Arlington, VA
FBI Background Check Apostille in Arlington, VA
How Arlington residents get their FBI Background Check authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, the local details, timing and price.
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille office in Arlington. Federal documents like your FBI Background Check are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission; you send the document by mail.
- County
- Arlington County
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- State apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (headquarters), Richmond
FBI check vs. a Virginia background check
A background check from the Virginia State Police is a state document. It can only be apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond — and foreign authorities asking for a nationwide or FBI record will reject it. The FBI Identity History Summary is the federal record they want, and it’s authenticated only in Washington, D.C.
If a foreign authority specifically asks for a Virginia check as well, that one follows the state route. We can advise on both.
Arlington: the local details
Arlington is in Arlington County, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Virginia state documents are apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
Fingerprinting is the one step that happens locally — through Arlington-area law-enforcement agencies or licensed providers, or electronically through an FBI-approved channeler. Everything after that we handle by mail.
About the FBI Background Check
How to apostille an FBI background check for use abroad.
Getting it done from Arlington
We don’t have an office in Arlington — and you don’t need one. Arlington clients send documents by mail, and our nearest office is Washington, D.C. (headquarters) and Richmond.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
FBI Background Check in Arlington — FAQ
Is there an apostille office in Arlington for a FBI Background Check?
No. The only office that can authenticate this document is the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for Arlington clients by mail.
Do I need to visit an office in Arlington?
No. Arlington clients send documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Arlington?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$399 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Which federal court covers Arlington?
Arlington is in Arlington County, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Related: All documents in Arlington · FBI Background Check in Virginia · FBI Background Check — full guide
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