Expedited South Dakota FBI Apostille Services
Heading abroad from South Dakota for work, study, retirement or residency? A foreign government will want your FBI background check with a federal apostille attached. Apostille Authentications arranges that remotely: you email the FBI result, and the apostilled document reaches you 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 Pierre cannot apostille your FBI background check
The South Dakota Secretary of State in Pierre apostilles South Dakota paperwork: birth, marriage and death certificates, divorce decrees and court judgments, business documents filed with the office, and papers notarized in the state such as powers of attorney, affidavits, diplomas and transcripts. The office says plainly that documents issued by the federal government or by other states cannot be authenticated there. An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal record, so it must go to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two errors we see from South Dakota clients:
- A DCI state check is not an FBI check. The Division of Criminal Investigation, under the Attorney General, offers a personal background check that is state only. It reports South Dakota records. If the consulate or employer wrote FBI, federal or national, the DCI result will be refused.
- Sending a notarized FBI report to Pierre does not work. A South Dakota notary’s stamp on your FBI result gives the Secretary of State something to certify, but only the notary’s signature. That is not the federal apostille a foreign authority expects on an FBI background check.
Have a South Dakota vital record or diploma that needs an apostille too? See state apostille services.
How it works from South Dakota
We do not operate an office in South Dakota. Everything is done by email and courier, and you keep your original documents.
- Fingerprints. Ask your police department, county sheriff or a fingerprinting vendor for an ink FD-1164 card. Appointments are commonly required, so phone before you drive. If you prefer electronic prints, start on the FBI’s eDO site and look up participating U.S. Post Office locations.
- FBI Identity History Summary. File the request with the FBI and pay the $18 FBI fee. You receive a PDF bearing the FBI watermark and a division official’s signature.
- Email and review. Send the PDF to us. We match your name and date of birth to your passport so the request is not turned away in Washington.
- Federal apostille. We complete Form DS-4194, and our Herndon, Virginia office hand-carries it to the Office of Authentications. The FBI result goes straight to the Department of State with no DOJ certification in between.
- Return. FedEx to your South Dakota address or directly overseas. DHL is available for international shipments.
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.
South Dakota 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 |
Where we serve South Dakota clients
By email and FedEx, statewide: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Mitchell, Yankton, Spearfish and Pierre.
Pierre sits in the middle of the state, hours by road from both Sioux Falls and Rapid City, and many residents are used to handling state paperwork by mail. The FBI apostille is simpler than that. Because the FBI issues its result as a PDF, there is no envelope to send east and no transit time to add. The only step that needs you in person is the fingerprinting, so book that first if you live a long way from a larger town.
Why South Dakotans need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our South Dakota clients include Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica for retirement and residency. Graduates from Brookings and Vermillion often need the document for teaching contracts in South Korea, Japan and China. Spain, Germany and the Netherlands come up for work, study and long-stay visas, and Australia for skilled and working visas.
Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and Spain will want a Spanish translation with the apostille. Certified translation can be added to your order. Most countries accept an FBI check only if it was issued in the last 3 to 6 months, so do not request it too early. Our FBI apostille services page covers the federal process in more depth.
FAQ
Can the South Dakota Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Secretary of State in Pierre cannot authenticate documents issued by the federal government. An FBI background check must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille for South Dakota residents?
10 business days from the day your FBI result reaches us by email. Standard processing takes 7–8 weeks.
Is a South Dakota DCI background check accepted instead of an FBI check?
Only if the foreign authority asked for a state-level check. The Division of Criminal Investigation’s personal check is state only. If the request says FBI, federal or national, you need the FBI Identity History Summary.
I live in Sioux Falls or Rapid City. Is there an office I can visit?
No. We have no South Dakota office. You email the FBI PDF, our Herndon, Virginia office delivers the request to the Department of State, and the apostille is sent back by FedEx.
Can you ship the apostille directly to another country?
Yes. We ship by FedEx or DHL to an address overseas if you have already left South Dakota or your lawyer abroad needs the original.
Start your South Dakota FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote with your destination country and deadline.
