Study abroad students & programs

Get your FBI apostille before your visa deadline

Studying in Spain, Italy, Germany, or another country that requires an apostilled FBI background check? We handle both steps — the fingerprinting and the federal apostille — so you focus on the trip, not the paperwork. Apostille back in 7–10 business days with 2-day shipping included, instead of the 5–8 weeks it takes on your own.

Rated 5.0 on Google 2-day shipping included We catch errors before submission
~30 min
FBI fingerprinting results, most cases
7–10 days
Apostille processing — fastest in the nation
2‑day
Return shipping included in every order
One
Provider for both steps, under one roof
Plan ahead

When to start your FBI apostille for study abroad

Most students find out about the apostille requirement too late. Here's the timeline that keeps you ahead of your visa appointment.

4+ weeks out

Get fingerprinted

Come in with a valid photo ID. We capture clean prints and submit to the FBI — results back in about 30 minutes in most cases. $125.

Same week

Submit for apostille

Hand us your FBI report — or upload it — and we prepare every form the U.S. Department of State requires. You don't fill out a thing.

7–10 days

We authenticate it

Your FBI background check is apostilled through the U.S. Department of State — 7–10 business days, the fastest turnaround in the nation.

2 days

Shipped to your door

Your apostilled document ships directly to you with 2-day shipping included in the price. Overnight is available for an added fee.

Mailing it in yourself? The Department of State's standard queue runs 5–8 weeks or longer, and there's no way to expedite it on your own. If your visa deadline is under three months away, that timeline won't work. Start with us and you stay ahead of it.

Window seat before a semester abroad — travel that needs an apostilled FBI background check
One place, both steps

Your FBI check and apostille, handled together

We capture your prints, submit to the FBI, and apostille the result through the U.S. Department of State — so your program gets exactly what it asked for, the first time.

Does your country require it?

Countries that require an apostilled FBI background check

If your program or consulate asks for a "police clearance" or "criminal background check," it almost always needs to be an apostilled FBI report. Common study abroad destinations:

🇪🇸 Spain

Required for all long-stay student visas. Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish — the #1 destination for U.S. study abroad.

🇮🇹 Italy

Required for student visas and the permesso di soggiorno. Must be apostilled. Italy is the second most popular destination.

🇩🇪 Germany

Required for student residence permits. Covers university enrollment and language program visas.

🇫🇷 France

Required for long-stay student visas (visa de long séjour) submitted to the French consulate.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Required for student residence permits — both university and language school enrollments.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Required for D-2 student and E-2 teaching visas submitted to Korean immigration.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Required for student visas and residency permits in Dubai and Abu Dhabi programs.

🌍 100+ more

Japan, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and every other Hague Convention country.

Requirements vary by country and school. Not sure what yours needs? Call or text and we'll walk you through it.

One step most students miss

The apostille is a visa requirement, not optional

When a university or consulate asks for a "background check with apostille," they mean two things: an official FBI Identity History Summary, and an apostille that makes it valid in the destination country. Miss either piece and your application stalls.

Most students find out weeks — sometimes days — before their visa appointment, when the mail-in route is already too late. We process apostilles in 7–10 business days and ship back with 2-day shipping included, so you can start as late as about three weeks out and still make it. The earlier you start, the less there is to worry about.

Pre-departure checklist
  • Valid passport (6+ months validity)
  • Program acceptance letter
  • Health insurance documentation
  • Housing confirmation
  • FBI background check apostille
  • Visa application submitted
  • Flights booked

The apostille is the one item students underestimate. Get it moving early and the rest of the list falls into place.

How it works

Four steps to your apostilled FBI background check

From your first appointment to the document at your door — here's exactly what happens.

Get fingerprinted

Come in with a valid photo ID. We capture clean prints and submit them electronically to the FBI. Results back in about 30 minutes in most cases.

We handle the paperwork

Once your FBI report is in hand, we prepare every form and cover letter the Department of State requires. You don't figure out anything.

Authenticated by the State Dept.

Your FBI background check is apostilled through the U.S. Department of State in 7–10 business days — the fastest turnaround in the nation.

Shipped to your door

Your apostilled document is shipped directly to you with 2-day shipping included. Overnight and international options are available.

