How to Apostille an FBI Background Check: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

• Overview: The FBI Apostille Process
• Step 1 — Get Your FBI Identity History Summary
• Step 2 — Apostille at the US State Department
• Expedited Route (Channeler + Service)
• Costs Breakdown
• Which Countries Require FBI Apostille
• State Background Check vs FBI: Which Do You Need?
• After the Apostille: What Comes Next
• Frequently Asked Questions

Getting an apostilled FBI background check is the step most people underestimate when planning a move to Latin America. Unlike a birth certificate — which is already sitting in a drawer — the FBI background check requires two separate government processes before you have an apostilled document in hand. If you don’t plan this early, it can delay your entire residency application by 2–4 months. Here’s exactly how the process works and how to run it as fast as possible.

Overview: The FBI Apostille Process

An apostilled FBI background check involves two sequential steps:

1. Obtain the FBI Identity History Summary (IHS) — the actual background check document, issued by the FBI
2. Apostille the IHS at the US State Department — because the FBI is a federal agency, only the federal-level US State Department can apostille its documents (not the Secretary of State)

These steps cannot be reversed or run in parallel. You must have the FBI IHS in hand before the State Department apostille can be done. The total timeline depends almost entirely on how quickly you get the IHS.

Step 1 — Get Your FBI Identity History Summary

There are two ways to obtain your FBI IHS:

Option A: Direct from FBI (slow)

Mail a completed fingerprint card (Form FD-1164), a $18 fee (money order payable to “Treasury of the United States”), and your mailing information to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, WV. Processing: 12–14 weeks. You receive the IHS by mail — a single official document with the FBI seal.

The FBI mailing address for IHS requests:

FBI CJIS Division — Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Option B: FBI-Approved Channeler (recommended)

FBI-approved channelers are private companies authorized to submit fingerprints directly to the FBI electronically and receive results within 2–3 business days. The two main channelers are:

• Identogo (MorphoTrust) — most widely available; book a fingerprinting appointment online at identogo.com; results delivered digitally in 2–3 business days; fee ~$50–65 total
• Fieldprint — similar service; online booking; comparable speed and cost

The channeler delivers your FBI IHS results digitally. For apostille purposes, you typically need a hard copy with the FBI seal — most channelers can provide this, or you can print and certify the digital version according to State Department guidelines. Confirm with your apostille service or directly with the State Department before proceeding.

Step 2 — Apostille at the US State Department

Because the FBI is a federal agency, its documents are apostilled by the US Department of State’s Office of Authentications — not by your state’s Secretary of State. This is the step that catches people off guard when they send an FBI IHS to their Secretary of State and get it returned unapostilled.

Standard submission (self-service):

1. Mail the original FBI IHS to:
   US Department of State
   Office of Authentications
   44132 Mercure Circle, PO Box 1206
   Sterling, VA 20166-1206
2. Include a cover letter specifying: number of documents, destination country, return address, and contact information
3. Fee: $20 per document (money order or check payable to “US Department of State”)
4. Standard processing: 6–8 weeks

Expedited via registered apostille service:
Services like ApostilleUSA handle the State Department submission with significantly faster turnaround — typically 5–15 business days depending on the service tier. They also handle returns and tracking. For time-sensitive applications, this is the recommended route.

Expedited Route: Channeler + Apostille Service

The fastest possible apostilled FBI background check uses a channeler for the IHS and an apostille service for the State Department step:

Compare this to the DIY mail-in route: 12–14 weeks for FBI IHS + 6–8 weeks for State Dept apostille = 5–6 months total. For most residency applicants with a timeline, the channeler + service route is the only practical choice.

Costs Breakdown

The service premium is $50–100 — a reasonable price for 3–4 months of saved waiting time and confidence that the documents are submitted correctly.

Which Countries Require FBI Apostille for Residency

State Background Check vs FBI: Which Do You Need?

State police background checks (issued by the state police or state bureau of investigation, apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State) are:

• Faster and cheaper: 5–15 business days total; $30–70 including apostille
• Only cover state-level records: arrests, convictions, and records filed with that state — not federal offenses or records from other states

The FBI IHS covers all federal criminal history across all states and federal jurisdictions. For residency applicants who have lived in multiple states, the FBI IHS is the more comprehensive document and is less likely to raise questions from immigration authorities.

Best practice: Get both. The FBI IHS apostilled at the State Department, plus the state background check apostilled at the Secretary of State. It costs $200–300 total for both and eliminates the most common cause of document rejection.

After the Apostille: What Comes Next

Once you have your apostilled FBI IHS in hand:

1. Get a certified translation — all documents submitted to Latin American immigration authorities must be in Spanish. Hire a certified translator in the destination country (or a US-based translator certified by ATA) to produce a Spanish translation of the apostilled document. Some countries require the translator to also be certified by their local consul.
2. Check expiration — most LatAm residency programs require background checks to be issued within 3–6 months of submission. Don’t apostille too early — get the IHS, apostille it, and submit to immigration within the validity window.
3. Make certified copies — before submitting originals, make high-quality copies. Some immigration offices return originals; some retain them. A copy protects you if originals are lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apostille an FBI background check?
Get the FBI IHS (direct mail 8+ weeks, or channeler 2–3 days), then submit to US State Department Office of Authentications ($20, 6–8 weeks standard) or use an apostille service for faster processing.

How long does the whole process take?
DIY mail: 5–6 months. Channeler + apostille service: 2–4 weeks.

What is an FBI IHS?
FBI Identity History Summary — official record of federal criminal history associated with your fingerprints. The standard background check required for LatAm residency applications.

Do all LatAm countries require FBI specifically?
Paraguay specifically requires FBI. Most others accept either FBI or state background check. Getting both is the safest approach.

Related: Birth Certificate · Full Checklist · Colombia Requirements · Processing Times · MLL Apostille Service

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