Filed in person at the Florida Department of State

FDLE Background Check Apostille.

Start Your Order (850) 900-3443
5–7
Business Days
From the day we receive your documents.
$220
Starting Price
State fee and shipping included.
125+
Countries Recognized
Every Hague Convention member state.
50
States We Serve
Florida documents, nationwide and worldwide.

How to apostille an FDLE background check.

The apostille certifies the FDLE official's notarized signature, so the record has to be ordered the right way the first time: through FDLE's online Certified/Non-Certified search, with certified results selected ($24 per name). FDLE signs and notarizes the record when it issues it, and that original is what we file. Check how recent the receiving country wants it — many only accept a record issued in the last few months.

Instant Search printouts are rejected, and a printout notarized afterwards can't be fixed that way. If the country wants a fingerprint-based federal record, that's an FBI check, which the U.S. Department of State authenticates, not Florida. A local police record is a different document again: a sheriff's clearance letter.

Not sure about yours? Send a photo when you order and we check it before anything is filed. How to order it →

Prices & timing

At a glance

Price
$220 per document
Turnaround
5–7 business days, filed in person
Two documents
$380
Three or more
$160 each
International return
+$100 flat
Online notarization
+$40 ($10 + $30 platform fee)

FDLE background check apostille, step by step.

1. Make sure you need the FDLE check. A Florida criminal history check, a local sheriff's letter and an FBI check are three different documents with different authentication routes. Read the requirement word for word.

2. Order it online. Use FDLE's Certified/Non-Certified request form, enter your details exactly as on your passport (up to ten aliases), select certified results and pay $24 per name. Keep the control number.

3. Speed up delivery if needed. Results go by USPS. You can email FDLE a prepaid USPS or FedEx label with your control number — the same day you submit.

4. Check it and send it to us. Certified, signed by an FDLE official and notarized. We file it in person and return it in 5–7 business days. Ordering for the whole family? Order all records the same day so they age out together.

Doing it yourself vs. our service

Do it yourself My Florida Apostille
State apostille fee $10, by check Included
Filing By mail to Tallahassee In person at the counter
Check before filing None — a wrong record is mailed back Every record reviewed first
Turnaround About 5–7 weeks by mail — the record may expire 5–7 business days
Return shipping Your prepaid envelope FedEx included (worldwide +$100)

Who needs an apostilled FDLE check.

These are the most common reasons Floridians apostille their FDLE background checks.

Middle East Work Visas

Gulf work visas ask for an authenticated background check: an apostille for Hague members such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, a Florida authentication for non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

Asia & Pacific Work Visas

Singapore, Korea, China, Japan, and Hong Kong require apostilled background checks for foreign worker visas, especially in regulated sectors (healthcare, education, finance).

EU & UK Work Visas

The UK Skilled Worker visa, Germany's Blue Card, France's Talent Passport, Spain's Highly Qualified Professional visa, and most EU work routes require apostilled background checks.

Foreign Residency Programs

Portugal's D7 and Golden Visa, Spain's non-lucrative and digital nomad visas, Mexico's temporary residency, Costa Rica's pensionado, Italy's elective residency — all require an apostilled background check from the applicant's state of residence.

International Adoption

Foreign adoption agencies require apostilled FDLE background checks for both prospective adoptive parents as part of the home study and dossier package.

International Teaching

International schools and universities — especially in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Europe — request apostilled FDLE checks as part of the employment contract package.

Four steps. One week.

The same procedure for every order — whichever option you choose.

— Step One —
01

Place Your Order

Choose in-person appointments or online — whichever fits your week. Pay $220 per document up front (online) or at the appointment.

— Step Two —
02

Send Documents

Hand them to us at your appointment, or drop your FedEx envelope. Same destination either way.

— Step Three —
03

We File in Person

Our Tallahassee back-office team walks your documents in person to the Florida Department of State counter.

— Step Four —
04

Apostille Returned

We return the finished apostille the same way you sent it. 5–7 business days, every order.

Common questions.

Online only: use FDLE's Certified/Non-Certified search form, select certified results and pay $24 per name by card. The record has to be certified and notarized when FDLE issues it — an Instant Search result can't be apostilled. Confirm the notarized version with FDLE's Applicant Services Unit before paying. Step-by-step guide →
FDLE is the Florida state-level criminal history check; the FBI Identity History Summary is the federal-level check. They're different documents, issued by different agencies, apostilled by different authorities. FDLE checks are apostilled by the Florida Department of State (us). FBI checks are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. (different process — we don't handle FBI apostilles).
FDLE: allow 5–7 business days plus USPS mail (a prepaid label emailed the day you order speeds it up). Apostille: 5–7 business days once we have it. Plan on about three weeks, and order the check four to six weeks before your deadline.
The apostille itself doesn't expire, but foreign authorities usually accept a criminal record only if it was issued recently — commonly within 90 days or six months. The receiving office sets the window and decides whether it counts from the record date or the apostille date.
No — you enter your own details on FDLE's online form, exactly as on your passport, and pay by card. We'll walk you through it by phone. When the certified record arrives, send it to us and we handle the apostille.
Depends on the destination country. Some require only the state-level FDLE check (most common). Some require only the FBI federal check. A few (UAE, Saudi Arabia, certain Asian countries) require both apostilled separately. Check your specific visa requirements or call us — (850) 900-3443.
The Department of State charges $10 per FDLE record, plus FDLE's own $24 search fee. Our service is $220 all-in — state fee, review, in-person filing and U.S. return shipping — $380 for two records and $160 each for three or more.
Mailed to the Department of State yourself, about five to seven weeks. With us, 5–7 business days from the day we receive the document, filed in person in Tallahassee.

FDLE Background Check Apostille in every Florida city.

Choose your city for the nearest office and local details — the same $220 and 5–7 business days everywhere in Florida.

More from My Florida Apostille.

Before you send it in.

Get your fdle background check apostille started.

Order online from anywhere, or meet us in person by appointment in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa or Clearwater. 5–7 business days. State filing fee and shipping included.

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