FBI Apostille FAQs — Quick Answers

FBI background checks (Identity History Summaries) are issued by a federal agency, not a state government. Therefore, they must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., rather than by state Secretary of State offices. This federal apostille certifies the authenticity of the FBI seal and signature for international use in all Hague Convention member countries.

We use an expedited service with established relationships at the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications. While individuals mailing their documents directly face long processing queues (3-6 weeks), our expedited service prioritizes submissions and retrieves completed apostilles immediately, reducing the timeline to just 7-10 business days.

Since the FBI issues digital PDF Identity History Summaries, you can securely upload your PDF through our portal. We'll print it on high-quality paper and submit it to the Department of State for apostille. No need to mail anything — your process starts the moment we receive your digital file!

Yes! China acceded to the Hague Convention on March 8, 2023, and it entered into force on November 7, 2023. Documents destined for mainland China — including FBI background checks, diplomas, birth certificates, and marriage licenses — can now be authenticated with a standard apostille instead of the multi-step consular legalization process previously required.

Your FBI background check must have the official FBI seal (a raised embossed seal visible on the document) for the U.S. Department of State to accept it for apostille. Digital watermarks alone are not sufficient. When you request your Identity History Summary, make sure to select the option that includes the official embossed seal.

Our pricing is all-inclusive with no hidden fees: U.S. Department of State apostille, expedited service, document printing and preparation, secure digital upload portal, real-time tracking updates, dedicated support specialist, and return shipping to your address. Only rush overnight return shipping is available for an additional fee.

FBI-approved channelers can get you an Identity History Summary in as little as 24-48 hours, but their optional apostille forwarding services rely on the same standard U.S. Department of State mail-in queue that takes 3-6 weeks. By using our expedited 7-10 business day service, you bypass the multi-week bottleneck entirely.

Our expedited FBI background check apostille service starts at $269 for the first document and $175 for each additional document (up to 10). All prices include the U.S. Department of State apostille fee, expedited handling, and return shipping. Volume pricing is available for 10+ documents — call (281) 402-6399 for a quote.

Yes! If we don't meet our 7-10 business day timeline due to our error, we'll refund your service fee. Please note: Our guarantee does not cover delays or closures by the U.S. Department of State, federal holidays, or other government-related interruptions beyond our control.

FBI Background Check Apostilles are recognized in all 120+ countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention — including recently added China (2023). Popular destinations include Spain, Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and many more. For non-member countries like Russia, UAE, or Saudi Arabia, embassy legalization is required instead.