New York FBI Background Check Apostille Guide

An FBI Identity History Summary — also called an FBI background check or identity history — is a federal record. An apostille on it authenticates the federal seal and signature so the report is accepted in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Because the record is federal, it is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not by any state apostille office. A New York state apostille office cannot apostille an FBI report, and this holds true no matter which state you live in. The authority that issued the record is the authority that determines who can apostille it, and for an FBI Identity History Summary that authority is federal.

There are two different reports, and they take two different routes. Confirm with your destination or its consulate which one they require before you order, because they are not interchangeable.

• Federal route: the FBI Identity History Summary goes to the U.S. Department of State for the apostille. Most consulates asking for an FBI Identity History Summary require the FEDERAL apostille (DS-4194), NOT a state apostille. This is the common requirement.
• State route: a state criminal-history report goes to the state apostille authority. This is used only when the foreign authority explicitly requests a state-level criminal history.

Ask specifically whether the destination wants a federal FBI report or a state-level check. Ordering the wrong one means starting over, so settle this question first.

Get your FBI Identity History Summary directly from the FBI or through an FBI-approved Channeler, which involves a fingerprint submission tied to a PCN. As you order, keep these requirements in mind:

• Recent report: an FBI Identity History Summary (or a state criminal-history report) — many consulates require it issued within the last 3–6 months.
• Official source: the FBI report comes from the FBI directly or an FBI-approved Channeler (fingerprint submission with a PCN).
• Unaltered: keep the report unaltered; do not open a sealed state report where the destination requires it sealed.

Because many consulates will not accept an older or modified report, plan to order it close to when you'll submit it for the apostille.

Mail your FBI Identity History Summary to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications:

1. 1.
   The document

   the original sealed/certified report or copy — not a plain photocopy

2. 2.
   Request form

   Form DS-4194 (Authentication Request) (download: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds4194.pdf), stating the destination country

3. 3.
   Payment

   for the apostille fee (see Fees below)

4. 4.
   Return envelope

   self-addressed; add a prepaid tracked label for return

Prefer same-day service? You can submit in person at:

If your destination specifically asks for a state-level criminal history instead of the federal FBI report, you take a different route. For a STATE-level criminal history, request it from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS); the NY Department of State then apostilles that state report. Use this route only when the foreign authority explicitly requires a state-level check — otherwise the federal FBI report and the U.S. Department of State apostille are what you need.

As of 2026-06-06, the U.S. Department of State processing time is: Mail: within about 5 weeks of the date the request is received. That clock starts only once your packet arrives, and this estimate can drift, so check the official page for current timing. Remember that obtaining the FBI Identity History Summary itself takes its own time before you can submit it for the apostille.

Many destination countries require a certified translation of the FBI report and its apostille into their official language. The receiving country sets that requirement, not the United States, and it varies by where and why you're submitting. Confirm exactly what the destination authority expects before you send anything, so you don't have to redo the work.