International Employment Background Checks and Document Authentication
Global employers and overseas HR teams frequently require a verifiable background check and credential set before onboarding.
Apostille or authentication is what allows a foreign office to trust a U.S.-issued report or degree. We support both individual hires and multi-employee batches.
Why this comes up for people in your position
International onboarding usually runs on the employer's compliance calendar rather than the employee's. HR may need authenticated documents in hand before a start date, a payroll registration, or a work-permit filing.
When several employees relocate at once, documents come from different states and different agencies. Batching those submissions keeps the group moving together instead of finishing one at a time.
Requirements differ by country, employer, and role. Confirm what the receiving HR office or immigration authority actually requires before ordering, and share that list with us so nothing is processed unnecessarily.
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.
The national report most often requested.
Credential verification for the role.
Requested when coursework is evaluated.
Notarized letters can be authenticated.
For the hiring entity's registration abroad.
Authorizes a local representative to file.
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
- Treating a vendor background screening report as equivalent to an FBI Identity History Summary
- Starting employee documents after the visa filing window has opened
- Mixing state and federal documents into one submission
- Letting each employee handle their own route with no consistent checklist
- Overlooking corporate documents the local entity needs for registration
Services that may help
International Employment — 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.