How to Get an FBI Background Check & Federal Apostille
A Clear, Domestic Mail-In and Cardscan Solution
If you are searching for how to get an FBI background check, you are likely facing a deadline or an official requirement. The process involves fingerprints, federal processing, and in many cases a U.S. Department of State apostille —and it is rarely explained clearly.
At Florida Document Specialists, we provide a coordinated path from fingerprint card submission to delivery of your official FBI Identity History Summary and federal apostille, with clear instructions and predictable timelines.
Location note: If you are located in the Daytona Beach area, Volusia County, or Flagler County, Florida, you may prefer to visit our LiveScan fingerprinting page for in-person service. If you are anywhere else in the United States, you are in the right place here. If you are outside the United States, please use our dedicated international service at IDHS.us .
This page is designed for U.S.-based applicants on real timelines. If you need an FBI background check for use outside the United States, we provide a coordinated domestic submission and apostille process. International applicants should begin at our dedicated overseas service.
What an FBI Background Check Is
What People Mean When They Say “FBI Background Check”
When most people search for an FBI background check, they are referring to an FBI Identity History Summary. This is an official federal document issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that reports whether a person has a criminal history on record in the United States.
This document is commonly required for immigration, residency, long-term visas, teaching or working abroad, dual citizenship, international adoption, marriage, and professional licensing in foreign countries.
If the FBI background check will be used outside the United States, most countries require the document to be certified with a federal apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State. Without this apostille, the FBI report is often rejected.
Important: An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. State background checks and local police clearances are not substitutes and are usually not accepted for international use.
Why Fingerprints Are Required
Why the FBI Requires Fingerprints for Every Background Check
The FBI does not issue background checks based on names, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers. Every FBI Identity History Summary is generated using fingerprints.
Fingerprints ensure accuracy by linking the report to a single individual and preventing mistaken identity. This requirement applies to all applicants, regardless of citizenship or purpose of the request.
Because fingerprints are mandatory, the most important decision applicants make is not whether to provide fingerprints, but how and where to have them captured correctly.
There are no exceptions: If fingerprints are missing, incomplete, or improperly submitted, the FBI will not issue an Identity History Summary.
Ways to Get Fingerprints for an FBI Background Check
The Three Legitimate Ways to Get Fingerprints
There are only three accepted methods for capturing fingerprints for an FBI Identity History Summary. All three are valid when handled correctly, but each serves a different type of applicant. Regardless of the method you choose, you will also need to complete and sign the FBI Identity History Summary authorization form before your fingerprints can be submitted.
1. LiveScan Fingerprinting
LiveScan uses electronic fingerprint scanners to capture prints digitally. This option is fast and convenient when a provider is nearby, but availability depends on location. If LiveScan is not available where you live, you may still submit fingerprints using an FD-258 fingerprint card .
If LiveScan is not available where you live, it is not required. The FBI does not prefer LiveScan over ink fingerprints.
2. Ink Fingerprint Cards (Mail-In Option)
Many applicants obtain fingerprints from local police departments, sheriff’s offices, or fingerprinting centers. These prints are captured on ink fingerprint cards and mailed for processing.
If you need a blank card, you may download the official FD-258 fingerprint card template directly from the FBI.
3. Overseas Fingerprinting (International Applicants)
Applicants located outside the United States typically obtain fingerprints from local police agencies or government offices using ink fingerprint cards.
If you are currently outside the United States, please use our dedicated international service at IDHS.us , which includes overseas fingerprint guidance, results retrieval, and international delivery.
Key takeaway: If you can obtain an FD-258 fingerprint card, complete all required demographic information, and include a signed FBI authorization form, you can obtain an FBI Identity History Summary through our domestic mail-in or cardscan process.
Where to Get Ink Fingerprints Taken
Where You Can Get Ink Fingerprints Taken
You do not need a private fingerprinting company to obtain fingerprints for an FBI background check. Many applicants successfully use public agencies that perform fingerprinting as part of their regular duties.
Common locations include:
- Local police departments
- Sheriff’s offices
- State police agencies
- Select notaries or fingerprinting centers
When visiting any of these locations, you should bring an FD-258 fingerprint card . The technician will roll your fingerprints using black ink and complete the card.
