How To Obtain Federal Apostille

An apostille is a apostille U.S. federal forms attached to a document that authenticates the signature and seal on the document. It is proof that the signature meets international requirements. Apostilles are required for documents involving the signature of a government official or other legal documents that will be used in foreign countries. There are a number of ways to get an apostille, including visiting the Department of State in Washington, DC, or working with a third-party service such as Globeia.

Obtaining an FBI apostille can be done by bringing the original background check to the Department of State offices in Washington, DC, or applying for a walk-in appointment at one of our customer service centers. You must bring the completed request form, original background check and applicable fees (credit/debit card or exact cash). You will also need a photo ID to pick up your completed document.

International Use of Apostilled Federal Documents

If you are using your FBI background check in a country that is not part of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, you will need a federal apostille from the Department of State. The apostille will include the word “Apostille” and a reference to the Hague Convention, the name of the official who signed the original document, the agency’s name (FBI) and the place and date of certification. The apostille will also contain the unique reference number and official seal of the Department of State.