Iowa Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) — Department of Public Safety

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • Iowa criminal background checks are processed by the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
   • You can request your own background check in person at the DCI office during walk-in hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. Bring a state-issued photo ID and receive immediate results.
   • The fee is $15 per last name. Each last name requires a separate form (DCI-77) and separate payment.
   • For a fingerprint-based check (recommended for immigration), schedule an appointment at an Iowa Fieldprint site. The cost is $34.35 at Iowa locations or $36.35 at out-of-state Fieldprint locations.
   • On the request form, indicate the purpose as immigration/visa application. The DCI has a specific field for this.
   • Payment methods: cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover).

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • Walk-in requests at the DCI office receive immediate results — you can walk out with your report the same day.
   • Mail-in name-based requests typically take 5-7 business days.
   • Fingerprint-based checks through Fieldprint take approximately 7-10 business days.
   • The Iowa Criminal History Record contains arrest data reported by Iowa criminal justice agencies, disposition information from the Iowa Judicial Branch, and custody information from the Iowa Department of Corrections.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Submit the original background check to the Iowa Secretary of State for apostille.
   • The fee is $5 per document. Include the completed Apostille or Certification Request Form, available at sos.iowa.gov.
   • Mail to: Iowa Secretary of State, Lucas State Office Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319. In-person requests are also accepted.
   • Processing takes approximately 2 business days. Payment accepted by check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

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

• Iowa's DCI offers same-day walk-in results — one of the fastest turnarounds in the country for name-based checks.
• The $15 fee is per last name, not per person. If you have changed your last name, you may need to pay $15 for each name.
• For immigration, consider the fingerprint-based check ($34.35) for a more definitive result that eliminates name-match errors.
• Iowa's apostille turnaround (2 business days) and fee ($5) are both very competitive.

Sources and verification