California Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

California Department of Justice (DOJ) — Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • California state background checks for personal review are processed by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Live Scan system.
   • Important: California DOJ states that criminal history records requested for personal review 'cannot be used for Visa/Immigration or any foreign nation transactions.' However, this is a California policy statement — the apostilled document is still accepted by Ecuador for visa processing. Verify with EcuaPass if you have concerns.
   • Complete a Live Scan Form (BCIA 8016RR). Select 'Record Review' as the 'Type of Application' and enter 'Record Review' on the 'Reason for Application' line.
   • Take the form to any authorized Live Scan fingerprinting site. Find locations near you through the DOJ's Public Live Scan Sites directory at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints.
   • The DOJ processing fee is $25. The Live Scan provider will charge an additional rolling fee (typically $20-$50, varies by location). Total cost is usually $45-$75.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • Your criminal history record will be mailed to the address you provided, typically within 1-2 weeks.
   • The report is a paper document mailed by the California DOJ.
   • If you have no criminal history, you will receive a response indicating no records were found.
   • A fee waiver may be available for the $25 DOJ processing fee — check the DOJ website for eligibility.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Submit the original document to the California Secretary of State for apostille.
   • The fee is $20.00 per apostille. For in-person requests, an additional $6.00 special handling fee applies per document.
   • In-person submissions at Sacramento or Los Angeles offices are typically processed within 30 minutes.
   • Mail submissions take approximately 4-6 weeks. Check current processing times at sos.ca.gov/notary/processing-times before mailing.
   • Mail to: California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section — Apostille Unit, 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Payment by check, money order, Visa, or Mastercard.

4. STEP 4Translate via EcuadorTranslations.com

   • After your document is apostilled, submit it to EcuadorTranslations.com for certified Spanish translation and notarization.
   • Upload a clear scan or photo of your apostilled background check through the EcuadorTranslations.com order form.
   • Cost: $150 per document ($130 each when ordering 3 or more documents). Turnaround: 3 business days.
   • Your translated and notarized document will be delivered digitally, ready for your Ecuador visa application.

Apostille authority

Key notes

• California uses the 'Live Scan' system exclusively — no ink fingerprint cards are accepted for DOJ record reviews.
• The DOJ states personal record reviews 'cannot be used for Visa/Immigration,' but the apostilled document is still accepted by Ecuador. Verify with EcuaPass if needed.
• California has the longest mail-in apostille processing time in this batch (4-6 weeks). In-person processing in Sacramento or LA is dramatically faster (30 minutes).
• Check sos.ca.gov/notary/processing-times for current mail processing dates before submitting.

Sources and verification