FBI Apostille: The #1 Step-By-Step Guide to Apostilling an FBI Criminal Background Check

The Two Legitimate Ways To Get an Apostille-Ready FBI Background Check

Introduction

If you’re searching for how to get an FBI background check apostilled, one of three things is happening:

  1. You’re moving abroad and the new country wants to make sure you’re not an international super-villain.

  2. You’re starting a job in nursing, healthcare, childcare, or education — industries that take background checks more seriously than a Swiss banker.

  3. You’ve discovered that every agency on Earth has its own rules, timelines, portals, and forms, and none of them agree with each other.

Whatever brought you here, the good news is this:

You can get your FBI background check — officially called an Identity History Summary — and your apostille through one provider, without juggling third parties or guessing what comes next.

And yes, that includes you if you’re reading this from Dubai, Dublin, or a Dunkin’ parking lot.

We handle clients nationwide and worldwide, so distance is never an obstacle.

Send us your prints — we’ll take care of everything else.

Example of an FBI background check needed for visa or residency
Behold it… yesss… your preciousss.

Why People Need FBI Background Checks

Most people don’t wake up thinking, “I hope today involves fingerprints.” But when you need one, you need it yesterday. The most common reasons include:

  • Visas, residency, and long-term international travel
  • Employment abroad
  • Nursing, healthcare, and childcare positions in the U.S.
  • Education, foster care, and licensing roles
  • Immigration petitions and residency renewals
  • Adoption or surrogacy requirements
  • Professional licensing checks

Whether you’re becoming a nurse in Nebraska or moving to the Netherlands, the FBI background check is the universal “prove-you-are-you” document.

If you need apostille services for any Florida or federal document, our main Apostille Services page has full pricing, turnaround options, and a simple order workflow.

What This Document Is Actually Called (And Why There Are Five Names)

Here’s a fun curveball no one warns you about: the document almost everyone calls an “FBI background check” actually goes by several names. All of them refer to the same official FBI-issued PDF you need for your apostille.

Official Name — Identity History Summary

This is the FBI’s formal term. Immigration offices, HR departments, and foreign consulates often use this label.

Alternate Official Name — FBI Criminal History Record

Same report. Different wording. You’ll see this in government licensing instructions.

Common Nickname — FBI Background Check

This is what nearly everyone calls it. Even agencies who should know better.

Another Nickname — Rap Sheet

Despite sounding like something a detective would slap onto a metal desk in a crime movie, it’s just slang for your FBI criminal history report.

Other Variations You’ll Encounter

  • FBI check
  • FBI police clearance
  • Federal background check
  • FBI identity report
  • FBI criminal record check

If your employer, licensing board, or consulate uses any of these names, they’re all talking about the same document — the one we apostille.

The Two Legitimate Ways To Get an Apostille-Ready FBI Background Check

Now that you know what the FBI report is actually called, let’s talk about how to get it in the correct format for apostille processing.

You only need one of these two paths, depending on where you’re located. No matter which option you choose, we handle the FBI submission and apostille under one roof.

Option 1 — Visit Our Daytona Beach Office (Livescan Fingerprinting)

If you’re near Daytona Beach (or anywhere within striking distance), this is the fastest and simplest way to get everything done.

See full details and schedule your appointment on our Livescan Fingerprinting Page.

We handle:

  • Livescan fingerprinting
  • Identity verification
  • Electronic FBI submission through our channeler relationship
  • Delivery of your official FBI Identity History Summary (PDF)
  • Apostille processing — U.S. Department of State or D.C. Secretary of State

You walk in with your fingers. We handle the rest. Once the FBI issues your report, we immediately move it into apostille processing.

Option 2 — Get Fingerprinted Anywhere and Mail Us Your FD-258 Fingerprint Card

If you’re outside Florida — or simply not near a Livescan device — you can still use our full one-provider workflow from anywhere in the world.

All you need is:

  • A standard FD-258 fingerprint card
  • Two valid forms of ID
  • Access to any police department, fingerprinting center, or private technician who can create an FD-258 card (ink or electronic-to-card)

Once your card is complete, mail it directly to us. Because we work with an FBI-approved channeler, you do not need to locate a channeler yourself.

Here’s how it works:

  • Get fingerprinted anywhere on an FD-258 card.
  • Mail the card to our Daytona Beach office.
  • We scan it using FBI-compliant card conversion.
  • We submit the fingerprints electronically through our channeler partner.
  • The FBI issues your Identity History Summary (“FBI background check”) as a PDF.
  • We immediately move your document into apostille processing — no extra steps from you.

This option is ideal for:

  • Out-of-state customers
  • International clients
  • Military personnel abroad
  • Rural areas with no Livescan
  • Anyone who wants a true one-provider solution

You get fingerprinted anywhere. We handle the FBI submission and apostille — start to finish.

