Expedited Wisconsin FBI Apostille Services
If you are leaving Wisconsin for a job, a degree or residency abroad, the consulate may ask for an FBI background check with an apostille. Wisconsin cannot issue that apostille, and the federal mail-in route takes weeks. Apostille Authentications accepts your FBI result by email, has it hand-delivered to the U.S. Department of State, and returns the apostilled document to Wisconsin by FedEx in 10 business days.
Call (971) 514-3743 or request a quote.
- Ensure your documents are processed without delay
- Speak with our experts for personalized assistance
- Discover how we can expedite your apostille process
Why Madison cannot apostille your FBI background check
Wisconsin apostilles do not come from the Secretary of State. They are issued by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, at 4822 Madison Yards Way in Madison. DFI apostilles documents notarized by Wisconsin notaries, vital records from state and local custodians, documents issued by Wisconsin public officials, and school diplomas and transcripts.
DFI’s requirements page states that it cannot authenticate federal documents such as FBI background checks or IRS documents. A separate DFI page on federally issued documents says they must receive an apostille from the U.S. Department of State. For an FBI Identity History Summary, that means the Office of Authentications in Washington, DC.
Two mistakes we see from Wisconsin clients:
- Mailing the request to the wrong state office. People assume the Secretary of State handles apostilles, as in most states. In Wisconsin it is DFI, and DFI will not accept a federal record in any case.
- Ordering a Wisconsin DOJ record check in place of the FBI check. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau maintains the state’s centralized criminal history database, and the public can request adult records through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). That report draws on Wisconsin’s database. It is not the FBI Identity History Summary, and a consulate asking for an FBI, federal or national check will not take it as a replacement.
For Wisconsin vital records, diplomas or notarized documents, see state apostille services.
How it works from Wisconsin
- Local fingerprinting. Choose between an ink FD-1164 card from a police department, sheriff or fingerprinting vendor, and electronic prints at a participating U.S. Post Office after registering on the FBI’s eDO site. Then submit your request for an FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI charges $18.
- FBI PDF. The result is a PDF with the FBI watermark, signed by a division official.
- Email and review. You send us the PDF. We check the name and date of birth against your passport first, so please include the passport photo page.
- Hand-carried in Washington. Form DS-4194 is prepared and our Herndon, Virginia office takes the request in person to the Office of Authentications. FBI results do not pass through DOJ certification. They go straight to the Department of State.
- Return. FedEx to your Wisconsin address, or FedEx or DHL to your new address abroad.
Apostille Authentications has no Wisconsin office and does not fingerprint clients in the state. Our service begins with your FBI PDF.
Avoid Rejections
Avoid apostille rejections with our expert help.
Expedite Your Documents
State agents for same-day apostille service.
Security
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Translations/ Intl. Shipping
Certified translation and discounted shipping.
Wisconsin pricing and turnaround
| Service | Price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited FBI apostille (you already have the FBI result) | $390 | 10 business days |
| Standard FBI apostille | $195 | 7–8 weeks |
We count the 10 business days from the date the FBI PDF is in our inbox. What you pay for with the expedited service is hand delivery at the Department of State.
Where we serve Wisconsin clients
Anywhere in Wisconsin, by email and FedEx. Clients write to us from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha in the southeast, from Madison, from Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh in the Fox Valley, and from Eau Claire and La Crosse on the western side of the state. A request from Wausau or Superior is handled on the same schedule as one from downtown Milwaukee.
Why Wisconsinites need an apostilled FBI check
Common destinations for our Wisconsin clients include Germany and the Netherlands for work and residence permits, South Korea and Japan for teaching positions, and Spain, Italy and Mexico for study, residency and citizenship by descent. India and China ask for the apostilled FBI check with employment and family visas.
Authorities that do not work in English will usually ask for a translation alongside the apostille. Certified translation is available on the same order. FBI checks are generally accepted for only 3 to 6 months after issue, so match your fingerprinting date to your application timeline.
Our FBI apostille services page covers the federal process from start to finish.
FAQ
Can the Wisconsin DFI apostille an FBI background check?
No. The Department of Financial Institutions in Madison apostilles Wisconsin notarized documents, vital records, public official documents and school records. It states that it cannot authenticate federal documents such as FBI background checks.
How fast is an expedited FBI apostille in Wisconsin?
10 business days from the day we have your FBI result. Standard processing is 7–8 weeks.
Is a Wisconsin DOJ background check accepted instead of an FBI check?
Not when the request is for an FBI check. A report from the Wisconsin Department of Justice comes from the state’s criminal history database. It helps only if the foreign authority asked for a state-level record.
I am in Milwaukee or Green Bay. Do I need to go to Madison?
No. DFI in Madison is not involved in an FBI apostille, and we have no office in Wisconsin. The process runs by email and FedEx.
What if I have already moved overseas?
Email the FBI PDF from wherever you are. We ship the apostilled document abroad by FedEx or DHL.
Start your Wisconsin FBI apostille
Call (971) 514-3743, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote and mention your destination country and timeline.
