Last verified: Oct 21, 2026
Apostille for an FBI background check: the federal route
An FBI background check (Identity History Summary) is a federal document. A state Secretary of State can't apostille it. It goes to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications.
| Which office | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications [1][2] |
|---|---|
| What it costs | $20 per document (not per page). Non-refundable under federal law. [3][4] |
| How long it takes | Mail: processed within five weeks of receipt in Washington, D.C. Walk-in drop-off: processed in seven business days. Same-day appointments only for qualifying life-or-death family emergencies abroad within two weeks. [3] |
1. Get the FBI result in the right form
Per the State Department, "The FBI will authenticate all fingerprint search results by placing the FBI watermark and the signature of a division official on the results." You can send FBI records to the Office of Authentications to get an apostille. Specify the country where you will use the document. [1]
Local or state police records are different: they are state documents, so contact your state Secretary of State. [1]
2. Apostille or authentication certificate?
Hague Convention country: apostille. Non-Hague country: authentication certificate, then the foreign embassy's authentication. [1][2] See apostille vs. authentication.
3. Assemble your request
- Form DS-4194, listing the country where you will use the document. [3][4]
- The FBI document(s).
- Fee: $20 per document. By mail: check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State" (no cash or card details). Checks must have the customer's name and address preprinted and check numbers over 100. In person: credit/debit card or contactless payment only, no cash, check, or money order. [3]
- One self-addressed, prepaid return envelope (USPS or UPS; not FedEx). [3]
4. Submit
By mail (if you travel in 5+ weeks): Office of Authentications, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Use trackable USPS mail. Processing time starts when the package reaches the office in Washington, D.C., which can be several days after it arrives in Sterling. [3]
Walk-in drop-off (if you travel in 2–3 weeks): 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, Monday–Thursday, 7:30–9:00 a.m. [3]
Questions: the DS-4194 lists 202-485-8000. [4]