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FBI Apostille Service
Nationwide

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  • Same-day processing
  • All 50 states served
  • Accepted worldwide

If you have your FBI background check in hand — or are getting one through MR Fingerprints — and need it apostilled for use in a foreign country, you’re in the right place. MR Fingerprints provides FBI apostille coordination for clients in all 50 states. Email us your FBI document as a PDF and we handle everything: submission to the US Department of State Office of Authentications, return delivery, and certified translation if your country requires it.

We work with clients across the entire United States — not just Los Angeles. Whether you’re based in New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Washington, or anywhere else, the process is the same: email us, we submit to the State Department, you receive your apostilled document ready for your consulate, embassy, or immigration office.

Who Needs an FBI Apostille?

An FBI apostille is required whenever a foreign country asks you to provide an FBI background check that has been authenticated for international use. If your application has been rejected because your FBI document wasn’t apostilled — or if you’re trying to avoid that rejection — this is the service you need.

You need an FBI apostille if you are:

  • Applying for a long-stay visa or residency permit in a Hague Convention country — Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, UK, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, and 115+ others
  • Applying for dual citizenship or citizenship by descent — Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and others require an apostilled FBI check
  • Applying for a digital nomad visa — most programs including Spain's NLV, Portugal's D8, Italy's digital nomad visa, and Colombia's require apostilled FBI clearance
  • Working abroad in regulated industries — healthcare, education, finance, and security roles internationally
  • Going through the international adoption process — USCIS I-800A and I-600A both require FBI fingerprints and apostille
  • Teaching abroad — international schools and government teaching programs require apostilled US criminal clearance
  • Getting married in a foreign country that requires criminal clearance for foreign nationals
  • Applying for permanent residency in Australia, Canada, or other countries requiring police clearances from all countries of prior residence

⚠️  The Most Critical Thing to Know

The FBI is a federal agency — its documents MUST be apostilled by the US Department of State only.

A California Secretary of State apostille, a Texas Secretary of State apostille, or any state apostille is INVALID for FBI documents.

Every foreign consulate and immigration authority will reject a state-apostilled FBI document without exception.

MR Fingerprints coordinates only the correct US Department of State federal apostille — never a state apostille.

The Most Critical Thing to Know

The FBI is a federal agency — its documents MUST be apostilled by the US Department of State only. A California Secretary of State apostille, a Texas Secretary of State apostille, or any state apostille is INVALID for FBI documents. Every foreign consulate and immigration authority will reject a state-apostilled FBI document without exception. MR Fingerprints coordinates only the correct US Department of State federal apostille — never a state apostille.

Countries That Require an FBI Apostille

Here are the most common destination countries for our FBI apostille clients. All of these are members of the Hague Apostille Convention — meaning a US Department of State federal apostille is the correct and sufficient authentication.

EUROPE

🇪🇸 Spain

Hague member — federal apostille required NLV, Digital Nomad Visa, Golden Visa, residency, citizenship

Click for more details

🇵🇹 Portugal

Hague member — apostille + certified Portuguese translation required D7, D8, Golden Visa, AIMA, citizenship

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🇩🇪 Germany

Hague member — apostille + certified German translation required Niederlassungserlaubnis, employment, DoD, dual citizenship

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Hague member — apostille required. No translation needed. Skilled Worker Visa, ILR, NMC/GMC registration

🇮🇹 Italy

Hague member — apostille + certified Italian translation. Hard copy required. Elective Residency Visa, digital nomad, jure sanguinis citizenship

🇫🇷 France

Hague member — apostille + certified French translation required Long-stay visa, Talent Passport, residency renewal

🇬🇷 Greece

Hague member — apostille + certified Greek translation required Digital Nomad Visa, Golden Visa, long-stay visa

🇭🇷 Croatia

Hague member — apostille + certified Croatian translation required Citizenship by descent, residency

🇵🇱 Poland

Hague member — apostille + certified Polish translation required Citizenship by descent, residency, employment

AMERICAS

🇲🇽 Mexico

Hague member — federal apostille + certified Spanish translation required Residente Temporal, Residente Permanente, INM

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🇧🇷 Brazil

Hague member — apostille + certified Portuguese translation required VITEM V, permanent residency, digital nomad, marriage

🇨🇴 Colombia

Hague member — apostille + certified Spanish translation required Migrant Visa M, digital nomad, pensionado, investor

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Hague member — apostille + certified Spanish translation required Pensionado Visa, Rentista, residency, employment

🇦🇷 Argentina

Hague member — apostille + certified Spanish translation required Rentista Visa, residency, citizenship by descent

🇰🇳 Caribbean CBI Programs

Hague members — apostille required for St Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua, St Lucia Citizenship by investment programs

ASIA-PACIFIC

🇦🇺 Australia

Hague member — federal apostille required. No translation needed. Skilled migrant visa, partner visa, permanent residency, citizenship

🇯🇵 Japan

Hague member — apostille + certified Japanese translation required Long-stay visa, work permit, marriage, residency

🇰🇷 South Korea

Hague member — apostille required. Valid 6 months. F-4 visa, work permit, teaching positions (EPIK)

Don’t see your country?
We serve clients submitting to any Hague Convention country — all 129 member nations.
Contact us and we’ll confirm the requirements for your specific destination.

