Expedited Ohio FBI Apostille Services
An overseas employer, school or immigration office has asked you for an apostilled FBI background check, and you are in Ohio. The Ohio Secretary of State will reject that document, and sending it to Washington by mail takes weeks. Apostille Authentications works from the FBI result you email us. It is hand-carried to the U.S. Department of State and returned to your Ohio address 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 Columbus cannot apostille your FBI background check
Ohio apostilles are issued by the Ohio Secretary of State through its Client Service Center at 180 Civic Center Drive in Columbus. According to the office, only documents issued by an Ohio official or notarized by an Ohio notary public can be apostilled there. Typical examples are certified birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees and business records on file with the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State’s apostille request form is direct about federal papers. It lists FBI background checks, along with documents issued under a federal seal or by a federal court, among the items it will not accept, and says they must be sent to the U.S. Department of State. That means the Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two points Ohio clients often get wrong:
- A WebCheck appointment is not the way to get an FBI check for use abroad. Ohioans know WebCheck from job and licensing background checks run by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. BCI states that it can only process FBI background checks for specific types of Ohio employment, and that anyone who needs an FBI check for personal use should contact the FBI. For a visa or residency file, request the Identity History Summary from the FBI yourself.
- A BCI report does not stand in for the FBI report. BCI is Ohio’s state bureau. When a consulate writes FBI, federal or national on its checklist, it expects the FBI Identity History Summary carrying a federal apostille.
For Ohio birth certificates, court records or notarized documents, see state apostille services.
How it works from Ohio
- Fingerprints where you live. 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 go to a participating U.S. Post Office for electronic prints. You then order the FBI Identity History Summary, which costs $18 at the FBI.
- FBI result issued. You receive a PDF with the FBI watermark, signed by a division official.
- Send us the PDF by email. Add your passport photo page so we can confirm the name and date of birth match before we file.
- Department of State. We complete Form DS-4194, and our Herndon, Virginia office hand-carries the request to the Office of Authentications. An FBI result does not need DOJ certification. It goes straight to the Department of State.
- Shipping. FedEx to your Ohio address, or FedEx or DHL to an address abroad.
We have no Ohio office and do not offer fingerprinting in Ohio. Our involvement begins with your FBI PDF.
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State agents for same-day apostille service.
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Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
Ohio 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 |
Ten business days are measured from the date your FBI PDF reaches us. The expedited service is faster because our Herndon office delivers the request by hand.
Where we serve Ohio clients
Anywhere in Ohio, by email and FedEx. We hear from clients in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, in Toledo, Akron and Dayton, and in Canton and Youngstown. College towns such as Athens and Oxford send us many teaching-abroad requests. With no in-person step, a client in Toledo has the same turnaround as one who lives a short walk from the Statehouse.
Why Ohioans need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Ohio clients include South Korea, Japan and China, where teaching and work visas call for an apostilled FBI check. Italy and Germany come up with citizenship, residency and work permit files. Spain, Mexico and Costa Rica are requested for study, residency and retirement, and India and Australia for employment and family visas.
Authorities that do not work in English will usually ask for a translation as well. Certified translation can be added when you order. Many countries accept an FBI check only if it was issued in the past 3 to 6 months, so schedule your fingerprinting with that window in mind.
Read more about the federal process on our FBI apostille services page.
FAQ
Can the Ohio Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The office in Columbus apostilles only documents issued by an Ohio official or notarized by an Ohio notary. Its request form lists FBI background checks among the documents that must go to the U.S. Department of State.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille in Ohio?
10 business days from the date we receive your FBI result. Standard processing is 7–8 weeks.
Can I get my FBI check through Ohio WebCheck?
Not for a visa or other personal use. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation says it can only process FBI checks for specific types of Ohio employment and directs personal requests to the FBI.
I live in Cleveland or Cincinnati. Do I need to go to Columbus?
No. Columbus has no role in an FBI apostille, and we have no Ohio office. You email the FBI PDF and the apostille arrives by FedEx.
Can you send the apostille overseas if I have already left Ohio?
Yes. We ship by FedEx or DHL to your address abroad.
Start your Ohio FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote and mention your destination country and deadline.