Once the card is complete, no additional processing is required on your end. The fingerprint card is ready to be mailed for FBI submission.
Tip: Call ahead to confirm fingerprinting hours and whether an appointment is required. Many police departments offer fingerprinting only on specific days.
Why Mailing Fingerprints Directly to the FBI Is Slower
Why Mailing Fingerprints Directly to the FBI Takes Longer
Many applicants assume the safest option is to mail their fingerprint card directly to the FBI . While this method is valid, it is also the slowest way to obtain an FBI Identity History Summary.
When fingerprints are mailed directly to the FBI, they enter a public intake backlog. Processing occurs in batch cycles, not in real time, and results are returned by mail.
Only after the FBI report is received can the apostille process begin. This forces the entire workflow to move one step at a time, with long pauses between each stage.
The result: Even when fingerprints are perfect, direct mail submissions often take weeks before apostille processing can even start.
Our Coordinated FBI Background Check Timeline
A Faster, Coordinated Way to Get Your FBI Background Check and Apostille
For U.S.-based applicants, mailing your fingerprint card to Florida Document Specialists allows the FBI background check and apostille process to move forward as a single coordinated pipeline, instead of disconnected steps.
Below is the exact sequence that occurs once we receive your fingerprint card. There is no batching, no idle waiting, and no unnecessary handoffs.
Step 1: Fingerprint Card Received
Once your fingerprint card arrives at our office, it is reviewed for quality and prepared for digital submission.
Step 2: FBI Submission Within 24 Hours
Your fingerprints are digitized and submitted to the FBI within 24 hours of receipt through an authorized channeler. They do not sit in a public mail queue.
Step 3: FBI Results Issued
FBI Identity History Summary results are typically available within minutes after submission. In rare cases, FBI system issues can extend this to a few days.
For security reasons, the FBI delivers the report directly to you, not to us.
Step 4: You Forward the FBI Report to Us
Once you receive the FBI report, you send it to us electronically. This step is required by the FBI and allows apostille processing to begin immediately.
Step 5: Apostille Processing Begins Immediately
Upon receipt of your FBI report, it is prepared for in-person courier submission to the U.S. Department of State without delay.
Step 6: Federal Apostille Issued
The U.S. Department of State’s current processing time for FBI apostilles is approximately 10 business days from submission.
Why this matters: This coordinated process eliminates weeks of idle time and keeps your FBI background check and apostille moving forward without interruption.
Transparent Pricing for FBI Background Checks & Apostilles
Pricing below applies to U.S.-based applicants using our domestic mail-in or cardscan workflow. If you are outside the United States, please use our international service at IDHS.us .
FBI Background Check
This fee includes review of your ink fingerprint card, digitization, submission to the FBI within 24 hours, and issuance of your FBI Identity History Summary report. For security reasons, the FBI delivers the report directly to you.
Federal Apostille
Includes preparation of your FBI report and in-person courier submission to the U.S. Department of State. Current processing time is approximately 10 business days from submission.
Total Cost: $265
FedEx® 2-Day Shipping Included with Apostille Bundles
A Small Detail That Saves Real Time and Real Frustration
For customers shipping documents to us from within the United States, we include a pre-paid FedEx 2-Day shipping label as part of the FBI Background Check + Apostille bundle.
This means no FedEx account to create, no out-of-pocket shipping costs, and no waiting at a FedEx counter filling out forms. Simply place your documents in a FedEx Express® envelope, attach the label, and drop it off — done.
Important: Complimentary FedEx 2-Day shipping is included only with the apostille bundle. Stand-alone FBI background check submissions do not include prepaid shipping.
Shipping labels and instructions are provided during checkout based on your selected service and delivery needs.
Ready to Get Your FBI Background Check Moving?
Stop Losing Time to Government Mail Queues
For U.S.-based applicants, once your fingerprint card reaches us, your fingerprints are submitted to the FBI within 24 hours. Your FBI Identity History Summary is issued, and your documents move directly toward apostille and—if required—certified or sworn translation.
Already have fingerprint cards? You’re ready to begin.
