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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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 shipping | Included |
| Apostille turnaroundFastest in the nation | 7–10 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.
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.
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
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
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
| FBI background check | $125 |
| Federal apostille (first document) | $350 |
| 2-day return shipping | Included |
| Apostille turnaround | 7–10 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, 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.
FBI apostille questions from study abroad students
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.