how-to
How to Apostille an FBI Background Check
Last Updated: October 30, 2026
Quick Summary
To get an apostille FBI background check for use abroad, first obtain your FBI Identity History Summary, then submit Form DS-4194 with the original document to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications. Confirm your destination country accepts an apostille before you start.
- Confirm the destination country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention before starting.
- Your name must match exactly across your application, photo ID, fingerprints and Form DS-4194.
- Send the original FBI document, never a photocopy, with the signed form and fee.
- Include a prepaid return envelope so the apostilled document can be mailed back to you.
Table of Contents
- What an FBI Identity History Summary Is and Why You May Need an Apostille
- Apostille vs. Authentication for FBI Background Checks
- Step 1: Request Your FBI Identity History Summary
- Step 2: Complete Form DS-4194 Apostille
- Step 3: Submit Documents to the U.S. Department of State
- FBI Background Check Apostille Processing Time and How to Track Status
- Common Mistakes and Rejection Causes to Avoid
- Getting Your Apostilled FBI Background Check Ready for Use Abroad
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you need an apostille FBI background check for use in another country, the process has three main stages: getting the FBI Identity History Summary, having it apostilled, and submitting it correctly. Premier Multiservices helps North Las Vegas residents coordinate these steps in English or Spanish, so you can focus on your paperwork instead of the details.
What an FBI Identity History Summary Is and Why You May Need an Apostille
An FBI Identity History Summary is an official record of your criminal history, if any, held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Foreign employers, schools, visa offices, and immigration authorities often ask for one.
An apostille is a certificate that confirms the authenticity of a U.S. public document for use in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. Without it, many foreign offices will not accept the background check as valid.
Apostille vs. Authentication for FBI Background Checks
Not every country uses an apostille. Countries outside the Hague Convention may require a different process called authentication or legalization, which often involves additional steps through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy.
Check the requirements of the country receiving your document before you start. A short call or email to that country's consulate usually settles the question.
Step 1: Request Your FBI Identity History Summary
Start by requesting your Identity History Summary through the FBI. The FBI offers two main routes, and the route you choose affects how long the check takes and how much you pay.
- Online request through the FBI's approved channeler network. You submit your application electronically and get fingerprinted at an approved location. This is the faster route for most people.
- Mailed paper request with a fingerprint card. You complete the paper application, have your prints rolled on an FD-258 fingerprint card, and mail the packet to the FBI. This route is slower and leaves more room for clerical errors.
Whichever route you choose, the FBI needs your identity details to match exactly across every form. A mismatch between the name on your application, your photo ID, and your fingerprints is one of the most common reasons a request is returned or delayed.
Fingerprint Submission and Identity Verification
Fingerprints are where most first-time applicants get stuck. The FBI will not process a request without a legible set of prints, and it will not accept prints taken just anywhere.
- Use an approved channeler or a law enforcement agency authorized to take prints. Walk-in print services at a local police department or sheriff's office are common, but confirm the agency will roll prints for an FBI Identity History Summary before you go.
- Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The name on the ID must match the name you enter on the application.
- Follow the print instructions exactly. Smudged, incomplete, or over-inked prints are a leading cause of resubmission. If a print technician offers to re-roll a finger, take them up on it.
- Keep your receipt and tracking information. You will need them to check status and to prove submission if the FBI asks for follow-up.
Do not assume prints taken for a different purpose will work for this request; confirm the FBI's current print requirements.
Once your request is submitted, the FBI returns your Identity History Summary electronically or by mail depending on the route you chose. Review it immediately for name spelling, date of birth, and any missing identifiers, because those errors will carry forward into the apostille stage.
Step 2: Complete Form DS-4194 Apostille
Once you have your FBI Identity History Summary, the next step is the apostille request. For federal documents like this one, the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications issues the apostille, and Form DS-4194 is the request form you will use.
Form DS-4194 is short, but the Office of Authentications reviews it closely. The form asks for your contact details, the country where the document will be used, the document type, and a signature. Each of those fields matters.
- Country of use. Enter the destination country exactly as the receiving authority names it. If the document is for a specific consulate or embassy, note that in your cover letter, not on the form itself.
- Document type. Identify the document as an FBI Identity History Summary, not a generic "background check." The Office of Authentications matches the form to the document in the packet.
