Expedited Massachusetts FBI Apostille Services
A visa checklist that asks for an “apostilled FBI background check” sends many Massachusetts residents to the wrong counter. The apostille for an FBI document is issued in Washington, DC, not in Boston. Apostille Authentications works from the FBI result you email us, has it hand-delivered to the U.S. Department of State, and returns the apostilled document to Massachusetts 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 Boston cannot apostille your FBI background check
In Massachusetts, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The main counter is the Commissions Section in Room 1719 at One Ashburton Place in Boston, and the Secretary also has offices in Springfield and Fall River.
The Commissions Section certifies original signatures of Massachusetts officials: a notary public, a justice of the peace, a city or town clerk, a court clerk or a registrar of vital records. Its examples include international adoption papers, college diplomas and company records.
An FBI Identity History Summary is signed by a federal official, so it falls outside that list. Its apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two mistakes to avoid in Massachusetts:
- A CORI report is not an FBI check. Criminal Offender Record Information is maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), and you can request your own through the iCORI system. The state’s CORI guide says the reports contain only Massachusetts court appearances and that out-of-state court information is not included. A consulate asking for an FBI, federal or national check wants the FBI Identity History Summary.
- Notarizing the FBI report does not make it a Commonwealth document. The Secretary’s office says it is the only office in Massachusetts authorized to issue an apostille for a notarized document, and it will certify a Massachusetts notary’s signature. On a copy of an FBI report, that gives you a state apostille over a federal record. Foreign authorities commonly reject it.
Town clerk records, court documents and notarized papers are covered on our state apostille services page.
How it works from Massachusetts
- Local fingerprints. Get an ink FD-1164 card from a police department or fingerprinting vendor, or create a request on the FBI’s eDO site and have your prints taken electronically at a participating U.S. Post Office. This is your request for the FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI’s fee is $18.
- FBI response. The result is delivered as a PDF carrying the FBI watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Send us the PDF by email. We review the name and date of birth against your passport, so attach the photo page.
- Hand delivery. Form DS-4194 is prepared and our Herndon, Virginia office takes the request in person to the Office of Authentications. No DOJ certification is involved. FBI results go directly to the Department of State.
- Shipping. FedEx to any Massachusetts address, or FedEx or DHL to another country.
There is no Apostille Authentications office in Massachusetts and we do not fingerprint clients there. 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.
Massachusetts 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 |
Turnaround is measured from the day the FBI PDF reaches us. The expedited fee covers hand delivery in Washington.
Where we serve Massachusetts clients
Anywhere in the Commonwealth, since the work is done by email and FedEx. We serve Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Quincy, Worcester in the center of the state, Lowell in the Merrimack Valley, Springfield and Amherst in the west, New Bedford and Fall River on the South Coast, and Cape Cod.
Why Massachusetts residents need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Massachusetts clients include Italy and Portugal for citizenship and residency files, Spain and France for study and long-stay visas, and Brazil for residency and family applications. South Korea, Japan and China require an apostilled FBI check for teaching and work visas. Germany and the Netherlands ask for it with some work and research permits, and India with employment visas. Students and recent graduates from the Boston area and the Amherst colleges often need it for teaching or study programs abroad.
A translation is normally required outside English-speaking countries. Certified translation can be included with your apostille order. Check how recent the FBI report must be. Many authorities set a limit of 3 to 6 months from the issue date.
Read more about the federal process on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Commissions Section in Boston certifies signatures of Massachusetts officials such as notaries, clerks and registrars. An FBI background check is a federal document and is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
How long does an expedited FBI apostille take in Massachusetts?
10 business days from the day we have your FBI result. The standard option takes 7–8 weeks.
Is a Massachusetts CORI report accepted instead of an FBI check?
Not when an FBI check is specified. A CORI from DCJIS contains only Massachusetts court appearances. It is suitable only where the foreign authority asks for a state record.
I am in Worcester or Springfield. Do I need to go to Boston?
No. An FBI apostille involves no visit to One Ashburton Place or to the Springfield or Fall River offices, and we have no Massachusetts office. Email the FBI PDF and the apostille arrives by FedEx.
What happens if my passport name and FBI report do not match?
Let us know before filing. We compare the two first, because a mismatch in name or date of birth can cause the receiving authority to refuse the document.
Start your Massachusetts FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, contact us on WhatsApp, or request a quote and mention your destination country and timeline.
