Expedited Georgia FBI Apostille Services
Georgia residents often start their FBI apostille in the wrong place, because the state’s apostille office is not the Secretary of State and it does not handle federal records in any case. Apostille Authentications works from your FBI result by email, has it hand-delivered to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, and ships the apostilled document to you in Georgia 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 Atlanta cannot apostille your FBI background check
Georgia apostilles are issued by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA), at 1875 Century Boulevard in Atlanta. The Authority is the only body in Georgia authorized to issue them. It apostilles Georgia documents such as birth, death and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, other court documents and papers signed before a Georgia notary.
The GSCCCA’s own guidance covers FBI checks directly. An FBI record check signed by an FBI division official and bearing the FBI seal must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. That describes the Identity History Summary the FBI issues today, so the request belongs in Washington, DC.
Two mistakes we see from Georgia clients:
- A Georgia criminal history record is not an FBI check. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation explains that individuals obtain their Georgia record from most sheriff’s offices or police departments, and it points anyone who needs a national record to the FBI. A printout from your county sheriff shows Georgia arrest and disposition data. It will not satisfy a consulate that asked for an FBI, federal or national check.
- The notarized affidavit route. The GSCCCA can apostille a Georgia notary’s signature on an affidavit attached to an unsigned FBI record. The result is a state apostille on a notarized statement, and the signed FBI report itself still has to go to the Department of State. Foreign authorities that ask for a federal apostille generally expect the Department of State certificate.
For Georgia vital records, court documents or diplomas, see state apostille services.
How it works from Georgia
- Fingerprinting where you live. Choose an ink FD-1164 card from a sheriff’s office, police department or fingerprinting vendor, or electronic capture at a participating U.S. Post Office after registering on the FBI’s eDO site. Order the FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI’s fee is $18.
- Your result arrives. The FBI issues a PDF with its watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Email the PDF to us. Include the photo page of your passport. We check name and date of birth against it before we file.
- Federal apostille. Form DS-4194 is prepared and our Herndon, Virginia office hand-carries the request to the Office of Authentications. FBI results skip DOJ certification and go straight to the Department of State.
- Shipping. FedEx to your Georgia address, or FedEx or DHL to an overseas address.
Apostille Authentications has no office in Georgia and does not fingerprint clients in the state. Our service begins with your FBI PDF.
Avoid Rejections
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Expedite Your Documents
State agents for same-day apostille service.
Security
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Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
Georgia 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 |
The clock on the 10 business days starts when the FBI PDF reaches us. What you pay for with expedited service is hand delivery in Washington.
Where we serve Georgia clients
Statewide, by email and FedEx. Clients write to us from Atlanta and the metro cities of Sandy Springs, Roswell, Marietta and Alpharetta, from Savannah on the coast, from Augusta, Columbus and Macon, and from Athens. Because no visit is involved, turnaround in Valdosta or Albany is the same as inside the Perimeter.
Why Georgians need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Georgia clients include South Korea, both for teaching visas and for work assignments, and Japan and China for teaching and employment. Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia come up for residency and retirement, and Spain and Italy for long-stay visas and citizenship by descent. India and Germany are frequent on work and family visa files. Graduates from Athens and Atlanta campuses account for many of the teaching-abroad requests.
If the destination country uses another language, a translation normally has to accompany the apostilled report. Certified translation is available on the same order. Keep the issue date in mind as well, since many authorities accept an FBI check only within 3 to 6 months of issue.
More detail on the federal steps is on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the GSCCCA or the Georgia Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The GSCCCA in Atlanta is the only Georgia office that issues apostilles, and it states that a signed FBI record check with the FBI seal must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille in Georgia?
10 business days from the date your FBI result reaches us. Standard service takes 7–8 weeks.
Can I use a background check from my county sheriff or the GBI?
Only where a Georgia-level check was requested. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation directs people who need a national criminal history record to the FBI.
I am in Savannah or Augusta. Do I have to travel to Atlanta?
No. Nothing in the FBI apostille process takes place in Atlanta, and we have no Georgia office. Email the FBI PDF and the apostille is returned by FedEx.
Do I need a translation with the apostille?
For most non-English speaking countries, yes. Tell us the destination and we can prepare a certified translation with the order.
Start your Georgia FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote, giving your destination country and deadline.
