A Federal Apostille

 is an official certification issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. It authenticates the signature and seal on federal documents for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. This process ensures your documents are legally recognized abroad.

Common federal documents that require a Federal Apostille include:

• FBI Background Checks

• FBI Fingerprint Reports

• U.S. Department of Justice Documents

• Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization

• And other federally-issued records

When Do You Need a Federal Apostille?

You may need a Federal Apostille when presenting U.S. federal documents for official use in another country. Common situations include:

• Applying for residency or dual citizenship abroad

• Adopting a child from a foreign country

• Employment with a foreign government or international organization

• Undergoing security clearance in another country

• Students or professionals needing FBI background checks for work or study abroad

• Applying for foreign nationality or legal status

• And other international legal or governmental processes