Typical document set by purpose
Teaching English (South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, Spain, UAE) - Bachelor’s degree diploma — notarized copy or notarized registrar signature, apostilled by the state of notarization. - FBI Identity History Summary — apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. Korea and China require the FBI check specifically; some programs (Spain’s auxiliares) accept a state check. - Sometimes transcripts and TEFL certificates.
Skilled work visas (Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Australia, Canada) - Diploma and transcripts. - Professional license or registration (engineering, nursing, medicine, law, accounting). - Employment reference letters — notarized signature of the employer’s officer, apostilled by the state. - Birth and marriage certificates for accompanying family. - Background check — FBI for most; some countries accept state police checks.
Gulf employment (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) - Degree certificate authenticated and, for non-Hague states, legalized at the embassy; Saudi Arabia now accepts apostilles since its accession. - Experience letters, sometimes marriage certificates for family sponsorship. - Employer may require attestation through specified agents.
Healthcare professionals (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Gulf) - License verification often goes through primary-source verification services (e.g. CGFNS, DataFlow) instead of apostilles; where the regulator requires an apostille, the license board’s letter must be notarized or issued as a certified document.
Background checks: FBI vs. state
- FBI Identity History Summary — obtained from the FBI (electronically or by mail) or via an FBI-approved channeler. Federal document → U.S. Department of State apostille. Required by South Korea, China, Japan (for some visas), Spain (residency), Italy, Brazil, Chile and most countries that ask for a “national” check. Details on the FBI background check page.
- State police check — issued by a state agency (Florida FDLE, Texas DPS, California DOJ, etc.). State document → state apostille. Accepted by some employers and some visa categories (e.g. Spain’s language assistant program, certain Mexican and Colombian visas) but not where a national check is specified.
Many destinations require the check to be issued within three to six months of the application.
Degrees and transcripts
Universities do not issue “certified copies” the way vital records offices do. The standard routes are a notarized copy of the diploma, or the registrar signing a verification letter before a notary. Some schools have the registrar’s signature notarized on official transcripts on request. A few countries (China, Vietnam, the Gulf) additionally require degree verification through a credential evaluation service or embassy attestation after the apostille.
Professional licenses
State boards usually provide a verification letter or certificate; the apostille attaches to the board official’s signature (if the board is a state agency and its signature is on file) or to a notarization. Nursing, medical and engineering licenses are commonly apostilled for Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the Gulf.
Sequencing
Order the FBI check first (it determines the timeline), apostille degrees and licenses in parallel, then translate as the employer or consulate requires. For FBI checks and the federal apostille, a service that runs the FBI check and files the federal apostille in one order offers both steps in one order, and degrees notarized in Florida can be apostilled through a Florida apostille service with offices across the state.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employer need the original diploma?
Almost never. A notarized copy with an apostille satisfies most employers and immigration offices; a few countries want the original degree verified through an evaluation service.
How recent must the FBI check be?
Most countries require issuance within 3–6 months of the visa application. The FBI result itself has no expiry.
Can I apostille a state background check for South Korea?
No. Korea’s E-2 teaching visa requires the FBI Identity History Summary with a federal apostille. State checks are only accepted by some other countries and programs.
