How to Get an FBI Background Check Apostilled [Updated for 2025]
- Parviz Malakouti-Fitzgerald, Esq.
- Jul 31, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
By Parviz Malakouti-Fitzgerald, Esq.
If you’ve spent any time living in the United States and you’re applying for citizenship in another country, you’ll likely have to get an FBI background check, and possibly apostille it too.
An apostille is a form of authentication of a state-issued document such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or state-run background check.
Here are some common reasons someone might request an FBI background check:
Applying for a foreign visa (student, business, family reunification)
Citizenship by descent
Citizenship by investment
To check your background for U.S. immigration
In this video, I explain how to get your FBI background check apostilled by the U.S. office of authentications.
I show you how to fill out the application, make the payment, and put together the envelope to send to the U.S. office office of authentications, and how to prepare the return addressed envelope.
Don’t Hesitate to Consult with a Professional
As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, so if you want to plan out the next immigration and citizenship steps for yourself and your family, you don’t have to guess.
Book a consultation with a qualified immigration lawyer who can answer your questions, including those you didn’t know you had.
The information in this page could become outdated. The Law Office of Parviz Malakouti does not guarantee the accuracy of information presented nor assume responsibility for actions taken in reliance of this information. Each immigration case is particular and you should consult with a qualified, licensed immigration lawyer about your case before taking any steps.
FBI Background Check Apostille FAQs
Q: Does the FBI background check (IdHS) need to be notarized before being sent to the office of authentications for an apostille?
No! Once and for all, the FBI background check (IdHS) does not need to be notarized!
Q: Is it a problem if my address on the FBI background check (IdHS) is different than the address I write on the DS-4194 for requesting the apostille?
No, it's not a problem.
Q: Is there any way to expedite the apostille process?
No. The only way to save time is to send your apostille request with overnight mail/shipping and include a pre-paid return label for overnight mail/shipping with your request.
Q: Who do I make the check payable to?
"U.S. Department of State" per the instructions on the DS-4194 as of June 1st, 2023.
Q: If I am requesting an apostille for both an FBI background check and another document, do I have to pay one apostille fee of $20 or multiple apostille fees?
You must pay one apostille fee of $20 per document you are requesting to get apostilled.
Q: Do i need to send my photocopies of passport and green card together with the application of apostille of FBI background check?
No.
Q: Is it possible to get my FBI background check apostilled faster than with a normal mail-in process?
Yes, as of October, 2024, the U.S. Office of Authentications has opened up walk-in service for apostille requests. Check out their website for more details on the protocol.
Q: Can an FBI background check that is older than six months still be apostilled?
Yes. However, make sure that the entity (e.g. foreign immigration service) that you will be submitting the FBI background check will still accept an FBI background check this old.
Q: Do I need to fill out anything in the field at the top of the DS-4194 that requests "SERVICE NUMBER'?
No, you can leave that field blank.
Q: Does the payment have to be a check? Could it be a money order or other form?
Per the DS-4194 instructions, "Allowable payment methods include money orders and checks (personal, corporate, certified, cashier's, traveler's) and should be made payable to the "U.S. Department of State."
Q: If I want to get my birth certificate apostilled as well as the background check, can I include it at the same time?
If you somehow have a FEDERALLY issued birth certificate, for which the competent apostille authority is the U.S. office of authentications, then yes you could include both documents in the same apostille request. Please be advised the vast majority of people have birth certificates issued by U.S. states.
Q: I may use my background check for two different countries, I see that the DS4194 form allows you to list more than one country. Should I simply mail in two copies of my FBI background check and a $40 check?
Yes, you can do that. Each separate apostille needs a separate paper copy of your FBI background check to be affixed to.
Q: Form DS4194 does not have a place to ask for Apostille or Authentication. How do they know which one we want? Is it because we are sending $20 Check?
The DS-4194 states at the top of page 1: This form is used by individuals, institutions, and government agencies to request authentication and/or apostille certificates under the seal of the U.S. Department of State for documents used for legal and administrative purposes abroad.
Authentication and apostille are used interchangeably there. If you fill out the form completely and send with the FBI IHS, you'll get an apostiled FBI IHS returned.
Q: I was wondering if you need an original copy of the background check for it to get apostilled or if just printing the emailed one if fine?
Printing the FBI IdHS off the link you are emailed is just fine.
Q: Is it possible for my mom to write the check from her checkbook? Or does the information on the check need to match my name and address?
There is no need for the check "payee" information and the name on the DS-4194 to match.
Click here to read more about FBI background checks.
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