" }, "dateModified": "2026-10-16" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://1apostille.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://1apostille.com/guides/fbi-background-check" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How to Apostille an FBI Background Check", "item": "https://1apostille.com/guides/fbi-background-check" } ] } ] ```