North Dakota
FD-258 Fingerprint Card Apostille in North Dakota
How North Dakota residents get their FD-258 Fingerprint Card authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the North Dakota Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled. In North Dakota, the one local step is getting fingerprinted; the FBI report your prints produce is then authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We can handle the report and the apostille together.
- Authenticated by
- The FBI report it produces
- North Dakota apostille office
- North Dakota Secretary of State, Bismarck
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $399 per document, government fees included
Getting fingerprinted in North Dakota
Fingerprinting is the one step that has to happen locally. The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled — it produces the FBI report, and the report is what gets authenticated.
In North Dakota, prints can be taken by local law-enforcement agencies and licensed fingerprinting providers in cities such as Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks. Electronic (live scan) capture through an FBI-approved channeler is usually fastest.
Once the report is issued, we authenticate it in Washington, D.C. and ship it anywhere. See FBI background check apostille.
About the FD-258 Fingerprint Card
How the FD-258 fingerprint card fits into obtaining and apostilling an FBI background check.
What the North Dakota Secretary of State can do
The North Dakota Secretary of State in Bismarck issues apostilles for documents signed by North Dakota officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from North Dakota registrars, North Dakota state-court records, and documents notarized by North Dakota notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.
State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.
Getting it done from North Dakota
We serve North Dakota by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.
| 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 |
Serving Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and everywhere else in North Dakota.
FD-258 Fingerprint Card in North Dakota — FAQ
Can the North Dakota Secretary of State apostille my FD-258 Fingerprint Card?
No — and neither can anyone else: the FD-258 card is never apostilled. The FBI report it produces is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from North Dakota?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most North Dakota clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from North Dakota?
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.
Related: FD-258 Fingerprint Card — full guide · All documents in North Dakota · Federal vs. state apostille
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.