How much does a Florida apostille cost for a background check?

Florida charges $10 per document for most apostilles, or $20 per document when the document is a Clerk-of-Court certified copy that also requires a certificate of incumbency.

Where do I mail my Florida apostille request?

Mail requests to Division of Corporations, ATTN: Apostille Section, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800, or send by courier/visit 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

FloridaFBI / Background Check

Florida FBI / Background Check Apostille — 2026 Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Updated November 2025 — Valid for 2026 • Verified: November 12, 2025

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

Path A — FBI (federal)

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).

Path B — Florida FDLE (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:

U.S. Department of State
Office of Authentications
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206

Walk-in / appointment:

Office of Authentications
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):

Florida Department of State
Division of Corporations — ATTN: Apostille Section
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800

Courier / walk-in address:

Florida Department of State
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?

Choose FBI + U.S. DoS

if your consulate, visa office, employer, or university specifically asks for an "FBI background check" or "FBI Identity History Summary." Only the U.S. Department of State can apostille this federal document.

Choose FDLE + Florida apostille

if the foreign authority explicitly requests a Florida state criminal history (e.g., "state police clearance" or "record from Florida police/justice"). In that case, you use FDLE and then the Florida Department of State apostille.

If in doubt

Confirm in writing with the destination authority which type (federal vs state) they accept.

Step-by-step checklists (FBI + DoS / FDLE + Florida DoS)

FBI + U.S. DoS — quick checklist

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.

FDLE + Florida DoS — quick checklist

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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FAQs (People-Also-Ask coverage)

Can Florida apostille my FBI background check?▼

No. FBI background checks are federal documents and must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications, not by Florida.

What is the fee to apostille a Florida background check?▼

Florida charges $10 per document, or $20 per document if the document is a Clerk-of-Court certified copy that also needs a certificate of incumbency.

Where do I send my Florida apostille request?▼

Mail to P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800 or use courier/walk-in at 2415 N. Monroe St, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303, addressed to the Apostille Section.

How do I get a Florida state criminal history?▼

Request it from FDLE Criminal History Records (online via CCHInet or other FDLE channels). FDLE is the central repository for Florida criminal records.

Do I need both FBI and FDLE background checks?▼

Sometimes immigration lawyers or foreign authorities ask for both federal and state checks for extra assurance. This depends on the destination country and program; users should follow the specific written instructions they receive.

Review Log (Amelia Rivera) — public E-E-A-T block

Reviewed by: Amelia Rivera — Compliance Editor, Apostille Pro USA

Updated: November 2025 — Valid for 2026

Change Summary: Clarified split between FBI (federal, DoS apostille) and FDLE (state, Florida DoS apostille). Verified DoS fee ($20 per document) and DS-4194 requirement + Sterling/ DC addresses. Verified Florida apostille fees ($10 per document; $20 for Clerk-of-Court–certified docs) and official mailing/courier addresses from the Apostille Request Form and Florida DoS websites. Confirmed FDLE as the source of Florida state criminal histories and typical processing times/fees. Added decision guide, checklists, fee/timeline tables, and expanded FAQs to improve SEO and AI Search coverage.

Next Review Due: May 2026 (or earlier if FBI, U.S. DoS, FDLE, or Florida DoS change fees, forms, addresses, or timelines).

Reviewer Profile: /team/amelia-rivera

Verified sources (.gov)

FBI — Identity History Summary Checks (fees, online/mail process)

FBI FAQ + request info

U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document (DS-4194, fee $20, addresses & hours)

Travel.gov pages

U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications overview

Sterling/DC addresses, appointment info

Florida Department of State — Authentications (Apostilles & Notarial Certifications)

Fees, process, addresses

Florida Department of State — Apostille Request Form

Official form with fee details and addresses

FDLE — Criminal History Records / Florida Checks

FDLE as central repository, methods, processing

Disclaimer & update

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Requirements can change. Always confirm current instructions, fees, forms, and addresses directly with: FBI, U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications, Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations, Apostille Section, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Updated November 2025 — Valid for 2026
Reviewed by: Amelia Rivera, Compliance Editor — Apostille Pro USA

Start My Guide

What this guide covers

Get your personalized FBI or FDLE background check apostille guide

Two main paths: FBI vs Florida FDLE

Key facts at a glance

FBI route (federal):

FDLE + Florida apostille route (state):

Path A — FBI Identity History Summary → U.S. Department of State apostille

4.1 Order your FBI report

4.2 Prepare your U.S. Department of State apostille packet

4.3 Submit to the Office of Authentications

Path B — Florida FDLE criminal history → Florida Department of State apostille

5.1 Order your Florida FDLE criminal history

5.2 Prepare your Florida apostille packet

5.3 Submit to the Florida Apostille Section

Which path should you choose?

Step-by-step checklists (FBI + DoS / FDLE + Florida DoS)

Processing times & fees (summary tables)

Fees

Timelines (approximate)

Common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)

Need personalized help with your Florida FBI or FDLE apostille?

FAQs (People-Also-Ask coverage)

Related guides (internal links)

Verified sources (.gov)

What this guide covers

Get your personalized FBI or FDLE background check apostille guide

Two main paths: FBI vs Florida FDLE

Key facts at a glance

FBI route (federal):

FDLE + Florida apostille route (state):

Path A — FBI Identity History Summary → U.S. Department of State apostille

4.1 Order your FBI report

4.2 Prepare your U.S. Department of State apostille packet

4.3 Submit to the Office of Authentications

Path B — Florida FDLE criminal history → Florida Department of State apostille

5.1 Order your Florida FDLE criminal history

5.2 Prepare your Florida apostille packet

5.3 Submit to the Florida Apostille Section

Which path should you choose?

Step-by-step checklists (FBI + DoS / FDLE + Florida DoS)

Processing times & fees (summary tables)

Fees

Timelines (approximate)

Common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)

Need personalized help with your Florida FBI or FDLE apostille?

FAQs (People-Also-Ask coverage)

Related guides (internal links)

Verified sources (.gov)