Outside the United States? Start your international order at IDHS.us.
Who This Service Is For and How to Start
Who This FBI Background Check & Apostille Service Is For
This service is designed for individuals who need an official FBI Identity History Summary and, when required, a federal apostille, without navigating multiple agencies or service providers.
- U.S.-based applicants preparing documents for international use
- Individuals applying for residency or long-term visas
- Applicants facing firm submission deadlines
- Anyone who prefers a coordinated, mail-in fingerprint workflow
- Customers who already have fingerprint cards or can obtain them locally
If you have fingerprint cards or can obtain them locally, this process provides a reliable, time-efficient path from fingerprints to a federally apostilled document.
Getting started is simple: Obtain an FD-258 fingerprint card, have your fingerprints rolled locally, and mail the card to us. Once received, we handle the rest of the process.
One Accountable Provider for FBI Background Checks
One Provider. One Process. No Loose Ends.
Obtaining an FBI background check for official use is not difficult because it is complex — it is difficult because the process is fragmented. Fingerprinting, FBI submission, and apostille processing are often handled by separate providers who are not coordinating with one another.
Florida Document Specialists brings those steps together under a single, accountable process. From fingerprint card submission through FBI issuance and federal apostille, your documents are handled with continuity and purpose.
The result: A submission-ready document package that meets official requirements, avoids unnecessary delays, and arrives ready for use.
If you already have fingerprint cards — or know how to obtain them locally — you are ready to begin.
Questions About FBI Background Checks and Apostilles
Need Clarification Before Placing an Order?
If you’re unsure whether you need an apostille, a certified or sworn translation, or want to confirm that your fingerprint cards are acceptable, you’re welcome to reach out before placing an order.
This form is intended for pre-order questions and clarification only. If you already know you’re ready to proceed, the “Start Your FBI Background Check” option above is the fastest way to begin.
Common questions we can help with: fingerprint card acceptance, apostille requirements by country, translation needs, and shipping logistics.
FBI Background Check and Apostille FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to the questions we see most often about FBI background checks, apostilles, fingerprint cards, timelines, and international use.
Ink fingerprint cards are fully accepted by the FBI. They are not outdated or inferior. What matters is print quality, not the capture method.
Once we receive your fingerprint card, your prints are submitted to the FBI within 24 hours.
FBI results are usually available within minutes after submission, though rare system issues can extend this to a few days.
For security reasons, the FBI sends the results directly to you, not to us.
Once you receive the report, you simply forward it to us so apostille processing can begin.
The U.S. Department of State’s current processing time for FBI apostilles is approximately 10 business days from submission.
If your FBI report will be used outside the United States, most countries require a federal apostille. Without it, the document is often rejected.
Yes, but it is usually much slower.
Direct submissions enter a public backlog and are processed in batches. Apostille processing cannot begin until the FBI report is issued, which can add weeks to the overall timeline.
The $70 fee includes:
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Review of your fingerprint card
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Digitization of the prints
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Submission to the FBI within 24 hours
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Issuance of your FBI Identity History Summary
The $195 fee includes:
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Preparation of your FBI report
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In-person courier submission
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Federal apostille processing at the U.S. Department of State
The total for the FBI background check and federal apostille is $265.
For U.S.-based customers ordering the apostille bundle, a pre-paid FedEx 2-Day shipping label is included at no additional cost.
Additional shipping charges apply only if:
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You request an overnight or upgraded delivery option, or
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The completed documents must be shipped outside the United States.
Yes. For U.S.-based customers ordering the apostille bundle, we provide a pre-paid FedEx 2-Day shipping label for sending your fingerprint card to us.
Yes. We offer certified and sworn translations for many countries when required.
What if my fingerprints are rejected?
Yes. If you are located in the Daytona Beach, Volusia County, or Flagler County area, you can use our local LiveScan fingerprinting service.
We also fingerprint and photograph for FDLE Level-2 and AHCA screenings.
IDHS.us is our dedicated international service for applicants who are located outside the United States.
If you are overseas, that service provides:
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Overseas fingerprint guidance
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FBI results retrieval
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Apostille coordination
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International shipping
U.S.-based applicants should continue using the ordering process on this page.