FBI Background Check Apostille for Argentina — Federal Authentication & Public Translation
We obtain your FBI federal background check, secure the US federal apostille from the State Department, and provide the traducción pública into Spanish for Argentine authorities — fully remote, no travel to the US.
- Federal apostille — US State Dept. only
- Fingerprinting at US Embassy Buenos Aires
- Apostille accepted in Argentina (no legalization)
- Traducción pública included
FBI check for Argentina — what do you need?
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Where are you now?
FBI background check apostille for Argentina: how it works
An FBI background check apostille for Argentina combines your FBI Identity History Summary, a US federal apostille from the Department of State, and a traducción pública into Spanish by a registered Traductor Público Matriculado. Together they make your US criminal-history record valid for Argentine residencia, DNI, ciudadanía and notarial procedures.
Argentina has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1988, so the US apostille is all you need — no consular legalization. The two things people get wrong are the apostille authority (it must be federal) and the translation (it must be a traducción pública, not just any certified translation).
Who needs this service?
Applying for Argentine residencia or a DNI requires a US FBI background check with a federal apostille and a public Spanish translation. We handle the full chain remotely.
If you spent time in the United States and now need to prove your US conduct in Argentina, the FBI national check — not a single-state check — is what authorities accept.
Marrying in Argentina or registering family events often requires an apostilled FBI certificate when one spouse has US residence history.
Employers and regulated professions in Argentina may require an apostilled FBI background check for work authorization.
Required documents
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary (IHS) | FBI CJIS Division | 10–14 business days (standard) / 5–7 (approved channeler) | The original printed FBI result. For Argentine procedures (residencia, DNI, ciudadanía) the certificate is generally expected to be recent at the time you file. |
| Fingerprint card — Form FD-258 | US Post Office, law enforcement, channeler, or US Embassy in Buenos Aires | Before FBI submission | Rolled ink impressions required. From Argentina, the US Embassy in Buenos Aires offers fingerprinting for American Citizen Services; we review your card first. |
| Federal Apostille — U.S. Apostille Certificate | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, Washington DC | 4–8 weeks (standard) / 5–7 business days (expedited) | FBI records are federal — only the US Department of State can apostille them, never a state office. Argentina has been a Hague Apostille member since 1988, so this single apostille is accepted with no consular legalization. |
| Public translation into Spanish (traducción pública) | Traductor Público Matriculado (Colegio de Traductores Públicos) | 1–3 business days after the apostille | Argentina requires translations of foreign documents by a registered Traductor Público Matriculado, often with the signature legalized by the Colegio. The translation must cover the FBI letter and the apostille. |
| Passport copy (legible, current) | Applicant | Current | Your name on the FBI request must match your passport exactly. We reconcile names before the FBI request is filed. |
How the process works
We confirm your Argentine requirement — residencia, DNI, ciudadanía, marriage — and verify a federal FBI check is what the authorities expect, not a US state check. Firm quote and timeline up front.
We send a pre-filled FD-258 card. You can be fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, or at a US post office/police department if you are in the US. We review the card before it goes to the FBI.
We submit to the FBI CJIS Division — or an approved channeler for speed — and notify you the day your Identity History Summary is issued.
We submit the FBI result to the US Department of State for the federal apostille — the only valid authority for FBI documents.
A Traductor Público Matriculado translates the full apostilled document so it is accepted by Argentine authorities and the Registro Nacional de las Personas.
Your complete package is couriered to your address in Argentina or abroad, ready to file.
Official sources & authorities
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
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Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Argentina accept a US apostille instead of consular legalization?
Both the United States and Argentina are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — Argentina since 1988. A single apostille from the U.S. Department of State makes the FBI document valid in Argentina, with no need to legalize it at an Argentine consulate.
Why can’t a state Secretary of State apostille my FBI document?
State offices only apostille state-issued documents. The FBI is a federal agency, so its Identity History Summary is apostilled exclusively by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Sending it to a state office wastes weeks.
Can I get fingerprinted in Argentina?
Yes. The US Embassy in Buenos Aires provides fingerprinting through American Citizen Services, and you can also use an FBI-approved channeler. We send a pre-filled FD-258 card and review it before submission.
Does the translation have to be a traducción pública?
For documents presented to Argentine authorities, yes — the translation must be done by a Traductor Público Matriculado registered with the Colegio de Traductores Públicos, frequently with the signature legalized by the Colegio. We arrange this.
How long does the whole process take?
FBI processing is 10–14 business days (5–7 via channeler); the US State Department apostille adds 4–8 weeks standard or 5–7 business days expedited; the traducción pública 1–3 days. End to end: roughly 5–8 weeks standard or 2–3 weeks expedited.
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