Expedited North Carolina FBI Apostille Services
North Carolina residents heading abroad for work, study or residency are often told to bring an FBI background check with an apostille. The apostille for that document is issued in Washington, DC, not in Raleigh, and the mail-in federal queue can outlast a visa deadline. Send your FBI result to Apostille Authentications by email. We have it hand-carried to the U.S. Department of State and FedEx it back to North Carolina 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 Raleigh cannot apostille your FBI background check
North Carolina apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State’s Authentication Office at 2 South Salisbury Street in Raleigh. The office lists the kinds of documents it handles: birth and marriage certificates, statements of marital status, articles of incorporation, corporate bylaws, powers of attorney, diplomas, school transcripts, deeds and similar North Carolina records.
An FBI Identity History Summary is not on that list, because it is a federal record signed by a federal official. The competent authority for it is the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two mistakes we see from North Carolina clients:
- An SBI Right to Review is not an FBI check. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation offers a fingerprint-based personal review of your record. The SBI describes it as an NC State only check, answered with a response letter on SBI letterhead. Because it also uses fingerprints, people assume it is the same thing as the FBI report. It is not. A consulate asking for an FBI, federal or national check wants the FBI Identity History Summary.
- A notarized copy sent to Raleigh gives you the wrong certificate. A North Carolina notary can notarize a copy and the state can authenticate that notary. What you get is a state certificate attached to a federal record, which foreign immigration offices commonly refuse.
For North Carolina birth certificates, diplomas or corporate documents, see state apostille services.
How it works from North Carolina
- Local fingerprinting. Choose 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. Request your FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI charges $18.
- Your FBI result. The FBI issues a PDF that bears its watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Email it to us. We check the name and date of birth against your passport first. Please attach the passport photo page.
- Filing in Washington. Form DS-4194 is prepared and our Herndon, Virginia office hand-carries your request to the Office of Authentications. No DOJ certification is involved. The FBI result goes straight to the Department of State.
- Return. FedEx to any North Carolina address, or FedEx or DHL to your address overseas.
Apostille Authentications does not have a North Carolina office and does not provide fingerprinting in the state. We take over when your FBI PDF arrives.
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Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
North Carolina 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 start when we have your FBI PDF. Expedited orders are walked into the Department of State by our Herndon office, which is what shortens the wait.
Where we serve North Carolina clients
Statewide, from the mountains to the coast, by email and FedEx. That includes Charlotte, the Triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, the Triad cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, and Fayetteville, Wilmington and Asheville. Since no part of the process happens in person, a client in Greenville waits no longer than one in downtown Raleigh.
Why North Carolinians need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our North Carolina clients include Spain, Portugal and Italy for residency, retirement and citizenship files, and South Korea and Japan for teaching visas. Germany, India and China ask for the check with employment and family visas. Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama are frequent choices for residency and retirement.
If the destination country does not use English, expect to submit a translation alongside the apostille. Certified translation is available on the same order. Timing matters too: many authorities want an FBI check issued within the last 3 to 6 months, so do not get fingerprinted too early.
The full federal process is described on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the North Carolina Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Authentication Office in Raleigh issues apostilles for North Carolina documents such as birth certificates, diplomas and corporate records. An FBI background check is a federal document, and its apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille in North Carolina?
10 business days after we receive your FBI result. The standard service takes 7–8 weeks.
Can I use an SBI Right to Review instead of an FBI check?
Not when an FBI check is requested. The State Bureau of Investigation describes its personal review as an NC State only check. It fits only where the foreign authority asked for a state-level record.
I am in Charlotte or Asheville. Do I have to go to Raleigh?
No. Nothing is filed in Raleigh for an FBI apostille and we have no office in North Carolina. Email the FBI PDF and the apostilled document is sent to you by FedEx.
What if the name on my FBI report does not match my passport?
Let us know before filing. We compare the two documents at the start, since a mismatch in name or date of birth can cause a foreign authority to reject the check.
Start your North Carolina 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.
