Who apostilles an FBI background check?

The U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications. An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so a state Secretary of State can't apostille it.

How much does an FBI background check apostille cost?

The State Department charges $20 per document, and the fee is nonrefundable. The FBI charges $18 for an Identity History Summary requested directly. Fingerprinting, channeler, courier, and shipping costs are extra.

How long does an FBI apostille take?

By mail, the State Department says it processes requests within 5 weeks of receiving them at its Washington, D.C. office. Walk-in drop-offs for people traveling in 2–3 weeks are processed in 7 business days. Same-day appointments are only for qualifying life-or-death family emergencies.

Should I get my FBI background check notarized before the apostille?

No. The State Department says not to notarize the document, because a notarized document is no longer valid for authentication. Send the original FBI-issued result.

Can I apostille an FBI background check I already received a while ago?

You can submit the original FBI-issued result if it carries the FBI watermark and the division official's signature and the receiving country will still accept it. But the FBI says it won't go back and authenticate previously processed results, and many countries require a recent check, so you may need to order a new one.

Do I need an apostille or an authentication certificate?

An apostille is for countries in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For other countries, the State Department issues an authentication certificate, and you then usually need legalization at that country's embassy or consulate.

What is an FBI channeler?

A private company approved by the FBI to collect your fingerprints and deliver your FBI Identity History Summary, often faster than ordering directly. A channeler isn't the same as an apostille courier, which takes the finished document to the State Department.

Where do I mail my FBI background check for an apostille?

Office of Authentications, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Include Form DS-4194, the $20-per-document fee, the document, and a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope. Confirm the address on travel.state.gov before mailing.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so check the official FBI and State Department pages before sending originals.

FBI background check apostille: how to get one, step by step

Updated 2026-10-12

An FBI background check, officially an FBI Identity History Summary, is a federal document. That means only the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications can apostille it. A state Secretary of State can't. This guide covers each step, from ordering the right FBI result to mailing or dropping off your request, along with the current State Department fee and processing times, the difference between a channeler and an apostille courier, and the mistakes that get packets sent back. Fees and processing times were checked against travel.state.gov and fbi.gov in October 2026. Informational only, not legal advice.

Quick answer

Who apostilles it: the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Not your state.
State Department fee: $20 per document, nonrefundable.
FBI fee for the Identity History Summary: $18 when you request it directly from the FBI. Fingerprinting and channeler fees are extra.
Mail-in processing: within 5 weeks of when the office in Washington, D.C. receives your package.
Walk-in drop-off (if you're traveling in 2–3 weeks): processed in 7 business days.
Don't notarize the FBI result. Send the original FBI-issued document with Form DS-4194.

Step-by-step: how to apostille an FBI background check

Check what the foreign agency wants. Ask whether it needs an apostille (Hague Apostille Convention countries) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague countries, which usually also need embassy legalization afterward), how recent the background check must be, and whether you need a translation.
Order your FBI Identity History Summary, either directly from the FBI (online or by mail, with fingerprints taken at a participating U.S. Post Office or on a mailed fingerprint card) or through an FBI-approved channeler. The FBI authenticates results by placing an FBI watermark and the signature of a division official on them at the time it processes your request.
Keep the result exactly as issued. Don't notarize it, sign it, laminate it, staple it to other papers, or write on it. The State Department says a notarized document is no longer valid for authentication.
Fill out Form DS-4194 (Request for Authentications Service). List the country where you'll use the document, and the number and type of documents.
Pay $20 per document. By mail, pay with a check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State" with your name and address preprinted on the check. In person, pay by credit card, debit card, or a contactless method. Cash, checks, and money orders aren't accepted at the counter.
Submit by mail or in person (see the comparison below). By mail, include a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope (USPS or UPS, not FedEx) and send your package by trackable mail.
If the destination country isn't in the Hague Convention, take the authenticated document to that country's embassy or consulate for legalization.
Get a certified translation if the receiving country requires one. The State Department says to have the translation done by a professional translator and notarized, but not the original document.

Mail vs walk-in vs courier: which should you use?

Processing times below are what the State Department currently publishes. Courier turnaround and pricing vary by company.

