Montana Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

Montana Department of Justice — Criminal Records & Identification Services

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • Montana background checks are handled by the Criminal Records & Identification Services Section (CRISS) of the Department of Justice.
   • Online: Use the CHOPRS (Criminal History Online Public Record Search) portal at doj.egovmt.com/choprs. The fee is $20 per search. You need the subject's name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
   • By mail: Send a written request with a $15 check or money order payable to "Montana Department of Justice" and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Montana Criminal Records, P.O. Box 201403, Helena, MT 59620-1403.
   • In person: Visit CRISS at 2225 11th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601. Fingerprinting is available by appointment between 9 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Use the online scheduler to book a time.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • Online CHOPRS results are returned immediately after payment.
   • Mail-in requests take approximately 5-10 business days.
   • In-person requests with fingerprinting may take longer depending on volume.
   • Results include felony and misdemeanor records, limited by Montana's privacy laws for general public requests.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Submit your background check to the Montana Secretary of State for an apostille.
   • Mail or deliver to: Secretary of State, 1301 6th Avenue, State Capitol Building, Helena, MT 59601.
   • The apostille fee is $10 per document/notarization. Processing takes approximately 5 business days.
   • Contact the Notary and Certification Service at (406) 444-1877 or sosnotary@mt.gov with questions.

4. STEP 4Translate via EcuadorTranslations.com

   • Upload your apostilled background check to EcuadorTranslations.com for certified Spanish translation.
   • Cost: $150 per document ($130 each for 3 or more documents).
   • Turnaround: 3 business days. Your translation is certified and notarized, ready for submission to Ecuador immigration.

Apostille authority

Key notes

• Montana's privacy laws limit what the general public can see in a criminal records search. For immigration, request a comprehensive check and explain the purpose.
• The CHOPRS online portal requires a Social Security number, which may be a barrier for some applicants.
• Contact CRISS at (406) 444-3625 or dojcriss@mt.gov for questions about your request.
• If a document has multiple notarizations, the apostille fee is charged per notarization, not per page.

Sources and verification