My Florida Apostille
Statewide Service
The #1 source of confusion in this category. Here's the rule: FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) is the state-level background check; the FBI Identity History Summary is the federal-level check. They're different documents, processed by different agencies, apostilled by different authorities. The Florida Department of State apostilles FDLE records. The U.S. Department of State apostilles FBI records. We handle the FDLE side. Most foreign visa applications request the FDLE check; some (especially Middle East work visas and certain residency programs) require both.
The FDLE record must be certified and notarized when FDLE issues it — the apostille certifies the FDLE official's notarized signature. Order it through FDLE's online Certified/Non-Certified search with certified results selected ($24 per name search); FDLE stopped accepting mailed request forms in 2020. An Instant Search printout isn't certified and can't be apostilled, and a printout notarized afterwards can't be fixed that way. Confirm the notarized version with FDLE's Applicant Services Unit before you pay.
Order it last. FDLE asks you to allow 5–7 business days plus mail, and many countries accept a criminal record only if it was issued within the last 90 days or six months. The apostille doesn't expire — the receiving office sets the window. FBI Identity History Summaries are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not Florida. How to order a certified FDLE check →
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.
| 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) |
These are the most common reasons Floridians apostille their FDLE background checks.
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.
Singapore, Korea, China, Japan, and Hong Kong require apostilled background checks for foreign worker visas, especially in regulated sectors (healthcare, education, finance).
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.
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.
Foreign adoption agencies require apostilled FDLE background checks for both prospective adoptive parents as part of the home study and dossier package.
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.
The same procedure for every order — whichever option you choose.
Choose in-person appointments or online — whichever fits your week. Pay $220 per document up front (online) or at the appointment.
Hand them to us at your appointment, or drop your FedEx envelope. Same destination either way.
Our Tallahassee back-office team walks your documents in person to the Florida Department of State counter.
We return the finished apostille the same way you sent it. 5–7 business days, every order.
We serve customers across Florida. Tap your city for a dedicated fdle background check apostille guide for your area.
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.
Last updated: May 12, 2026
My Florida Apostille ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, how we use it, and what choices you have.
When you place an order, we collect: your name, email address, phone number, return shipping address, the type and number of documents you're ordering, the destination country, and any notes you include with your order. We also receive payment information indirectly through Stripe, our payment processor — we never see or store your full card number.
When you visit our website, we collect standard analytics data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs. This data is used to improve the site and is not tied to your personal identity.
We share your information only with the third-party service providers necessary to fulfill your order:
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your data with marketers or advertisers.
You ship physical documents to our office for processing. We treat your original documents as confidential and store them securely until they are filed with the Florida Department of State. We do not retain copies of your documents after the apostille is returned to you.
We retain order records (name, email, order details) for seven years to comply with tax and business record requirements. You may request deletion of your data at any time by emailing orders@myfloridaapostille.com, subject to our legal retention obligations.
Our website uses minimal cookies for basic functionality and analytics. We do not use advertising cookies or tracking pixels from third-party ad networks.
You have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at orders@myfloridaapostille.com or (850) 900-3443.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent changes were made. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
For privacy questions, contact: orders@myfloridaapostille.com
Last updated: May 12, 2026
By using myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before placing an order.
My Florida Apostille is an independent document service that facilitates apostille processing through the Florida Department of State on behalf of customers. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Florida Department of State, the U.S. Department of State, or any government agency. We are a private business providing convenience services.
You agree to:
Our standard turnaround is five to seven business days from the moment we receive your documents at our office. This timeline depends on third-party factors outside our control, including FedEx transit times and the Florida Department of State's processing schedule. We are not liable for delays caused by carriers, state offices, weather, holidays, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
If the Florida Department of State rejects your document, we will contact you within one business day to discuss options. Some rejections can be resolved same-day at the counter; others require new documents from the issuing agency. Rejections do not entitle you to a refund of the state filing fee or our service fee, because both the fee and the labor have been performed.
Documents shipped via FedEx are insured up to $100 by default. For irreplaceable documents, you may purchase additional FedEx Declared Value coverage when you hand your envelope to FedEx. We are not liable for loss or damage during transit beyond FedEx's published insurance coverage.
Payment is due at the time of order placement and is processed by Stripe. Refunds are governed by our separate Refund Policy.
All content on myfloridaapostille.com, including text, graphics, logos, and design, is the property of My Florida Apostille and protected by U.S. copyright law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim related to our services is limited to the amount you paid us for the order in question. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost opportunities, missed deadlines, or visa application denials.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Leon County, Florida.
We may update these Terms at any time. The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.
For questions about these Terms: orders@myfloridaapostille.com
Last updated: May 12, 2026
We want every customer to be satisfied. Because our service involves third-party fees and irreversible work performed on your behalf, refunds depend on when you cancel.
To request a refund, contact us by:
Include your order number (from your confirmation email) and a brief explanation. We will respond within one business day.
Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method. Your bank or card issuer may take additional time to display the refund.
If your documents are damaged or lost in transit by FedEx, FedEx insurance applies (default $100, or up to the Declared Value coverage you purchased). We will work with you to file a FedEx claim. Our service fee is non-refundable in these cases because the loss occurred outside our control.
If you have questions about our refund policy before placing an order, please contact us — we'd rather answer questions upfront than handle refunds later.
