Getting Your FBI Background Check Apostilled — Explained Simply.
Every FBI background check apostille must be issued by the US State Department in Washington DC. There are two ways to get one: mail it yourself and wait weeks, or have Signura walk it in and receive it back in a matter of days.
The US State Department Office of Authentications is the only federal authority that can apostille your background check. There is no online submission option and no way to pay the government for faster mail processing. In-person delivery is the only path to an expedited result. Here is exactly what each route looks like.
Mail It Yourself
Signura
Processing Time
5 to 12+ weeks from receipt at State Dept
7–10 business days from when we receive your document
Submission Method
USPS mail — no control after drop-off
Hand-delivered in person to the State Department
Government Forms
You complete all required paperwork
We handle all forms on your behalf
U.S. Dept of State Fee ($20)
Paid separately by you
Included in your $175 service fee
Return Shipping
Extra cost — you arrange and pay
2-day shipping with tracking — included
Status Updates
None — no way to track your document
Confirmation at every stage of your order
If Rejected
Mailed back to you weeks later — start over
You are notified immediately with next steps
What Happens After You Submit: Step by Step
From the moment your document reaches us to the moment your apostille arrives at your door.
1
Day 1
We Receive Your Document
You send us your FBI Background Check digitally or by mail. We confirm receipt and review it before anything moves forward.
2
Days 1–2
Preparation & Submission
We handle all required paperwork and hand-deliver your document to the US State Department Authentications Office in Washington DC.
3
Days 2–8
State Department Processing
The State Department reviews and processes your apostille. This stage is controlled by the federal government. We notify you as soon as it is ready for pickup.
4
Days 9–10
Pickup & Return Shipping
We pick up your completed apostille and ship it back to you via 2-day FedEx with full tracking. You receive your tracking number the same day it ships.
Things to Keep in Mind
We work within a consistent 7–10 business day window. A few factors can influence where your order lands within that range.
State Department Workload
The State Department handles a significant volume of authentication requests at any given time. In-person submission keeps your document ahead of mailed requests, but overall government volume still plays a role.
Document Completeness
Your FBI Background Check must be current and accurate at the time of submission. If we identify an issue before delivering to the State Department, we will contact you immediately — before anything is submitted.
Plan Ahead for Deadlines
Visa applications, residency programs, international employment offers, and academic enrollment deadlines all come with firm cutoff dates. Submit your order as early as possible.
Weekends & Federal Holidays
Processing time is measured in business days, not calendar days. The State Department does not operate on weekends or federal holidays.
FAQ
Common Questions
Questions about the federal apostille process — answered clearly.
An apostille is an official certification issued by the US Department of State that verifies the authenticity of a federal document for use abroad. For Hague Convention member countries, an apostille on your FBI background check serves as recognized proof that the document is legitimate. Without it, foreign governments and institutions will not accept your background check as valid.
Because an FBI background check is issued by a federal agency, its apostille must come from the US Department of State — not a state-level authority. Signura is based in the DC area and hand-delivers directly to the Authentications Office, which is how we consistently turn orders around in 7–10 business days.
If you are submitting your FBI background check to a government agency, consulate, employer, or institution in a Hague Convention country, an apostille is required. Residency and work permits, citizenship applications, foreign employment, international adoption, and enrollment in foreign academic programs are among the most common situations.
Any Hague Convention member country that requests an FBI background check as part of an official process will require one. Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and France are among the most frequent destinations, along with Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, the UK, and countries throughout Latin America and Southeast Asia.
The Hague Convention of 1961 established a streamlined way for official documents to be recognized across international borders. Member countries — more than 120 in total — agree to accept a single apostille certificate as sufficient authentication. The United States is a member, and the Department of State issues apostilles for federal documents on that basis.
2-day return shipping is built into your service fee. If you need your documents back faster, overnight domestic shipping is available as an add-on. International delivery is also an option — reach out before placing your order so we can coordinate accordingly.
It depends on the destination country. Some countries require a certified translation before they will accept your apostilled document — others do not. Before adding a translation to your order, confirm with the receiving institution or authority in the destination country what they specifically require. If you do need one, Signura offers certified translation as an add-on.
The apostille certificate itself does not carry an expiration date. However, most countries and institutions require that the underlying FBI background check was issued within a specific window — typically three to six months prior to your application date.
While FBI background checks are our primary focus, we handle federal apostilles for a range of documents used internationally. Other federal documents we process include:
—Certificate Of Naturalization
—Certificate Of Citizenship
—Consular Report Of Birth Abroad
—Social Security Administration Letters
—Federal Court Documents
—USCIS-Issued Documents
—Department Of Homeland Security Records
—Department Of Justice Documents
—Federal Agency Certifications And Letters
Ready to Get Started?
Skip the Wait. Let Signura Handle Washington DC.
Send us your FBI Background Check — digitally or by mail — and we take it from there.