Broward County · FDLE Background Check Apostille
The criminal history check foreign governments actually require — certified by FDLE, apostilled by the state. $250 per document, 5 business days.
Overview
Work visas, foreign residency permits, teaching contracts, and citizenship applications almost always include one line that stops people cold: 'criminal background check, apostilled.' For Florida residents, the state-level answer is the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) criminal history check — and when it's certified by FDLE, it can be apostilled by the Florida Department of State.
The critical detail: only the certified version qualifies. The instant $24 online search result you can print at home cannot be apostilled. You need FDLE's certified criminal history record, and once you have it — or once we've walked you through ordering it — we file it in person and return the apostilled check in 5 business days.
Why It's Needed
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Korea, Singapore, and most European work-visa programs require an apostilled criminal background check.
Every major teach-abroad destination — Korea, Japan, China, Spain, the UAE — requires an apostilled background check as a condition of the visa.
Portugal, Spain, Panama, Costa Rica, and other residency programs require apostilled police clearances covering your place of residence.
Naturalization processes abroad require apostilled criminal history covering years of U.S. residence.
Foreign adoption authorities require apostilled background checks for every adult in the household.
Medical, legal, and financial licensing bodies abroad include apostilled clearances in their character requirements.
Requirements
Two different background checks serve two different purposes, and ordering the wrong one wastes weeks. The FDLE check covers Florida criminal history, is issued at the state level, and is apostilled by the Florida Department of State — that's the one we handle, and it satisfies many countries' requirements, especially when the requirement says 'state of residence police clearance.' The certified version is ordered directly from FDLE.
The FBI Identity History Summary covers federal/national history and cannot receive a Florida apostille — it requires federal authentication through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, or an apostille through an FBI-approved channeler workflow. If your destination country explicitly demands the FBI check, we'll tell you honestly and point you to the right path; if the requirement is flexible, the FDLE route is dramatically faster for Florida residents.
How It Works
Book an appointment at our Fort Lauderdale office — we confirm your slot within one business hour, with same-day and next-day times usually available.
Every document is checked before filing — certification, notarization, destination-country requirements — so nothing gets rejected.
Your documents are walked into the Florida Department of State in person. No mail-in queue, no batching, no guesswork.
Apostilled originals ready in 5 business days — office pickup, by appointment. We call the moment they’re back.
FAQ
Through FDLE's certified criminal history request process — not the instant online search. The certified letter arrives with FDLE's seal and authorized signature, which is what the Department of State authenticates. We'll walk you through the order when you call.
No — the $24 instant search printout carries no certifying signature and will be rejected. Only FDLE's certified criminal history record qualifies. It's the single most common mistake we prevent.
Read your destination's wording: 'state police clearance' or 'certificate from your state of residence' means FDLE works. 'FBI background check' or 'federal criminal record' means the federal route. Read us the requirement and we'll interpret it — we do this daily.
Most countries require the check be issued within 3–6 months of your application. Order the FDLE check when your timeline is real, not months in advance.
Name-based FDLE checks can return possible matches for common names; the fingerprint-based certified check resolves it definitively. If your name is common, we'll recommend the fingerprint route up front.
Spain, Latin America, and Brazil-bound applications usually require certified translation of the check and apostille; Gulf states and Asia usually accept English. We coordinate translation when needed.
Yes — residency and adoption programs often require checks for every adult. Bundle pricing applies: $175 each for two documents, $150 each for three or more.
The apostille process is identical — the Department of State authenticates FDLE's signature, not the content. How a record affects your visa is a question for the destination country's rules or an immigration attorney.
Service Area
We serve every city in Broward County from our N Andrews Ave office. Local details for your city:
Resources
Related
Call for a two-minute review of your document — we'll confirm it qualifies before you go anywhere.
No hourly rates, no hidden charges, no surprise add-ons. The price you see is the price you pay — including the Florida Department of State filing fee.
All prices include the Florida Department of State filing fee ($10 per document), in-person filing at the Department of State, and full document handling. Notarization available as a separate service when your documents require it.
Download the Florida Department of State Apostille and Notarial Certificate Request Form. We can fill it out for you at your appointment — no need to complete it in advance.
Florida apostille services for Broward County residents and businesses. Fort Lauderdale office — visits by appointment, serving all of Broward County.
© 2026 Broward County Apostille and Notary Services. All rights reserved. · Florida-Commissioned Notary · Established 2011
Broward County Apostille and Notary Services is a private document handling business and is not affiliated with the Florida Department of State, the U.S. Department of State, or any government agency. We do not provide legal advice. Apostille fees include the $10 Florida Department of State filing fee per document.