An FBI background check (officially an Identity History Summary) is one of the most common documents people need apostilled — for work visas, residency, and immigration abroad. Because it’s a federal document, the process is different from a state record.
FBI checks are federal — so they go to Washington
An FBI background check is issued by a federal agency, which means no state can apostille it. It must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending it to a state Secretary of State by mistake is a common and costly error.
The process
- Obtain your FBI Identity History Summary — directly from the FBI or through an FBI-approved channeler. A digital copy is typically issued.
- Prepare it for authentication in the correct format accepted by the U.S. Department of State.
- Federal authentication — the U.S. Department of State attaches the apostille (for Hague countries) or authentication certificate.
- Embassy legalization, if needed — for non-Hague destinations, a final consulate step is added.
Timing note: Federal authentication generally takes longer than a state apostille, so start early if you have a visa or residency deadline.
We handle the federal step for you
Orange County Apostille processes FBI background check apostilles directly with the U.S. Department of State, so you don’t have to mail anything to Washington yourself. Clients send their documents to us from anywhere in the country.
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Start online from anywhere in the U.S. — any document, any destination country.
Learn more: Federal apostille · State vs. federal apostille