Guide
What an FBI Report Needs Before It Can Be Apostilled
The apostille certifies the FBI’s own authentication on your report. If that authentication isn’t there, there is nothing to apostille.
Quick answer
To get a federal apostille, you need the original FBI Identity History Summary as the FBI issued it. The State Department says the FBI authenticates its fingerprint search results by placing the FBI watermark, and the report bears a signature from a division official. Copies, scans, notarized copies and state or private background checks can’t get a federal apostille.
Key takeaways
- The U.S. Department of State apostilles the FBI Identity History Summary — not state, county or private checks.
- The FBI authenticates results with its watermark and a division official’s signature; the apostille certifies that.
- Send the report exactly as issued: no copies, notarization, staples or markings.
- Many destinations want a recently issued report, so check the receiving authority’s age rule first.
- Non-Hague countries need State Department authentication plus embassy legalization instead of an apostille.
On this page
Why the FBI watermark and signature matter
An apostille doesn’t vouch for what a document says. Under Article 5 of the Hague Convention, it certifies the signature, the capacity of the person who signed and the seal on the document. For an FBI background check, that means the FBI’s own authentication. The U.S. Department of State says the FBI authenticates all fingerprint search results by placing the FBI watermark, and the results also bear a signature from a division official.
That is what the Office of Authentications checks before it issues a federal apostille. A copy, a scan or a re-printed file doesn’t carry the original authentication, so there is nothing for the State Department to certify.
Timing matters too. According to the FBI, it places the watermark and signature on the results at the time of submission and won’t authenticate results it has already processed. Ask for the authenticated version when you request your report.
What gets accepted and what gets rejected
| What you have | Federal apostille? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Original FBI Identity History Summary, as issued by the FBI | Yes | Carries the FBI watermark and a CJIS Division official’s signature — what the State Department authenticates. |
| Photocopy, scan or printout of a scan | No | A copy doesn’t carry the original FBI authentication. |
| Notarized copy of the FBI report | No (not federally) | Only the notary’s signature could be apostilled — by a state, not the State Department. |
| State police or county sheriff check | No (not federally) | A state document; only that state’s Secretary of State can apostille it. |
| Private background-screening report | No | Not a government record, so there is no official signature to certify. |
| Original report that was stapled, written on, laminated or trimmed | Risky | Alterations are a common rejection reason. Send it exactly as received. |
A state or local check is a different document
A background check from a state police agency or county sheriff is a state record. Only that state’s Secretary of State can apostille it, and a foreign authority that asked for an FBI check will usually not accept it. If the request says “FBI,” “federal” or “nationwide,” you need the FBI Identity History Summary. See federal vs. state apostille.
How recent the report needs to be
The apostille itself doesn’t expire, but many receiving authorities only accept a background check issued within a recent window, and the report can age out while it is being processed. Confirm the rule with the authority that asked for it before you start. See do apostilles expire?
What you get back from us
With our FBI check + apostille bundle ($399, in person at our West Palm Beach or Miami office), you get the original FBI Identity History Summary, issued by the FBI with its seal and signature, with the U.S. Department of State apostille attached. If you already have your report, mail it to us for the FBI background check apostille ($299). We review every document before we submit it.
If you received your report digitally or through a third party, contact us before you mail it so we can confirm it’s the version the State Department will authenticate.
Non-Hague countries
If the destination isn’t a member of the Apostille Convention, the report gets a State Department authentication certificate instead, followed by legalization at that country’s embassy or consulate. Use the Hague country checker or the processing time estimator to see which route applies.
Frequently asked questions
Does an FBI background check need the FBI watermark to be apostilled?
The State Department says the FBI authenticates its fingerprint search results by placing the FBI watermark, and the results bear a division official’s signature. The apostille certifies that authentication, so you need the original report as the FBI issued it. Copies and scans can’t be apostilled.
Can I notarize a copy of my FBI report and get it apostilled?
Not by the State Department. A notarized copy can only get a state apostille on the notary’s signature, which is not a federal apostille on the FBI record. Foreign authorities that ask for an apostilled FBI check usually expect the federal one.
Can a state police background check get a federal apostille?
No. A state or county check is a state document and can only be apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State. Only the FBI Identity History Summary receives a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State.
What do I get back with the FBI check + apostille bundle?
The original FBI Identity History Summary, issued by the FBI with its seal and signature, with the U.S. Department of State apostille attached. The bundle is $399 and starts with an in-person appointment at our West Palm Beach or Miami office.
How recent does my FBI report need to be?
It depends on the receiving authority. Many only accept a report issued within a recent window, so confirm their rule before you start.
Official sources: FBI — Identity History Summary Checks FAQs · U.S. Department of State — Criminal Record Checks · U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services · HCCH — Apostille Convention, full text. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.