District of Columbia Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) — Arrest and Criminal History Section

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • District of Columbia background checks (police clearances) are processed by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Arrest and Criminal History Section.
   • In person: Visit the MPD Records Division at 300 Indiana Avenue NW, Room 1075, Washington, DC 20001. A Drop-Off Service is available without an appointment. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $7, payable in cash or money order to the DC Treasurer.
   • By mail: If you live outside the District, submit a notarized letter requesting a background check along with a copy of your ID to: Criminal History Section, 300 Indiana Avenue NW, Room 1075, Washington, DC 20001. Include the $7 fee as a money order payable to the DC Treasurer.
   • For additional assistance, call (202) 727-4245.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • In-person drop-off requests take approximately 2 weeks for processing. Standard in-office processing takes up to 10 business days.
   • Mail requests should allow 6 weeks for processing from the date the request is made.
   • Results contain a listing of adult convictions for which the sentence was completed not more than 10 years before the date of the request. Juvenile records and older completed convictions are typically excluded.
   • Whether you also need a separate FBI background check depends on your route and current Ecuador eVISAS guidance — confirm before ordering. The criminal-record certificate must be issued within 180 days of your visa application date.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Because DC is not a state, its apostille process differs from the 50 states. DC apostilles are issued by the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA), part of the DC Office of the Secretary.
   • The fee is $15 per document. Walk-in hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM.
   • Processing time is typically 1–5 business days for in-person submissions. Mail submissions may take 1–2 weeks plus transit time.
   • Note: For documents issued by federal agencies (such as FBI background checks), you need a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State, not from DC. The DC apostille covers only DC-issued documents like the MPD police clearance.

4. STEP 4Translate via EcuadorTranslations.com

   • Ecuador requires a certified Spanish translation of your apostilled background check. EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified translation and notarization services specifically for Ecuador visa documents.
   • Cost is $150 per document, or $130 per document when submitting 3 or more documents together. Turnaround is 3 business days.
   • Upload your apostilled document at EcuadorTranslations.com and receive your certified, notarized translation ready for your Ecuador visa application.

Apostille authority

Key notes

• DC is not a state, so its apostille is issued by the Office of the Secretary (ONCA), not a Secretary of State.
• The MPD police clearance fee ($7) is one of the lowest in the country, but mail processing is slow at up to 6 weeks.
• Walk-in hours at ONCA are limited to 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, Monday–Friday. Plan your visit accordingly.
• Do not confuse the DC apostille (for DC-issued documents) with the federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State (for federal documents like FBI checks). Confirm whether your route requires both before ordering.
• Payment for the MPD police clearance is cash or money order only — no credit cards, checks, or online payment.

Sources and verification