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Countries That Require Embassy Legalization Instead of Apostille

For countries that are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention, a standard apostille is not accepted. These countries require a more complex authentication process called embassy legalization — where the FBI document must first be authenticated by the US Department of State and then additionally stamped by the relevant foreign embassy in Washington DC.
Country Hague Status What's Required Notes
🇦🇪 UAE / Dubai Not Hague member ⚠ Legalization Apostille + UAE Embassy DC stamp 2-step legalization required
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Not Hague member ⚠ Legalization Apostille + Saudi Embassy stamp 2-step legalization required
🇰🇼 Kuwait Not Hague member ⚠ Legalization Apostille + Kuwaiti Embassy stamp 2-step legalization required
🇶🇦 Qatar Not Hague member ⚠ Legalization Apostille + Qatari Embassy stamp 2-step legalization required
🇪🇬 Egypt Not Hague member ⚠ Legalization Apostille + Egyptian Embassy stamp 2-step legalization required
🇹🇭 Thailand Joining Sept 2026 📋 Confirm Apostille (from Sept 2026) — confirm with consulate before applying Check current status with your consulate
🇻🇳 Vietnam Joining Sept 2026 📋 Confirm Apostille (from Sept 2026) — confirm with consulate before applying Check current status with your consulate
🇨🇳 China Hague member (since 2023) ✅ Apostille Federal apostille accepted — no embassy stamp needed China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023
MR Fingerprints can advise on embassy legalization requirements. Contact us directly for non-Hague country submissions — we will confirm the specific steps required for your destination.

What Are You Applying For?

An FBI apostille is required across a wide range of purposes.
Here are the most common situations we handle:

🛂  Visas & Residency

  • Long-stay visa applications
  • Temporary & permanent residency
  • Residency card renewals
  • Golden Visa programs

🏛️  Citizenship

  • Dual citizenship applications
  • Citizenship by descent (Italy, Ireland, Portugal)
  • Citizenship by investment (Caribbean)

💼  Employment Abroad

  • Work visa documentation
  • Regulated industries abroad
  • DoD civilian & military
  • International school teaching

How It Works:
FBI Apostille from Anywhere in the US

Our process is simple — and because we accept digital PDFs directly, there’s no waiting on mail to arrive before we can start. We begin processing the same day we receive your document.

Important: FBI Background Checks Are Typically Valid for 90 Days

Most countries require your FBI background check to be issued within 90 days of your visa or immigration application. The 90-day clock starts from when the FBI issues your document — not from when you get the apostille. With standard apostille processing taking 6–8 weeks, time your request carefully. Need it faster? Ask about our expedited option — 7–10 business day processing through our DC partner. Contact us as soon as you know your application deadline and we'll help you plan the timing.

Our Services at a Glance

Standard Service ⚡ Expedited Service
What You Submit Email PDF of your FBI document to MR Fingerprints Same — email PDF or mail hard copy
We Submit To US Department of State Office of Authentications US Dept. of State — in-person drop-off by our DC partner
Government Fee $20 per document $20 per document
Processing Time 6–8 weeks from State Dept. receipt 7–10 business days (~2 weeks total)
Total Timeline ~8–10 weeks from when you email us ~2–3 weeks from when you email us
Hard Copy Return Via tracked courier to your address Via FedEx or UPS to your address
Best For Non-urgent applications with flexible timelines Visa appointments, tight consulate deadlines

📧 Contact us for Faster Expedited Service

Expedited service range from 7–10 business days

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Need Fingerprinting AND Apostille?
We Handle the Full Process.

Most apostille services require you to already have your FBI document in hand. MR Fingerprints is one of the very few providers that handles the complete process start to finish — fingerprinting, FBI submission, apostille, and certified translation — all under one roof.

If you still need your FBI background check, here is the complete process MR Fingerprints handles for you:

  • Step 1 — Fingerprinting: Visit our downtown Los Angeles location for Live Scan, or contact us for the remote process (visit your local police station, scan and email your ink card to us)
  • Step 2 — FBI Submission: We submit your fingerprints electronically to the DOJ in Sacramento. Results in 5–7 business days standard, 48 hours expedited
  • Step 3 — Federal Apostille: We coordinate US Department of State authentication the same day your FBI results arrive
  • Step 4 — Certified Translation (if required): Delivered alongside your apostilled document as a complete, submission-ready package

One provider. One process. No coordinating between multiple vendors.

Why Choose MR Fingerprints for Your FBI Apostille

✅ All 50 states served — email us your PDF from anywhere in the US

✅ Federal apostille only — we never use state apostilles for FBI documents

✅ Same-day processing on receipt — we begin your submission the day we receive your document

✅ Expedited option available — 7–10 business day processing through our DC partner

✅ Full-service option — fingerprinting + FBI + apostille + certified translation under one roof

✅ Certified translations in 6+ languages — Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Greek, and more

✅ Country-specific expertise — we know exactly what each consulate and immigration authority requires

✅ Bilingual support — Spanish-speaking staff available

✅ In-person Live Scan available in downtown Los Angeles for walk-in clients

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an FBI apostille and why do I need one?

