Expedited Delaware FBI Apostille Services
Delaware is known for fast document authentication, but that speed applies to state and corporate paperwork. An FBI background check is a federal record and has to be apostilled in Washington, DC. Apostille Authentications takes your FBI result by email, has it hand-carried to the U.S. Department of State, and sends the apostille to your Delaware address by FedEx in 10 business days.
Call (971) 514-3743 or request a quote.
- Ensure your documents are processed without delay
- Speak with our experts for personalized assistance
- Discover how we can expedite your apostille process
Why Dover cannot apostille your FBI background check
In Delaware, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State through the Division of Corporations, in the John G. Townsend Building at 401 Federal Street in Dover. The Division apostilles documents signed by a Delaware notary or a Delaware public official, alongside the corporate certificates it is best known for.
An FBI Identity History Summary carries neither kind of signature. It is signed by an FBI division official, so the only office able to apostille it is the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two mistakes we see from Delaware clients:
- A State Bureau of Identification report is not an FBI check. The Delaware State Police SBI issues certified criminal history reports from fingerprints taken at its Dover and Georgetown locations and at partner sites. The personal report is a State of Delaware criminal history. SBI’s combined state and federal option is described as one that must be mandated by law, so it is not a general route to a document for a foreign consulate. If the request says FBI, federal or national, order the Identity History Summary from the FBI itself.
- Notarizing the FBI PDF and sending it to Dover. The Division of Corporations can apostille a Delaware notary’s signature, so this produces a real state apostille. It certifies the notary, though, and leaves the federal record itself unauthenticated. Foreign immigration offices commonly reject it.
For Delaware birth certificates, court records or company documents, see state apostille services.
How it works from Delaware
- Fingerprints, locally. Have an ink FD-1164 card taken by a police department or fingerprinting vendor, or sign up on the FBI’s eDO site and give electronic prints at a participating U.S. Post Office. Request the FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI charges $18.
- The FBI sends a PDF. Look for the FBI watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Forward it to us by email. Add your passport photo page. We compare the name and date of birth on both before filing.
- Washington, DC. We complete Form DS-4194 and our Herndon, Virginia office hand-carries the request to the Office of Authentications. No DOJ certification is needed first. The FBI result goes straight to the Department of State.
- Delivery. FedEx to any address in Delaware, or FedEx or DHL to wherever you are abroad.
Apostille Authentications has no office in Delaware and takes no fingerprints in the state. We step in once you have the FBI PDF.
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State agents for same-day apostille service.
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Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
Delaware pricing and turnaround
| Service | Price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited FBI apostille (you already have the FBI result) | $390 | 10 business days |
| Standard FBI apostille | $195 | 7–8 weeks |
We count the 10 business days from the day your FBI PDF arrives. Hand delivery at the Department of State is what separates the two services.
Where we serve Delaware clients
All three counties, by email and FedEx. In New Castle County that means Wilmington, Newark, Middletown and Bear. In Kent County, Dover, Smyrna and Milford. In Sussex County, Georgetown, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. The process never requires a trip, so a client at the beach gets the same service as one in downtown Wilmington.
Why Delaware residents need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Delaware clients include Spain, Portugal and Italy for residency, retirement and citizenship by descent files. South Korea and Japan ask for an apostilled FBI check with teaching visas, a regular request from graduates in Newark. Work assignments and residence permits bring requests for Germany, the Netherlands and India, and retirement or residency moves bring Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico.
For the Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries on that list, a translation is normally required with the apostille. Certified translation can be ordered at the same time. Check how recent the FBI report must be. Many authorities set a limit of 3 to 6 months from the issue date.
The full federal process is explained on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the Delaware Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Division of Corporations in Dover apostilles documents signed by a Delaware notary or Delaware public official. An FBI background check is a federal record and is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille in Delaware?
10 business days after we receive your FBI result. The standard service runs 7–8 weeks.
Will a Delaware State Police SBI criminal history report work instead?
Not when the foreign authority asks for an FBI check. The personal certified report from the State Bureau of Identification is a State of Delaware criminal history. It is suitable only where a state-level check was specifically requested.
I live in Wilmington. Do I need to drive to Dover?
No. Dover handles state documents, not FBI records, and we have no Delaware office to visit. Everything is done by email and FedEx.
My FBI report shows a different name from my passport. Is that a problem?
It can be. Let us know before filing. We compare the two documents first, since a mismatch in name or date of birth can cause the receiving country to refuse the check.
Start your Delaware FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote with your destination country and the date you need the document.