- Name matching. The name on Form DS-4194 must match the name on the FBI Identity History Summary exactly, including middle names or initials. A missing middle initial is a common rejection cause.
- Signature and date. The form must be signed and dated by the applicant. An unsigned form is returned without processing.
What the Office of Authentications Checks
The Office of Authentications verifies the signature and seal on the underlying federal document; it does not review the content of your background check. To see which documents require an apostille, read Which Documents Are Required to Be Apostilled?.
Fees, Payment, and Mailing Mechanics
The Office of Authentications charges a per-document fee. Confirm the accepted payment methods on the official State Department website. Confirm the current fee on the State Department's official website before you mail anything, because the fee schedule changes and an outdated amount is a routine rejection cause.
Include a prepaid, self-addressed return envelope or a prepaid courier label so the apostilled document can be returned to you. If you are submitting more than one document, confirm whether each document needs its own fee and its own return envelope.
Before you seal the envelope, run this checklist: signed DS-4194, original FBI Identity History Summary, correct fee by check or money order, prepaid return envelope, and a copy of the packet for your records. Double-check each of these items before mailing.
Official Form DS-4194 and Office of Authentications instructions
If you are unsure whether your destination country needs an apostille or full authentication, resolve that question before you submit Form DS-4194. Submitting the wrong request type wastes a full processing cycle.
Step 3: Submit Documents to the U.S. Department of State
Send your signed Form DS-4194, your original FBI Identity History Summary, and the required fee to the Office of Authentications at the U.S. Department of State. For a side-by-side view of the federal apostille timelines and steps, read How to Get a Federal Apostille: Timelines and Steps. Include a prepaid return envelope so your apostilled document can be mailed back to you.
Confirm the current fee and mailing address on the State Department's official website before you send anything. Fees and procedures can change.
FBI Background Check Apostille Processing Time and How to Track Status
Processing times vary with how busy the office is. Processing times vary with how busy the office is, so check the official Department of State website for current estimates. Plan ahead if you have a deadline.
Using the Federal Apostille Status Check
You can check the status of a federal apostille request through the State Department's online tools. Keep your receipt or tracking number handy. Calling the office before the estimated date rarely speeds things up, so checking online is usually the better choice.
Common Mistakes and Rejection Causes to Avoid
Common reasons requests are returned include:
- Form DS-4194 filled out incorrectly or left unsigned
- Name on the form does not match the FBI document
- Wrong or outdated fee
- Missing return envelope
- Using a photocopy instead of the original FBI document
Double-check each item before you mail your packet.
Getting Your Apostilled FBI Background Check Ready for Use Abroad
Once your apostilled document returns, review it for accuracy. Some foreign offices also require a certified translation into their official language. Confirm translation rules with the receiving office before you submit your apostille FBI background check.
Keep the original apostille with your FBI document, and store copies safely.
If this process feels like too much to handle alone, Premier Multiservices can help. Premier Multiservices' bilingual team in North Las Vegas offers apostille and document authentication services, and we are glad to walk you through each step. Contact us to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fill out Form DS-4194 for an FBI background check apostille?
Form DS-4194 is the U.S. Department of State request form for apostille and authentication services. Complete the applicant name, mailing address, and the document description, identifying the FBI Identity History Summary as the document. Sign the form, then include the original FBI-issued document and the required fee payment as described on the official Department of State website. Check the form against the current instructions before submitting, since small errors such as a mismatched name or missing signature are a common cause of delays.
How can I check the status of a federal apostille request?
The U.S. Department of State provides an apostille status check on its official website. You will typically need your tracking or request number and the date the request was submitted. Status updates show whether your documents are in processing, approved, or returned. If the online lookup shows no record, confirm the submission date and tracking details, then contact the Office of Authentications directly using the contact information published on the official site.
How long does it take to get an FBI background check apostilled?
Processing time depends on current Department of State workload, the submission method, and whether you request expedited service. Check the official Department of State website for current estimated processing times before you mail your documents, because published estimates change. Build extra time into your deadline, especially if the document is needed for an international deadline, a visa, or a business filing abroad.
Do I need an apostille or authentication for my FBI background check?
The answer depends on the destination country. An apostille is used for countries that are members of the Hague Convention, while countries that are not members may require authentication or legalization instead. Confirm the requirement with the foreign authority or consulate that will receive the document before you request service, because submitting the wrong certificate type is a common reason for rejection.