An FBI apostille is a certification issued by the US Department of State that authenticates your FBI Identity History Summary for use in a foreign country. It confirms that the document was issued by a legitimate US federal authority and that the signature and seal on the document are genuine. Without an apostille, your FBI background check will not be accepted by foreign governments, consulates, or immigration authorities in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Because the FBI is a federal agency. Apostilles must be issued by the government authority that has jurisdiction over the issuing agency — for federal documents like FBI background checks, that authority is the US Department of State. State Secretaries of State only have authority over documents issued within their state. A California apostille on an FBI document is legally invalid, and every foreign consulate that reviews such a document will reject it. MR Fingerprints coordinates only the correct federal apostille.

Yes — and this is how most clients submit. Email us your FBI Identity History Summary as a PDF and we begin processing the same day. If you only have a hard copy, mail it to us via any trackable courier and we will submit it on your behalf. For most apostille purposes, the PDF is fully accepted by the US Department of State.

Standard processing through the US Department of State takes 6–8 weeks from the date of submission. With our expedited option — where our DC partner submits your document in person at the Office of Authentications — processing takes 7–10 business days, for a total turnaround of approximately 2–3 weeks from the day you email us your document. Contact us when you reach out to discuss which option fits your timeline, we do have anexpedited process.

It depends on your destination country. Countries where English is not the official language typically require a certified translation of your FBI document in addition to the apostille. Translation is required for Portugal (Portuguese), Brazil (Portuguese), Germany (German), France (French), Italy (Italian), Spain (Spanish for some consulates), Colombia (Spanish), Costa Rica (Spanish), Greece (Greek), and others. Translation is not required for the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, or Denmark. MR Fingerprints provides certified translations in all major languages — delivered with your apostilled document as a complete package.

Yes — though the process is more involved. For countries that are not Hague Convention members, the FBI document must go through a two-step process: first a US Department of State authentication, then an additional stamp from the relevant foreign embassy in Washington DC. MR Fingerprints can advise on the requirements for your specific non-Hague country and help coordinate the full legalization chain. Contact us directly for non-Hague submissions.

Yes. MR Fingerprints handles the complete process from fingerprinting through apostille delivery. Contact us and we will walk you through the full process — whether you need in-person Live Scan in Los Angeles or our remote process where you visit your local police station, scan your ink fingerprint card, and email it to us. Results in 5–7 business days, then we move straight into the apostille process.

Explore by Country

Europe

Latin America

  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Mexico]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Brazil]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Colombia]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Costa Rica]

Middle East & Oceania

  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in the UAE / Dubai]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Australia]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for US Citizens in Canada]

 

Explore by Use Case

  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for International Adoption]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for Teaching Abroad]
  • [Link: Apostille Services for FBI Background Checks]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for Foreign Residency Applications]
  • [Link: FBI Fingerprinting for Dual Citizenship Applications]
  • [Link: Citizenship by Descent — FBI Background Check Requirements]

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Winner N. profile picture
Winner N.
21:05 11 Feb 26
The service is very good, welcoming and efficient
Ivan H. profile picture
Ivan H.
19:55 09 Jan 26
Professional, cordial, pleasant and efficient. If you need these services, great choice!
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Avila R.
06:56 28 Dec 25
Their live fingerprint scanning services are truly impressive and inspire immediate confidence. The facility is modern, well-equipped, and designed to ensure that every fingerprinting requirement is handled with accuracy, efficiency, and care. From start to finish, the process feels seamless and professionally managed. In addition, their FBI background check services are extremely reliable and convenient, making them an excellent choice for individuals and organizations that require thorough and trustworthy verification. Overall, this company stands out for its high standards, advanced capabilities, and exceptional service in this specialized field.
A. Jay A. profile picture
A. Jay A.
14:44 04 Dec 25
Everything about our experience being fingerprinted for our visa application went as we might have hoped: quick, easy, and professional, Mauricio was informative and helpful and a pleasure to converse with.
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martin V.
04:52 15 Nov 25
The gentleman that assisted me with my fingerprints was very professional and quick with getting me taken care of right away. Great people skills and was pleasant. I would recommend this location to others. Thank you for your service sir and for valuing my time, i appreciate that the most!
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Dong L.
20:12 07 Oct 25
I came to Mr. Fingerprints for my FBI background check, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish! The business owner was extremely attentive and handled everything with great care and professionalism. The whole process was smooth, fast, and very well organized. I truly felt welcomed — the environment was warm and comfortable, almost like home. Highly recommend this place to anyone who needs fingerprinting or background check services!

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  • Trusted by Hundreds of Customers
  • Same-day processing

Getting your FBI apostille is straightforward when you have the right provider. Email us your FBI document and we handle everything — State Department submission, return delivery, and certified translation if needed.

We serve clients in all 50 states. Same-day processing on receipt. Expedited available.

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