Expedited Kentucky FBI Apostille Services
You have your FBI background check, or you are about to order it, and the country you are moving to wants it apostilled. In Kentucky that request cannot be filled in Frankfort. Apostille Authentications takes the FBI result by email, has it walked into the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, and ships the apostilled document to your Kentucky address 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 Frankfort cannot apostille your FBI background check
Kentucky apostilles come from the Office of the Secretary of State, Authentications and Apostilles, at 1025 Capital Center Drive, Suite 201, in Frankfort. The office certifies Kentucky public documents, including vital records, county clerk records, court records and documents notarized in Kentucky.
Its guidance is direct about federal paperwork. FBI background checks, IRS records, passports and other documents issued by the federal government must be apostilled or authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. An FBI Identity History Summary mailed to Frankfort will not be processed there.
Two points that trip up Kentucky clients:
- An AOC criminal record report is not an FBI check. The Administrative Office of the Courts issues state criminal record reports drawn from the court system in Kentucky’s 120 counties. The AOC says the reports are based on state court activity and do not contain any federal information. A foreign authority asking for an FBI or national check will not accept one in its place.
- The county clerk step does not apply to an FBI report. For a paper document notarized in Kentucky, the Secretary of State requires the notary’s signature to be certified by the county clerk where the notary is registered. Some clients have their FBI result notarized and start down that path. It ends in a state certificate on a notary’s signature, not a federal apostille, and it is commonly refused abroad.
For Kentucky birth certificates, court records or notarized documents, see state apostille services.
How it works from Kentucky
- Fingerprints where you live. Either get an ink FD-1164 card from a police department, sheriff’s office or fingerprinting vendor, or register on the FBI’s eDO site and have electronic prints taken at a participating U.S. Post Office. With both routes you order your FBI Identity History Summary and pay the $18 FBI fee.
- The result arrives. The FBI sends a PDF with its watermark and the signature of a division official.
- Send us the PDF by email. We review the name and date of birth against your passport before filing, so please include the passport photo page.
- Hand-carried in Washington. After Form DS-4194 is prepared, our Herndon, Virginia office takes the request to the Department of State Office of Authentications in person. FBI results skip DOJ certification and go straight to the Department of State.
- Return. FedEx to a Kentucky address, or FedEx or DHL to an address in another country.
Apostille Authentications has no Kentucky office and does not provide fingerprinting in the state. We step in once you hold the FBI PDF.
Avoid Rejections
Avoid apostille rejections with our expert help.
Expedite Your Documents
State agents for same-day apostille service.
Security
We prioritize the security and confidentiality of your documents.
Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
Kentucky 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 10 business days begin when your FBI PDF reaches us. The gap between the two timelines comes down to hand delivery in Washington.
Where we serve Kentucky clients
Anywhere in the Commonwealth, by email and FedEx. That includes Louisville and Lexington, the Northern Kentucky cities of Covington and Florence, and Bowling Green, Owensboro and Paducah to the west. It also includes Richmond, Elizabethtown and Pikeville. Since the Frankfort office is not involved, your distance from the capital has no effect on timing.
Why Kentuckians need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Kentucky clients include Japan and South Korea for work and teaching visas, and Spain, Italy and France for study, residency and long-stay visas. Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia ask for an apostilled FBI check with residency and retirement applications. Germany requests it in some work permit cases, and India and the Philippines with employment, marriage and family files.
If the destination country works in another language, a translation is usually required alongside the apostille. Certified translation can be included with your order. Many authorities want an FBI check issued no more than 3 to 6 months before you apply, so schedule fingerprints with that window in mind.
For the complete federal process, see FBI apostille services.
FAQ
Can the Kentucky Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Authentications and Apostilles office in Frankfort certifies Kentucky public documents. It states that FBI background checks and other federal documents must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
How long does an expedited FBI apostille take in Kentucky?
10 business days from the date we receive your FBI result. The standard service takes 7–8 weeks.
Is a Kentucky AOC criminal record report accepted instead of an FBI check?
Only where the foreign authority asked for a state report. The Administrative Office of the Courts report covers state court activity in Kentucky’s 120 counties and contains no federal information.
Does my county clerk need to certify anything for an FBI apostille?
No. County clerk certification applies to documents notarized in Kentucky that are going to the Secretary of State. An FBI result goes to the U.S. Department of State without a notary or a clerk.
I am in Louisville or Lexington. Is there an office I can visit?
We have no office in Kentucky. Clients in Louisville, Lexington and the rest of the state email the FBI PDF and receive the apostille by FedEx.
Start your Kentucky FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote, and let us know the destination country and your deadline.
