Expedited Maine FBI Apostille Services
Maine residents heading abroad to teach, study, work or retire are often told to bring an FBI background check with an apostille. That apostille is federal, so it cannot be picked up in Augusta. Send Apostille Authentications your FBI result by email and we have it hand-delivered in Washington, DC, then ship the apostilled document to your Maine address by FedEx. The turnaround is 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 Augusta cannot apostille your FBI background check
Maine apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, at 6 E. Chestnut Street in Augusta. The bureau describes its special certifications as covering two groups of documents: Maine vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records) and documents notarized by a Maine notary public.
An FBI Identity History Summary belongs to neither group. It is a federal record signed by an FBI division official, and its apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two things Maine clients should know before they start:
- A Maine State Police record check covers Maine only. The State Bureau of Identification offers criminal history record requests online through the state’s InforME service. The service’s own FAQ says checks of records held by the federal government or by other states are not available through it. If the consulate’s checklist says FBI, federal or national, the Maine record will not meet it.
- Notarizing the FBI report and sending it to Augusta gives you the wrong certificate. The bureau can certify a Maine notary’s signature, and it notes that a missing notarial statement is the most common reason it rejects documents. Even with the notarial wording done properly, the result is a state certificate on a federal record. The bureau also lists its own processing time as 10 to 15 business days, so this detour costs time as well.
If you also need a Maine birth certificate or notarized document apostilled, see state apostille services.
How it works from Maine
- Fingerprints, close to home. Have an ink FD-1164 card rolled at a police department, sheriff’s office or fingerprinting vendor. The alternative is to sign up on the FBI’s eDO site and submit prints electronically at a participating U.S. Post Office. You then request your FBI Identity History Summary and pay the FBI’s $18 fee.
- FBI result. The FBI issues a PDF with its watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Email it to us. Include the photo page of your passport. We compare the name and date of birth on both before filing.
- Washington, DC. We fill in Form DS-4194 and our office in Herndon, Virginia hand-carries the request to the Office of Authentications. FBI results skip DOJ certification and go straight to the Department of State.
- Delivery. FedEx to your door in Maine, or FedEx or DHL to an overseas address.
Apostille Authentications has no office in Maine and does not provide fingerprinting there. We take over once your FBI PDF is in hand.
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.
Maine 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 date we receive the FBI PDF. Hand delivery at the Department of State is what separates the expedited service from the standard one.
Where we serve Maine clients
The whole state. Because the service runs on email and FedEx, distance from Augusta makes no difference. We handle requests from Portland, South Portland and Biddeford on the southern coast, from Lewiston and Auburn, from Bangor and Orono, from Brunswick and Waterville, and from Presque Isle in Aroostook County.
Why Mainers need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Maine clients include Spain, Portugal and Italy for long-stay visas, retirement and citizenship files, and France, Germany and the Netherlands for study and work permits. South Korea and Japan require an apostilled FBI check for teaching visas. Costa Rica and Mexico ask for it with residency applications, and Australia in some visa cases.
Where the destination does not work in English, expect to supply a translation. Certified translation can be ordered together with the apostille. Foreign authorities often want an FBI check that is no more than 3 to 6 months old, so do not get fingerprinted too far ahead of your application.
The full federal process is set out on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the Maine Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions in Augusta certifies Maine vital records and documents notarized by Maine notaries. An FBI background check is a federal document and is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
How quickly can I get an FBI apostille in Maine?
The expedited service takes 10 business days from the day we receive your FBI result. Standard service takes 7–8 weeks.
Will a Maine State Bureau of Identification record check work instead?
Only when the foreign authority has asked for a state check. The Maine request service does not include federal records or records from other states.
I am in Bangor or Presque Isle. Do I need to drive to Augusta or Portland?
No. There is no in-person step in Maine and we have no office in the state. Everything is handled by email and FedEx.
Can you translate the apostilled FBI check?
Yes. Certified translation can be added to the same order.
Start your Maine FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, reach us on WhatsApp, or request a quote with your destination country and the date you need the document.
