You've received your FBI background check. Now the embassy or immigration office says you need an apostille. What exactly does that mean?
You've already completed your fingerprints, waited for your FBI report, and started gathering paperwork for your move overseas.
Then comes another requirement: an apostille.
And if you're preparing for a visa appointment, residency application, or international employment opportunity, you probably don't have time to send your paperwork to the wrong government office.
I'm Kerrie L. Smith, owner of Signature Move Notary Services in Indianapolis. I help clients coordinate federal apostilles for FBI background checks and other eligible federal documents.
Here's what I want you to know before you begin.
An FBI background check is not the same as an apostille
Your FBI Identity History Summary is a federal background check.
An apostille is a separate authentication issued by the appropriate authority for international use in countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.
For an FBI-issued background check, the apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State, not the Indiana Secretary of State.
This is one of the first things I clarify when clients contact me.
Step 1: Obtain the correct FBI background check
If you haven't requested your FBI report yet, you'll generally need to complete the FBI's Identity History Summary process.
That may involve electronic fingerprint submission or fingerprint cards, depending on the submission method.
At Signature Move Notary Services, I provide FD-258 ink fingerprinting appointments for clients who need fingerprint cards.
Fingerprinting is one part of the process. Obtaining the report and authenticating it are separate steps.
You can review the FBI's instructions at FBI Identity History Summary Checks.
Step 2: Confirm what the destination country requires
Not every country or immigration program follows identical rules.
Before ordering services, ask the receiving authority:
Does the FBI report need a federal apostille?
How recently must the report have been issued?
Is a certified translation required?
Does the translation need separate authentication?
Is the report needed in electronic or paper form?
I've worked with clients coordinating documents for international relocation, including requests involving Spain and other destinations.
The most useful information they can give me is their document list, destination, and deadline.
Step 3: Submit the federal apostille request
Eligible FBI reports are submitted for federal authentication through the U.S. Department of State.
Depending on the request, this involves the appropriate application, documents, fees, and return delivery arrangements.
Federal processing timelines can change, so don't rely on a turnaround estimate from an old social media post.
You can review official instructions at the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
Step 4: Plan for shipping and translations
A common mistake is calculating only the time needed for the apostille itself.
Your total timeline may also include fingerprinting, obtaining the FBI report, shipping, document review, translation, and international delivery.
If you're moving overseas, those extra steps matter.
What if my FBI report contains an error?
Don't assume an apostille will correct the information.
An apostille authenticates the appropriate federal official's signature or seal. It does not correct a name, birthplace, date, or other information on the underlying FBI report.
If information appears incorrect, contact the appropriate agency or your immigration representative about how to address it.
How Signature Move can help
I coordinate federal apostille requests and work with clients who need documents prepared for international use.
Services may include FD-258 ink fingerprinting, federal apostille coordination, shipping arrangements, and certified translation coordination.
My role is to help you understand the steps, identify potential problems, and keep your document project organized.
Have an FBI report that needs a federal apostille?
Tell me which country will receive it, whether you already have your FBI report, and your deadline.
Explore Federal Apostille Services
Signature Move Notary Services | Indianapolis, Indiana
Government processing times and document acceptance are controlled by the issuing and receiving authorities. Signature Move Notary Services provides document coordination, not immigration or legal advice.
