FBI Identity History Summary Legalisation for Nigeria
Nigeria · Federal record
FBI Identity History Summary Legalisation for Nigeria
Exactly what a fbi identity history summary needs before Nigeria will accept it: which authorities sign it, in what order, which mission finishes the job, and the specific ways this pairing goes wrong.
- Route
- Consular legalisation
- Steps needed
- 2
- Starts at
- A federal agency
- Federal fee
- $20 for this document
The exact steps for this document and this destination
-
U.S. Department of State authentication The federal layer that foreign missions actually recognise. Submitted on form DS-4194 to the Office of Authentications, 44132 Mercure Circle, PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Federal documents such as an FBI check start here and skip the state step. Where this goes wrong: Sending a document that has not been state-authenticated first. It comes back untouched, weeks later.
-
Legalisation by Nigerian Embassy The destination country's own mission adds the final stamp. Which mission is competent depends on the consular district covering the state where the document originated. Where this goes wrong: Sending to the wrong consulate. Districts are assigned by state and are not negotiable.
| Step | Who | Typical cost | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of State authentication | U.S. Department of State | $20 per document | About 9 business days by drop-off, roughly 5 weeks by mail |
| Legalisation by Nigerian Embassy | Destination country | Varies widely by country | 2 days to several weeks |
What goes wrong with this pairing
Two sets of requirements meet here: those attaching to a fbi identity history summary whatever its destination, and those Nigeria imposes whatever the document.
Because it is a fbi identity history summary
- A state police check is NOT a substitute and follows a different route.
- Most missions treat it as valid for three to six months from issue, so order it at the right moment.
- The FBI's own electronic copy usually needs to be the version bearing the official signature.
Because it is going to Nigeria
- Routing is split across the Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Consulates General in New York and Atlanta.
- U.S. Department of State authentication is required before embassy or consulate legalization.
- Translation into another language is generally not required, as English is an official language in Nigeria.
- Some Nigerian government offices may require additional verification of the document's underlying issuer.
Where it finishes
The last U.S. stage is the Nigeria mission covering the state your fbi identity history summary was issued in.
- Atlanta, GA 17 states
FBI Identity History Summary for Nigeria
Send it with us and the district, the order and the federal stage are handled.
Requirements on this page were last checked against official sources on .
Questions people actually ask
How many steps does a fbi identity history summary need for Nigeria?
2. 2 steps, because a federal record needs no state layer. It goes to the U.S. Department of State and then to Nigeria.
Do I send it to a Secretary of State first?
No. A fbi identity history summary is a federal document, so no state can certify it. It goes straight to the U.S. Department of State and then to the Nigeria mission.
Is an apostille enough for a fbi identity history summary going to Nigeria?
No. Nigeria is outside the Apostille Convention, so an apostille has no effect there. This document needs the full legalisation chain ending at the Nigeria mission.
What most often gets a fbi identity history summary rejected?
A state police check is NOT a substitute and follows a different route.
How much will this cost?
Twenty dollars federally for this document, plus the state fee where one applies, plus the Nigeria mission fee, which varies by document category. Add tracked shipping between each stage.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
