Need an FBI Background Check for Use Overseas?
Many countries ask relocating adults for a national-level criminal history report — in the U.S. that is the FBI Identity History Summary.
The report itself usually is not enough abroad; it typically needs federal authentication. We handle FD-258 fingerprinting locally and manage the authentication step.
Why this comes up for people in your position
Foreign authorities want a nationwide report, which is why a local police letter or a state criminal history is often rejected when an FBI report was requested.
The report is generated from fingerprints, so quality matters. Smudged or incomplete prints are the most common reason a submission is rejected and has to be redone, which costs weeks. Getting FD-258 cards taken properly the first time is the single biggest time saver.
Many countries also apply a recency window to the report. Ask the receiving authority how recent the report must be at the time of your appointment, then work backward from that date.
Exact document requirements are determined by the foreign authority, consulate, or organization receiving your paperwork, and they vary by country, purpose, and document. Always confirm their written list before ordering or authenticating anything.
Documents that may be requested
This is not a required checklist — it is a list of items people in this situation are commonly asked for.
Ink fingerprints taken in person.
The national report itself.
The certificate that makes it usable abroad.
Often submitted alongside the report.
Some countries require the report translated.
How the process works
- 1Tell us what you're trying to accomplish
Share the destination country, the purpose of the document, and your deadline. That context drives every other decision.
- 2We review your document situation
We look at what you have, who issued it, and whether a certified copy, notarization, or replacement is needed first.
- 3We determine the appropriate authentication route
State apostille, federal authentication, or embassy legalization — the route depends on the issuing office and the destination country.
- 4Your documents are submitted and returned
We prepare and submit the package, track it, and return your documents by mail, courier, or local hand delivery.
Mobile Notary Philadelphia assists with review, notarization, preparation, and submission. The apostille or authentication certificate itself is issued by the appropriate government authority, not by our office.
Where was your document issued?
The route depends on which office issued the document. State-issued records go to that state, and federally issued records are authenticated at the federal level. If your documents came from more than one place, they travel separate paths.
Records issued in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia County vital records.
Records issued in New Jersey, including South Jersey counties.
Documents issued by U.S. federal agencies.
The FBI Identity History Summary route.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a state criminal history report when a federal FBI report was requested
- Using poor-quality or self-taken fingerprints that get rejected
- Ordering the report far too early and exceeding the country's recency window
- Printing the emailed report and assuming the printout can be authenticated the same way as the issued copy
- Sending the report to a state apostille office instead of the federal authority
Services that may help
FBI Background Check — FAQ
Not Sure Where to Start?
Tell us what document you have, where it was issued, the destination country, what the document will be used for, and your deadline. We'll explain the next step.