Florida FBI / Background Check Apostille Guide
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What this guide covers
This guide explains how people connected to Florida can obtain an FBI Identity History Summary ("FBI background check") and apostille it via the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications, and obtain a Florida state-level criminal history from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and apostille it via the Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations, Apostille Section. It focuses on apostilles for use in Hague Convention countries and notes when additional consular steps are needed for non-Hague destinations.
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Two main paths: FBI vs Florida FDLE
Document type: FBI Identity History Summary (nationwide criminal history).
Who issues the record: Federal Bureau of Investigation (CJIS).
Who apostilles it: U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications (not any state).
Document type: Florida state criminal history record issued by FDLE (statewide Florida arrests).
Who apostilles it: Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations, Apostille Section, the only competent authority for Florida apostilles.
Key facts at a glance
FBI route (federal):
- FBI report fee: typically $18 per Identity History Summary (online or mail).
- Apostille fee (U.S. DoS): $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194 (check or money order to "U.S. Department of State").
- Mailing address (DoS): U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, 44132 Mercure Cir., PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206.
- Physical address (DoS): 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 (walk-in/appointment per Travel.gov).
FDLE + Florida apostille route (state):
- FDLE state criminal history fee: set by Florida law (commonly around the mid-$20s per check; confirm on FDLE at time of request).
- Florida apostille fee:
- • $10.00 per document, OR
- • $20.00 per document for documents certified by any Florida Clerk of the Court when requesting an apostille ($10 for apostille + $10 for certificate of incumbency).
- Mailing address (Florida apostille): Division of Corporations, ATTN: Apostille Section, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800.
- Courier / walk-in address: Division of Corporations, ATTN: Apostille Section, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Path A — FBI Identity History Summary → U.S. Department of State apostille
4.1 Order your FBI report
- 1. Go to the FBI's Identity History Summary Checks page and request your report online or by mail; fee typically $18.
- 2. Provide fingerprints:
- • Live scan or fingerprint card (FD-1164) via FBI-approved locations or mail.
- 3. Choose electronic results (fastest) or mailed copy.
4.2 Prepare your U.S. Department of State apostille packet
- 1. Complete Form DS-4194 (Request for Authentications Service) and list the destination country where the FBI report will be used.
- 2. Include:
- • Original FBI report (or printed PDF if DoS accepts prints at that time);
- • DS-4194;
- • Payment: $20 per document, check or money order to "U.S. Department of State" (no cash or card by mail).
- 3. Add a pre-paid return label/envelope with your name and address as both sender and recipient.
4.3 Submit to the Office of Authentications
Mail:
Office of Authentications
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206
Walk-in / appointment:
600 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Processing times depend on volume; Travel.gov posts current estimates and walk-in rules.
Path B — Florida FDLE criminal history → Florida Department of State apostille
5.1 Order your Florida FDLE criminal history
- 1. Use the FDLE Criminal History portal (CCHInet) to request a statewide Florida criminal history; FDLE is the central repository for Florida criminal records.
- 2. Choose a certified result that can be notarized or bears the proper FDLE official signature; FDLE notes that certified results can be notarized and mailed.
- 3. Pay the fee set by FDLE (commonly around ~$24 per record; confirm on FDLE when ordering).
5.2 Prepare your Florida apostille packet
- 1. Complete the Apostille or Notarial Certification Request Form (Florida Department of State).
- 2. Indicate the country where the document will be used.
- 3. Include:
- • Original certified FDLE criminal history record;
- • Completed request form;
- • Payment: $10.00 per document, OR $20.00 per document if the document is certified by a Clerk of the Court.
- • A self-addressed stamped envelope or pre-paid courier label listing your name and address as both sender and recipient.
5.3 Submit to the Florida Apostille Section
Mailing address (USPS):
Division of Corporations — ATTN: Apostille Section
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Courier / walk-in address:
Division of Corporations — ATTN: Apostille Section
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810
Tallahassee, FL 32303
The Florida Secretary of State, via the Division of Corporations, is the only competent authority for apostilles in Florida.
Which path should you choose?
Step-by-step checklists (FBI + DoS / FDLE + Florida DoS)
- 1.Request FBI Identity History Summary (online or by mail; pay $18).
- 2.Wait for the FBI report (download PDF or receive printed copy).
- 3.Complete Form DS-4194 (include destination country).
- 4.Prepare payment: $20 per document, check or money order to "U.S. Department of State."
- 5.Mail packet to PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206 or drop off at 600 19th St NW, Washington, DC per current rules.
- 6.Receive apostilled FBI report via your chosen return method.
- 1.Request a Florida FDLE state criminal history (certified result) via FDLE's official channels.
- 2.Once received, confirm it's certified/notarizable and ready for apostille.
- 3.Complete Florida's Apostille or Notarial Certification Request Form; list destination country.
- 4.Pay $10 per document (or $20 for Clerk-of-Court–certified documents), check or money order to "Florida Department of State."
- 5.Mail everything to P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800 or send by courier/visit 2415 N. Monroe St, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
- 6.Receive apostilled FDLE record via your return envelope or courier label.
Processing times & fees (summary tables)
Fees
| Step | Agency | Standard Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI background check | FBI CJIS | $18 per report | Online or mail; fastest via electronic request |
| Federal apostille | U.S. Department of State | $20 per document | DS-4194 + check/money order |
| FDLE state record | FDLE | around $24 per record | Statewide Florida criminal history (check current FDLE fee) |
| Florida apostille | Florida DoS, Division of Corporations | $10 per document ($20 for Clerk-of-Court docs) | Apostille/Notarial certification; check or money order to Florida DoS |
Timelines (approximate)
- • FBI report: often a few days to a couple of weeks depending on method.
- • DoS apostille: Travel.gov warns that processing times vary; readers should check the current notice (often several weeks for mail, faster for drop-off/pickup).
- • FDLE record: FDLE notes about 5 business days plus mailing time for many requests.
- • Florida apostille: Florida DoS doesn't always publish a fixed timeline; advise expecting several business days plus postage time, and checking for up-to-date estimates when mailing.
Common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)
❌ Issue: Sending FBI report to Florida DoS for apostille
→ Fix: Wrong authority. FBI documents are federal and must go to U.S. Department of State, not the Florida Secretary of State.
❌ Issue: Sending FDLE record to U.S. DoS
→ Fix: FDLE is a state authority; its records are apostilled by Florida DoS, not U.S. DoS.
❌ Issue: Missing DS-4194 or wrong DoS fee
→ Fix: DoS requires completed DS-4194 and $20 per document. Incomplete packets get delayed or returned.
❌ Issue: Uncertified FDLE printout
→ Fix: Non-certified or non-notarizable FDLE printouts cannot be apostilled; you need an appropriately certified FDLE record.
❌ Issue: Missing country of use on apostille forms
→ Fix: Both DoS and Florida DoS request the destination country; leaving it blank can cause processing delays.
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Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Florida Department of State — Apostille Section
- Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Federal Hague Convention Guidelines
Our Process
- Daily verification against official FL SOS updates
- Expert review by Florida specialists
- Fee and form oversight (Request Form DOS-260)
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Florida Department of State before submitting your application.
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-02-20Verified
Confirmed current Florida SOS fees ($10/doc, $20/Clerk) and mailing addresses in Tallahassee.
- 2026-01-12Verified
Verified Courier address (Monroe St) vs. Mailing address (P.O. Box).
- 2026-01-05Verified
Confirmed Vital Statistics requirements (Certified Copy vs. Photocopy).
- 2025-12-28Improved
Updated processing time estimates based on Department of State alerts.
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