How to Apostille Your FBI Background Check

Once you have your FBI Identity History Summary, it can be authenticated for international use through one of two valid pathways. Both produce a Hague apostille, but they are not interchangeable, and choosing the wrong one can cause delays, rejections, or full-on bureaucratic heartbreak.

Option 1 — U.S. Department of State Apostille (Traditional Federal Apostille)

If you’re outside Florida — or simply not near a Livescan device — you can still use our full one-provider workflow from anywhere in the world.

All you need is:

  • A standard FD-258 fingerprint card
  • Two valid forms of ID
  • Access to any police department, fingerprinting center, or private technician who can create an FD-258 card (ink or electronic-to-card)

Once your card is complete, mail it directly to us. Because we work with an FBI-approved channeler, you do not need to locate a channeler yourself.

Here’s how it works:

  • Get fingerprinted anywhere on an FD-258 card.
  • Mail the card to our Daytona Beach office.
  • We scan it using FBI-compliant card conversion.
  • We submit the fingerprints electronically through our channeler partner.
  • The FBI issues your Identity History Summary (“FBI background check”) as a PDF.
  • We immediately move your document into apostille processing — no extra steps from you.

This option is ideal for:

  • Out-of-state customers
  • International clients
  • Military personnel abroad
  • Rural areas with no Livescan
  • Anyone who wants a true one-provider solution

You get fingerprinted anywhere. We handle the FBI submission and apostille — start to finish.

Option 2 — D.C. Secretary of State Apostille (Certified True Copy Method)

This is not a federal apostille. Instead, it uses:

  • A certified true copy issued by a trusted D.C. notary we work with
  • Authentication and apostille by the D.C. Secretary of State
  • Turnaround: 3–4 business days

This method is ideal when:

  • You are on a tight deadline
  • Your destination country accepts D.C. true-copy apostilles on FBI background checks
  • You need a valid apostille much faster than the federal timeline

Important:

Some countries — Spain being one of the best examples — will not accept a D.C. true-copy apostille for FBI background checks. For these destinations, the U.S. Department of State method is the only correct approach.

Before processing your order, we verify your destination country’s rules and ensure you select the method that will be accepted.

See FBI apostille pricing here.

Common Mistakes That Delay FBI Apostilles (And How We Prevent Them)

Most delays in the FBI apostille process aren’t caused by the apostille itself. They’re caused by preventable issues before the apostille even begins. Here are the mistakes we see most often — and how we keep you out of trouble:

Mistake 1 — Using the Wrong Type of Fingerprinting

Some customers are fingerprinted on the wrong card, in the wrong format, or by someone who “thinks” they know what the FD-258 card is.
We confirm your prints, your card, and your ID match before the FBI ever sees them.

Mistake 2 — Submitting Through the Wrong FBI Portal

There are multiple FBI submission paths, and not all of them produce an apostille-eligible report. We submit your fingerprints through a compliant channeler, ensuring the FBI issues the correct PDF every time.

Mistake 3 — Receiving the Wrong Version of the FBI Report

Some people download the “preview,” “unofficial copy,” or an old version of their FBI summary.  We verify your PDF format so you don’t send an invalid document to an apostille authority.

Submitting the Document Twice to Different Companies

This happens more often than you’d think. One company handles fingerprints, another sends your FBI report, and a third handles the apostille — and none of them talk to each other.  We keep the entire workflow under one roof to eliminate crossed wires and pointless delays.

Why Working With One Provider Matters

You can absolutely piece this together with:

  • A fingerprinting shop
  • A random channeler in another state
  • A third company that “sort of” handles apostilles
  • A shipping store
  • Three federal websites

But the more hands involved, the more things slip through the cracks.

When you work with us, one specialist handles:

  • Fingerprinting (if you’re near Daytona Beach)
  • FD-258 mail-in card processing
  • Channeler submission
  • FBI report retrieval
  • Apostille processing (D.C. or U.S. Department of State)
  • FedEx or DHL international delivery
  • Human guidance at every step

One provider. One workflow. Zero confusion. Zero lost documents. Zero headaches.

Your Paperwork Shouldn’t Be the Hardest Part of Your Journey

Whether you’re relocating, applying for a professional license, or completing international paperwork, the process should not feel like an obstacle course. Our team makes it fast, accurate, and predictable — with real people who actually answer the phone and guide you through every step.

Ready to start your FBI Apostille?

Click here to view our simple order workflow and transparent pricing on the main Apostille Services page, or call us now.

John Bayne
Co-Founder & CEO | Florida Document Specialists
📞 (386) 218-2523
📧 john@floridadocument.com
🌐 FloridaDocument.com