This site is proudly operated and administered by Anshin Mobile Notary and Live Scan. We assist clients with FBI background checks, fingerprint cards, federal apostilles, certified translation coordination, and international document preparation for use abroad.
Many people contact us because they are moving abroad and someone has told them they need a background check.
Sometimes it is for a residency visa. Sometimes it is for employment overseas. Sometimes it is for teaching, professional licensing, immigration, citizenship, or a long-term stay in another country.
The instruction may sound simple:
- Get an FBI background check.
- Get a police clearance.
- Provide a criminal record certificate.
- Submit an apostilled FBI report.
But for many applicants, that is where the confusion begins.
They are not really trying to obtain a background check. They are trying to prepare the correct document package so another country will accept it.
Most People Are Not Just “Traveling”
For ordinary travel, most people do not need an FBI background check or an apostille.
These requirements usually appear when someone is doing something more permanent or official abroad, such as:
- moving overseas
- applying for residency
- accepting a job abroad
- teaching in another country
- applying for citizenship
- joining a spouse overseas
- obtaining a professional license
- satisfying an immigration attorney’s checklist
That distinction matters because the FBI background check is usually only one step in a larger international document process.
Why Another Country May Ask for an FBI Background Check
Many countries want to know whether an applicant has a criminal history before granting residency, work authorization, citizenship, or another long-term immigration benefit.
In the United States, the FBI Identity History Summary is commonly requested because it is a federal criminal history record based on fingerprints.
Applicants are often surprised to learn that the wording used by the requesting authority may not say “FBI background check.” It may say:
- police clearance
- criminal record certificate
- national background check
- criminal history report
- federal police certificate
This is why it is important to read the instructions carefully. The correct document depends on the destination country and the agency requesting it.
Why the FBI Report Alone May Not Be Enough
Receiving the FBI background check is often not the end of the process.
If the document will be used in another country, that country may require proof that the FBI report is an authentic U.S. federal document. That is where the federal apostille comes in.
An FBI background check is a federal document. Because of that, it cannot be apostilled by the State of California. It generally requires federal authentication through the U.S. Department of State.
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that notarizing the FBI report is the same thing as authenticating it. It is not. A notarization and an apostille serve different purposes.
The Complete FBI Background Check and Apostille Workflow
For many international applicants, the process looks something like this:
- complete fingerprints
- submit the FBI background check request
- receive or retrieve the FBI Identity History Summary
- obtain the federal apostille
- obtain certified translation if required
- submit the documents to the foreign authority
Not every applicant needs every step. Some countries may require translation. Some may require additional legalization. Some may have strict rules about how old the FBI report can be.
But the important point is that the FBI background check should be viewed as part of a complete workflow, not as a stand-alone document.
Why Piecing the Process Together Can Create Problems
We regularly hear from applicants who started the process somewhere else because they thought they only needed fingerprints or only needed the FBI report.
Later, they discover that they also need the report retrieved correctly, apostilled federally, translated, shipped, or submitted within a certain time period.
This can create avoidable problems, including:
- delays
- duplicate fees
- expired reports
- confusion about next steps
- documents that are not ready for international use
There is nothing wrong with using different providers for different parts of the process. But applicants should understand the entire workflow before beginning so they do not accidentally create unnecessary delays.
Why Mobile Fingerprinting Can Be Helpful
For many applicants, convenience matters.
People preparing for an international move are often dealing with employers, attorneys, immigration deadlines, travel arrangements, translations, and family logistics at the same time.
Mobile fingerprinting can help because the fingerprinting step can often be completed at a home, office, law firm, hotel, or other convenient location.
From there, the FBI background check and apostille process can be coordinated as part of the larger international document preparation workflow.
Questions to Ask Before You Begin
Before ordering an FBI background check, applicants should try to clarify:
- Which country is requesting the document?
- Who exactly is requesting it?
- Do they require an FBI report or a state background check?
- Do they require an apostille?
- Do they require translation?
- How recent must the report be?
- Will they accept an electronic FBI report?
- Is embassy legalization required instead of an apostille?
These questions can prevent many of the most common mistakes.
How Anshin Helps With the Process
Anshin Mobile Notary and Live Scan assists clients with FBI background checks, fingerprint cards, federal apostilles, and international document preparation.
Applicants who need help starting the FBI process can learn more here:
Applicants who already have a document and need authentication can learn more here:
Applicants who also need translation or broader international document support can learn more here:
International Document Translation and Apostille Services
Final Thoughts
If you are moving abroad, applying for residency, accepting overseas employment, or working through an immigration checklist, the FBI background check may be only the beginning.
The real goal is not simply to obtain the report. The real goal is to prepare the document correctly so it can be accepted by the foreign authority requesting it.
Understanding the full process before you begin can help you avoid delays, duplicated effort, and confusion about what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an FBI background check to move abroad?
Many countries require an FBI background check for residency, work visas, citizenship, teaching, professional licensing, or other long-term immigration purposes. The exact requirement depends on the destination country and requesting authority.
Is an FBI background check the same as an apostille?
No. The FBI background check is the criminal history report. The apostille is the authentication attached afterward so the document can be recognized for international use when required.
Can California apostille my FBI background check?
Generally, no. An FBI background check is a federal document, so it typically requires federal authentication through the U.S. Department of State rather than a California apostille.
Do I need translation after the apostille?
Some countries require certified translation, and others do not. The answer depends on the destination country, language requirements, and the instructions from the requesting authority.
Should I start with fingerprinting or the apostille?
Usually, applicants must first complete fingerprinting and obtain the FBI Identity History Summary. After the FBI report is available, the federal apostille process can begin.