Federal document support

FBI Background Check Apostille Support

An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. If a foreign authority requires an apostille, the federal route goes through the U.S. Department of State—not a state Secretary of State and not a notarized-copy shortcut.

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Explore: FBI background-check apostille service for Colombia, international apostille and legalization, the attorney apostille intake checklist, digital-nomad document planning, and the Global Document Navigator.

The correct document chain

1. Request the FBI result

Request your Identity History Summary directly from the FBI, or use an FBI-approved channeler if you meet its eligibility rules. The FBI limits channeler requests to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents located in the United States or its territories. If you are abroad, review the FBI's direct-request instructions, including the mailed-fingerprint-card option. The FBI says it authenticates results with its watermark and an official signature.

FBI request options and channeler eligibility · Eligibility guidance checked September 8, 2026.

2. Confirm the destination checklist

Check whether the recipient requires the original electronic/printed result, how recent it must be, and whether translation is required.

3. Use the federal route

Send the eligible FBI result to the U.S. Department of State for an apostille or authentication certificate as the destination requires.

Avoid this rejection: do not notarize a copy and obtain a state apostille when the recipient requires the apostille to certify the FBI official's signature.

Spain digital-nomad example

What the Washington consular instructions say

  • Adult applicants need an FBI-issued criminal background check.
  • The record must carry the federal Hague apostille.
  • The instructions require an official Spanish translation.
  • The apostille must certify the FBI signature, not a notary's signature on a copy.

What you still need to verify

  • Your responsible Spanish consular jurisdiction.
  • The document freshness window at the time you apply.
  • Translation-provider rules and whether other residence-country records are required.
  • How originals, copies, apostille, and translation must be assembled.

Sources: FBI FAQ, U.S. Department of State, and Embassy of Spain in Washington. Last reviewed August 18, 2026.

What Notary Pin handles

Notary Pin can review your destination and document details, coordinate the eligible federal apostille/authentication workflow, arrange certified translation as an add-on, and return completed documents domestically or internationally. Exact government requirements and timing are confirmed for your case before you commit.

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Who apostilles an FBI background check?

The FBI issues the Identity History Summary, and the U.S. Department of State handles the federal apostille or authentication certificate when one is required. Notary Pin coordinates the administrative route; the foreign recipient decides final acceptance.

What does apostille service cost?

Notary Pin apostille service starts at $250 for the first document. Additional documents processed through the same state start at $150 each. The final quote depends on the issuing authority, document count, state or federal route, destination, translation, legalization, and return-delivery requirements.

★★★★★ 5.0 across 589 Google reviews · verified August 2026

“I needed an out-of-state apostille on short order. Very impressive turn-around time, and solid communication!”

Piero Madar · Google review · June 2026

Reviewed August 19, 2026 by Jonathan Tran, Co-Founder of Notary Pin, who has overseen Notary Pin's document-coordination operations since 2022. Notary Pin provides administrative coordination, not legal advice.

Primary sources: FBI: Identity History Summary FAQs · U.S. Department of State: Authenticate Your Document