FBI Background Check Apostille: What You Need to Know
If you've been asked to provide an apostilled FBI background check, you've probably already noticed that the process looks nothing like apostilling a birth certificate or marriage certificate. That's because it isn't the same process at all.
The FBI background check follows its own separate path — and knowing that upfront will save you a lot of confusion and wasted time.
Here's exactly how it works.
Why the FBI Background Check Is Different
Most California apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State, who authenticates documents that carry the signature or seal of a California public official — a county clerk, a California notary, a state agency.
The FBI is a federal agency. That means a background check issued by the FBI does not go through the California Secretary of State. It goes through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., which is the federal authority responsible for apostilling federal documents.
This is the step that catches most people off guard. If you submit an FBI background check to the California Secretary of State for an apostille, it will be rejected — because it's outside their jurisdiction.
When Do You Need an Apostilled FBI Background Check?
This comes up more often than you might expect. Common situations include:
Applying for a work visa or employment abroad. Many countries require a criminal background check from your home country as part of the visa application. The FBI Identity History Summary — commonly called an FBI background check — is the standard document used for this purpose.
Applying for residency or long-stay permits. Countries like Italy, Portugal, Spain, and many others require an apostilled FBI background check as part of the residency application process.
International adoption. Some countries require background checks on prospective adoptive parents as part of the approval process.
Foreign professional licensing. If you're seeking to have a professional license recognized in another country, a background check may be required alongside your academic credentials.
Step One: Request Your FBI Background Check
Before anything can be apostilled, you need the actual document. There are two ways to get your FBI Identity History Summary.
Through the FBI directly. You can submit a request online through the FBI's website using an electronic fingerprint submission. Processing typically takes several weeks.
Through a channeler. The FBI authorizes third-party channelers — approved companies that can submit your fingerprints electronically and often return results faster than going directly through the FBI. If you're working against a deadline, this is usually the better option.
The document you receive will be issued on FBI letterhead and signed by an FBI official. That signature is what makes it eligible for a U.S. Department of State apostille.
Step Two: Request the Apostille From the U.S. Department of State
Once you have your FBI background check in hand, it gets submitted to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. — not to any state office.
The Department of State reviews the document, verifies the FBI official's signature, and attaches the apostille certificate. Standard processing through the Department of State can take several weeks. Expedited options are available but processing times vary.
This is where working with a professional service makes a real difference. Submitting incorrectly or to the wrong office means your document gets returned and you're back at the beginning.
What California Apostille by Miss LA Does for You
We handle the full FBI apostille process on your behalf.
That includes helping you obtain your FBI background check through an authorized channeler if you don't already have it, and managing the Department of State submission so you're not navigating federal mail procedures on your own.
We'll confirm exactly what you need before anything is submitted, make sure the document is in the correct format, and keep you updated on timing throughout the process.
If your background check also needs to be translated into another language for the receiving country, we can point you in the right direction for certified translation as well — though translation is a separate step from the apostille itself.
How Long Does It Take?
The honest answer is that the FBI apostille process takes longer than a standard California apostille, and the timeline has two parts.
Getting the FBI background check itself typically takes one to several weeks depending on whether you go through the FBI directly or use a channeler.
The Department of State apostille processing adds additional time on top of that.
If you're working against a visa appointment, a residency application deadline, or any other time-sensitive submission, start this process as early as possible. Reach out to us before you do anything else — we'll map out a realistic timeline based on your specific situation and do everything we can to move things along efficiently.
A Note on State vs. Federal Background Checks
Some countries or employers will accept a California state background check instead of — or in addition to — an FBI background check. A California Department of Justice background check is a state document and would go through the California Secretary of State for apostille, which is a faster process.
If you're not sure which one you need, the safest approach is to check directly with the embassy, consulate, or employer requesting the document. Submitting the wrong background check wastes time and money. We can also help you figure this out if you're not sure who to ask.
Get Started
The FBI apostille process has more moving parts than most people expect — but it's entirely manageable when you know what you're doing. If you have questions about what you need or want to get the process started, reach out directly.
Call or text: (310) 910-8392
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Email:info@misslamobilenotary.com