New Jersey Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

New Jersey State Police — Criminal Information Unit (CIU)

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • New Jersey uses fingerprint-based criminal history checks processed through the State Police Criminal Information Unit (CIU).
   • Schedule a fingerprinting appointment online at uenroll.identogo.com or call IDEMIA at 1-877-503-5981. Visit an IdentoGO location to have your fingerprints captured electronically via LiveScan.
   • The fingerprinting fee is $45.73 (includes $15.73 vendor fee and state sales tax). Payment accepted at the IdentoGO site by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, prepaid debit, or ACH.
   • For immigration requests, use service code 2F1BJG (personal record request) or 2F1BH1 (notarized request for foreign business/international adoption).
   • Web scheduling is available 24/7 at uenroll.identogo.com.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • If no criminal record is found, you can download your Personal Record Request letter within 24 to 72 hours of fingerprinting.
   • If a criminal record is found, allow up to 14 business days to receive results by mail.
   • Contact the CIU at (609) 882-2000, ext. 2918 if you haven't received results after the expected timeframe.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • New Jersey apostilles are issued by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), a branch of the Department of the Treasury — not the Secretary of State.
   • Submit your request online at njportal.com/dor/apostille. Pay the $25 statutory fee (plus $2.50 convenience fee for credit card or $1 for e-check). Print the confirmation page and mail or drop off your documents to DORES.
   • Standard mail-in processing takes 12 to 20 business days.
   • Expedited options: 1-hour in-person ($25), 2-hour in-person ($30), or 8.5 business hours ($40).

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

• New Jersey apostilles are NOT issued by the Secretary of State — they come from the Department of the Treasury (DORES). This is unique among U.S. states.
• The fingerprint-based process through IDEMIA/IdentoGO is the only way to obtain an official New Jersey criminal history record for personal or immigration use.
• Use service code 2F1BJG for standard immigration/personal requests when scheduling your fingerprint appointment.
• Standard apostille processing (12-20 business days) is among the longest in the country. Budget extra time or use the expedited in-person option if on a deadline.

Sources and verification