--- title: "Apostille for an FBI Background Check: The Federal Route" description: "FBI identity history summaries are federal documents, so they follow a different route than state papers. Learn the steps, typical order, and common delays." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/guides/apostille-for-an-fbi-background-check" --- Guide · Updated October 12, 2026 # Apostille for an FBI Background Check: The Federal Route A criminal background check for immigration, work or adoption abroad often has to be authenticated. Because the FBI is a federal agency, the process runs through federal offices rather than a state. By [Matthew Coleman](/about), MCC Solutions **Quick answer.** An FBI background check is a federal record, so authentication runs through federal offices rather than a state. The FBI Identity History Summary can be requested directly or through approved channelers. Need this notarized? Sign online from home with no travel fee, or ask for a notary to come to you. The price is shown and confirmed before any work starts, and you can book in about two minutes. [See your price and book](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:9084446373) **Related:** [What to expect at a HELOC signing](/notary/guides/heloc-signing-what-to-expect) · [NJ notary fees](/notary/fees) · [How long a notary keeps the journal](/notary/guides/how-long-to-keep-a-notary-journal) **Free tools:** [Apostille or embassy legalization?](/notary/apostille-finder) · [Child travel consent letter](/notary/child-travel-consent-letter) ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) ## What the document is An FBI Identity History Summary is a record of arrests and other information maintained by the federal government. You can request it from the FBI directly or through approved channelers. The document is signed or produced electronically, depending on the method. Need it done for you? [FBI background check apostilles](/notary/apostille-services/fbi-background-checks). Not all foreign offices accept the same form, so confirm what they want. A state police check is a different document from an FBI check. State records are apostilled by the state, while FBI records go through federal channels. Order the one the requester names. ## Why the route is different State apostille offices can only certify state or local documents. A federal document must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, which issues the apostille or the authentication certificate for federal records. Do not send this document to a state office hoping for a shortcut. The State Department's website lists current requirements, fees and mailing rules. Mailing instructions are strict. Use the correct address for the type of service you pick, and include the exact items requested, with no extras. ## Typical order of steps First, request the summary and wait for it to arrive. Second, check that the document includes the signature or certification that the State Department will recognize. Third, submit it with the required form and payment. Fourth, if the destination is outside the Hague Convention, take the authenticated document to the embassy. Details change, so read the current instructions before each step. Some applicants order the check through an approved channeler to get an electronic copy faster. Ask the destination country whether electronic copies are accepted and whether they need to be printed and signed. ## Translation and validity If the receiving country needs a translation, ask whether it must be done before or after the apostille. Many countries want the background check to be recent, often within a few months, so do not request it too early. Start the apostille soon after the check arrives. Fingerprint quality can delay the original check, so follow fingerprint instructions carefully. If you have lived in several countries, the destination may ask for a background check from each. The same Hague test applies to each country's document. ## Avoiding delays Do not staple, fold or write on the document. Keep copies of everything. Use a trackable shipping method for originals. Confirm the correct address and payment method on the official site. If something is rejected, read the reason. Common problems are an unsigned form or a document that is not the required type. If the apostille is for a long-term visa, ask whether the foreign office will also need a fresh check later in the process. Some require updates at renewal. ## Common questions **Can a notary notarize an FBI background check?** A notary generally cannot certify a copy of a federal record. Use the original issued by the FBI or its approved channeler. **How long does the federal apostille take?** It varies with the State Department's workload. Check the current processing time on their website. ## More notary guides - [Hague Apostille Countries vs Non-Hague Countries](/notary/guides/hague-apostille-countries-vs-non-hague-countries) - [Why an Apostille Request Gets Rejected or Delayed](/notary/guides/why-an-apostille-request-gets-rejected) - [What Happens After a Loan Signing? The Path to Funding](/notary/guides/what-happens-after-a-loan-signing) This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation. Let us handle it [### Apostille Services We notarize your document and handle the New Jersey apostille for use abroad. State fee and our fee quoted up front. Powers of attorney, affidavits, school records. Apostille services →](/notary/apostille-services)[### Embassy Legalization For countries that don't take apostilles: state or federal authentication, then legalization at the embassy or consulate in Washington, DC. Quoted per document. Embassy legalization →](/notary/embassy-legalization)[All guides](/notary/guides) Reach notaries, signing agents and people getting documents notarized or apostilled who read this guide: [advertise here](/advertise#notary). ## Rather have us handle it? Call the desk. [Book Now](/notary/#order)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)