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Do I Need an Apostille or Embassy Legalization for an FBI Background Check?
If you are sending an FBI Background Check overseas, the destination country will typically require it to be authenticated for international use. If the country is part of the 1961 Hague Convention, you will need an apostille. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention, you will need embassy or consulate legalization, which can involve multiple steps. You can check WCS’s List of Countries to determine the correct path for your destination.
FBI Background Check Services
- An FBI Background Check, also known as an Identity History Summary, is commonly required for international employment, dual citizenship, residency, immigration, adoption, and visa applications.
- Once issued by the FBI, the document may need to be apostilled or authenticated for legal use in another country. WCS can help process your FBI background check for U.S. Department of State apostille services and any additional embassy or consulate legalization requirements based on the destination country.
- WCS manages the end-to-end authentication workflow, helping ensure your documents are properly prepared for international acceptance.
Apostille or legalization processing time depends on the destination country and document type. Federal documents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, with expedited processing available and turnaround times as fast as 4 business days in some cases.
When sending us your FBI Background Check for processing, please remember to:
- Upload the original document (or the version required for your destination) directly through WCS Express for processing.
- If mailing physical documents, include your WCS Express order confirmation printout or cover letter with instructions. This is not required for online uploads through WCS Express.
- Include a prepaid return label (FedEx or UPS preferred) for return shipping. If you prefer, we can ship using our FedEx account and bill the charge on the invoice