Option	When it fits	Processing time	Cost
Mail to the Office of Authentications (Sterling, VA)	You're traveling or due in 5+ weeks	Within 5 weeks after the D.C. office receives the package (it may sit several days in Sterling first)	$20/document + postage both ways
Walk-in drop-off (600 19th St NW, Washington, D.C.)	You're traveling in 2–3 weeks and can get to D.C.	7 business days. Drop-off Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 a.m.	$20/document (card or contactless)
Emergency appointment	Travel within 2 weeks because an immediate family member abroad has a life-or-death emergency (proof required)	Same day as the appointment	$20/document
Apostille courier / expediter	Tight deadlines, you live far from D.C., multiple documents, or you don't want to risk a rejected mail packet	Varies by company, often faster than mail because they use the walk-in counter	$20 government fee + service fee

Channeler vs apostille courier: they're different things

An FBI-approved channeler is a private company the FBI has authorized to take your fingerprints, submit them, and give you your FBI result, often faster than ordering directly from the FBI. A channeler gets you the background check. An apostille courier (or expediter) takes your finished FBI result to the State Department and brings back the apostille. Some companies do both. Before you pay a channeler, confirm that the result format it delivers is one the State Department will apostille for your destination. When in doubt, ask the channeler directly and check the FBI and State Department pages linked below.

Which signatures can the State Department apostille?

The State Department apostilles documents signed by a U.S. federal official, a U.S. consular officer, a foreign consul registered with the Office of Protocol, or a military notary or judge advocate. An FBI Identity History Summary qualifies because it carries the signature of an FBI division official. State-level documents, such as a state police background check, a birth certificate, or a state court record, go to the Secretary of State of the state that issued them. See our state background check apostille guide for that route.

Common reasons FBI apostille requests get rejected or delayed

Sending the FBI result to a state Secretary of State. States can't apostille federal documents.
Notarizing the FBI result, or adding signatures, stamps, or staples to it.
Submitting a photocopy, scan, or re-saved printout instead of the FBI-issued result.
Asking the FBI to authenticate an older result. The FBI says it won't authenticate previously processed results, so you'd need to order a new check.
A missing or incomplete DS-4194, especially leaving out the country where you'll use the document.
Wrong payment: the wrong amount, cash by mail, a check without your preprinted name and address, or a card number sent by mail.
No return envelope, or a FedEx return label (the office asks for USPS or UPS).
A background check that's too old for the receiving country. Many countries want one issued within the past few months, so check before you order.
Getting an apostille when the country needs an authentication certificate plus embassy legalization, or the reverse.

Cost breakdown

Government fees below are from fbi.gov and travel.state.gov. Other costs vary.

Item	Cost
FBI Identity History Summary (direct from the FBI)	$18
Fingerprinting (U.S. Post Office, police department, or private provider)	Varies, check with the provider
FBI-approved channeler (optional)	Varies by channeler
U.S. Department of State apostille or authentication	$20 per document (nonrefundable)
Return shipping (prepaid USPS/UPS envelope) + trackable outbound mail	Varies
Apostille courier/expediter (optional)	Varies by company
Embassy legalization (non-Hague countries only)	Set by the embassy

Related state guides

FAQ

Who apostilles an FBI background check?: The U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications. An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so a state Secretary of State can't apostille it.
How much does an FBI background check apostille cost?: The State Department charges $20 per document, and the fee is nonrefundable. The FBI charges $18 for an Identity History Summary requested directly. Fingerprinting, channeler, courier, and shipping costs are extra.
How long does an FBI apostille take?: By mail, the State Department says it processes requests within 5 weeks of receiving them at its Washington, D.C. office. Walk-in drop-offs for people traveling in 2–3 weeks are processed in 7 business days. Same-day appointments are only for qualifying life-or-death family emergencies.
Should I get my FBI background check notarized before the apostille?: No. The State Department says not to notarize the document, because a notarized document is no longer valid for authentication. Send the original FBI-issued result.
Can I apostille an FBI background check I already received a while ago?: You can submit the original FBI-issued result if it carries the FBI watermark and the division official's signature and the receiving country will still accept it. But the FBI says it won't go back and authenticate previously processed results, and many countries require a recent check, so you may need to order a new one.
Do I need an apostille or an authentication certificate?: An apostille is for countries in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For other countries, the State Department issues an authentication certificate, and you then usually need legalization at that country's embassy or consulate.
What is an FBI channeler?: A private company approved by the FBI to collect your fingerprints and deliver your FBI Identity History Summary, often faster than ordering directly. A channeler isn't the same as an apostille courier, which takes the finished document to the State Department.
Where do I mail my FBI background check for an apostille?: Office of Authentications, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Include Form DS-4194, the $20-per-document fee, the document, and a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope. Confirm the address on travel.state.gov before mailing.
Is this legal advice?: No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so check the official FBI and State Department pages before sending originals.

Official sources

State apostille offices

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