Simple, transparent pricing

No hidden fees. No surprises.

Everything you need for your student visa, in one place. Return shipping is already included — what you see is what you pay.

FBI fingerprintingResults in about 30 minutes$125
Federal apostille — first document$350
Each additional documentSame order$200
2-day return shippingIncluded
Apostille turnaroundFastest in the nation7–10 days

Already have your FBI background check? You only need the apostille. See federal apostille details. Additional fees may apply and will be discussed when you book.

Two ways to get started

Whether you're a student or a program office

Students can handle it themselves in one appointment. Study abroad offices can send a whole cohort our way.

For students

Handle it in one appointment

You need your FBI background check apostilled for your visa. Book your fingerprinting, we get your report, and we take it straight to the Department of State. Everything under one roof.

  • Fingerprinting + apostille in one place
  • FBI results in about 30 minutes, most cases
  • 7–10 day apostille + 2-day return shipping
  • A real person who answers, start to finish
For program offices

Send us your whole cohort

If you run a study abroad program, we can fingerprint and apostille for your students as a group — on-site mobile fingerprinting or scheduled visits to our office, with one point of contact managing it all.

  • Group & on-site mobile fingerprinting
  • One contact for the entire cohort
  • Predictable timelines before departure
  • Volume arrangements — let's talk
Don't have your FBI background check yet?

Get it here. Results in about 30 minutes.

You need an FBI background check before you can get the apostille. We fingerprint you in Portland Metro and, in most cases, your results are back in about 30 minutes — then we take it straight to the Department of State. Everything under one roof, no juggling vendors.

  • FBI background check: $125
  • Results in about 30 minutes, most cases
  • Serving Portland Metro & Clark County, WA
  • Mobile fingerprinting available if you can't come in
Bundle: fingerprints + apostille
FBI background check$125
Federal apostille (first document)$350
2-day return shippingIncluded
Apostille turnaround7–10 days

Get fingerprinted, receive your FBI background check, and we take it straight to the Department of State. Your apostilled document arrives at your door.

Students studying abroad after getting their FBI background check apostilled
Rated 5.0 on Google

Students, families, and professionals trust us to get it right

From students racing a visa deadline to families and attorneys, our clients count on precise service for documents that have to be right. Local service, global recognition.

Common questions

FBI apostille questions from study abroad students

Usually, yes. Many countries require an apostilled FBI background check as part of the student visa application — including Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, South Korea, the UAE, and dozens more in the Hague Apostille Convention. Without the apostille, your application is incomplete and the consulate won't process it. Check with your program or consulate to confirm.
An apostille is an official certification from the U.S. Department of State that authenticates a federal document for use in another country. Think of it as a stamp that tells the foreign government "this document is real and issued by the U.S." Your FBI background check needs it before a foreign consulate will accept it.
The apostille takes 7–10 business days after we have your FBI report, plus 2-day return shipping that's included in the price — so plan for about two weeks door to door. If you still need the FBI background check itself, fingerprinting takes a few minutes and results come back in about 30 minutes in most cases.
On your own, your document enters the Department of State's general mail queue, which currently runs 5–8 weeks or longer with no way to expedite. We prepare the paperwork correctly and get your document authenticated in 7–10 business days — the fastest turnaround in the nation.
For the apostille, no — the federal apostille service is available nationwide. Send us your FBI background check and we return the apostilled original with 2-day shipping included. You only need to visit us in Portland Metro if you also want us to do the fingerprinting.
Start at least four weeks before your visa appointment or program deadline. The apostille is 7–10 business days plus 2-day shipping, and if you still need the FBI check, we can usually do that the same day you come in. Starting early gives you a buffer for any consulate delays.
Many countries — Spain, for example — require a certified translation alongside the apostilled document. Get the apostille first, then translate the full packet. We can handle translation too; just ask and we'll walk you through what your country requires.
Yes. If your program wants to fingerprint and apostille for a whole cohort, we offer group and on-site mobile fingerprinting with a single point of contact. See our group & business services or call and we'll set it up.

Don't wait until the last minute

Your visa deadline isn't going to move. Start your FBI apostille today and have it back in about two weeks — 7–10 business day processing plus 2-day shipping included.