Services and official routes
Compare ways to obtain an apostilled FBI check
Last reviewed .
Compare the official direct route with private preparation and apostille services. Different scopes make headline prices an incomplete comparison.
Start with the official route
Request an FBI summary directly. Official instructions are free. Government application and authentication fees can apply.
What does an apostilled FBI check cost?
Three services that advertise both the FBI check and the federal apostille list USD 290 to 435, before international shipping (checked November 1, 2026). Ours is USD 217 with tracked courier delivery included. It costs less because you file the FBI request yourself with our instructions, so there is no channeler fee, and these are pilot prices.
| Route | Advertised price | What the price covers | Time shown | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct: FBI, then State Department | USD 38 in federal fees | You file both requests. Fingerprints, mail, and courier are yours to arrange and pay. | FBI about 10 days after your card arrives, then the State Department within 5 weeks, plus mail | Someone comfortable handling two federal requests and international mail. |
| Compliance Officers | USD 390 with regular apostille, USD 435 with express apostille | FD-258 card and guide, card review, FBI filing, State Department apostille, and a digital copy. Courier for the kit, the card to its Miami office, and the original back to you are quoted separately. | 8 to 10 weeks regular, 6 to 7 weeks express, counted from when the card reaches its Miami office | Someone already abroad who wants an express apostille option. |
| Fingerprint Boston | USD 369.95 on standard processing | USD 170 FBI check with the FBI and channeler fees, plus a USD 199.95 federal apostille with the State Department fee and return to a US address. Fingerprints are taken in person in Massachusetts. Its page says applicants already abroad use a different route. | 5 to 8 weeks door to door for the regular federal apostille | Someone in New England who can be fingerprinted in person and has a US delivery address. |
| Beverly Hills Apostille | USD 95 for the FBI submission plus USD 195 for the apostille | FBI submission from two mailed fingerprint cards, then the apostille. The page does not say whether the FBI and State Department fees are included. Shipping is extra. | Not stated for the apostille | Someone who already has fingerprint cards and wants the FBI filing and the apostille from one company. |
| FederalApostille.org | USD 120 flat rate, government fees included | Federal apostille handling for a document you already have. The FBI check itself is separate, and its cost guide lists return shipping as a separate line. | Its headline says 7 business days while another section says 10 | Someone who already holds the FBI result and needs only the apostille. |
| US Expat Desk | USD 217 total for a standard case | FBI request prepared for you to file, apostille coordination, and tracked courier delivery abroad. You arrange fingerprints and sign. Translation is extra. | About 7 weeks of agency time by the published figures, plus mail and courier | Someone abroad who wants one coordinator and delivery included. |
Prices and scope as each provider advertises them on its own page, read on the checked date. Vendor claims, not agency commitments. Scopes differ, so compare what each price covers, not only the headline. Each provider's name links to the page we read.
When is another route better?
Filing directly costs only the federal fees. An apostille-only service such as FederalApostille.org costs less when you already hold the FBI result. A channeler can return FBI results within days, while a direct request with a mailed card takes about 10 days. Translation is extra with us, and we cannot accept residents of the EU, EEA, or UK.
Next price check February 1, 2027. Download these prices as JSON.
US government document fees. Sources checked October 24, 2026.
US document processing times. Sources checked October 24, 2026.
US Expat Desk is a private business. We are not affiliated with the US government, the State Department, or the FBI.
Sources checked November 1, 2026.