Why do I need an apostille on a Background Check?
If you plan to travel to a foreign country for work, study, or permanent or long-time residence, you will be required to submit an apostilled background check in order to receive a visa or a residency permit in the country of your destination. Depending on a country requirement, you may need a background check from the local police station, Sheriff’s department, State department of Justice, or the FBI. Most countries accept the FBI background check.
How can I get an apostille on a Background Check?
First, you will need to contact the local police station, Sheriff’s department, State department of Justice, or the FBI and request a background check document. Generally, the FBI sends a digital copy of a background check by email. If your background check was conducted by the state authorities (Police department, or State Department of Justice) an original or a certified copy of a background check report is needed to obtain an apostille. Before you mail us a state-issued background check for an apostille, please make sure your report is properly authenticated by the State of issue. Keep in mind that the local or state-issued background check can only be attested with an apostille by the same state that issued the report. So, if you received a background check from the Georgia Department of Justice, an apostille on your report will be processed by the Georgia Secretary of State office. Or, if you received a background check from the Sheriff’s office in the State of Florida, only the Florida Secretary of State can process an apostille on your document.
Depending on the type of your background check, you will need to do the following before we can process an apostille on your background check:
Police Station Background Check – If a country of your destination requested a background check from the local police station, you will need to go to the local police department and ask them for a criminal background check. This document needs to be notarized, so you will need to arrange a traveling notary public to come to the police station and notarize the signature of a police officer signing your background check. Please make sure you find an experienced notary properly licensed and knowledgeable on the notarial laws in your state.
Background Check through the Local Sheriff’s Department - If a country of your destination requested a background check from the local Sheriff’s department, you will need to visit the local Sheriff’s department and ask them for a criminal background check. This document needs to be notarized, so you will need to arrange for a traveling notary public to come to the Sheriff’s department and notarize the signature of a Deputy signing your background check. Please make sure you find an experienced notary properly licensed and knowledgeable on the notarial laws in your state.
Background Check through the Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General – To receive a background check from the State’s Department of Justice, you will need to contact the Department of Justice in your state. Since different states have different procedures for obtaining a background check report, you will need to request detailed instructions from the Attorney General Office in your particular state. For instance, if you are a Texas resident a Texas Office of Attorney General should help you obtain a background check report.
The FBI Background Check – You will need to contact the FBI directly or an approved FBI Channeler and ask for detailed instructions on how to request the FBI background check. Generally, the FBI Background check is done upon submission of your fingerprints and checking them via the FBI database. The final report is typically issued electronically. If you are located outside of the United States, you can contact the local US consular office and ask them for a list of the approved FBI Channelers. The FBI Channeler will give you further instructions on submitting your fingerprints for the background check.
Ready to apply for an apostille on a Background Check?
Global Apostille can apostille background check reports notarized in any of the US States. We have been assisting clients with document authentication for use abroad since 2004. We apostille background checks, passports, travel consent letters, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, birth certificates, death certificates, diplomas, wills, and much more. Global Apostille is your unbeatable source for apostille services!
If you need to apostille a background check report, contact Global Apostille today! Our experts are available Monday through Friday from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM. Please call us at 1-770-447-0360 or toll-free 866-416-0747, and we will answer all your questions and offer easy-to-follow detailed instructions.