North Dakota Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • Request a criminal history record check from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), under the North Dakota Attorney General's office.
   • Download form SFN 51156 from the Attorney General's website. Complete the form with your full name and at least two additional identifiers (date of birth, SSN, BCI state ID number, or a specific reportable criminal event).
   • Include a $15.00 fee with your request. Payment details are specified on the form.
   • You must include a signed authorization form (SFN 51156) from yourself as the subject. Without a signed authorization, state law requires BCI to notify the subject before releasing records.
   • Mail the completed form and payment to the BCI. For proof of delivery, consider sending via certified mail with return receipt or a tracked delivery service.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • Processing takes approximately 7-10 business days.
   • Results are returned via U.S. Mail to the address you provide on the request form.
   • North Dakota's criminal history record check is name-based (not fingerprint-based), which is unusual among states. The check covers North Dakota criminal records only.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Submit your BCI background check to the North Dakota Secretary of State for apostille.
   • The apostille fee is $10.00 per document.
   • Processing is typically completed within 3 business days if all required information and payment are satisfactory.
   • The apostilled document is returned via U.S. Mail first-class. If you need expedited return shipping (overnight, priority), include a prepaid and pre-addressed shipping label with your request.
   • North Dakota Secretary of State: 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500. Phone: (701) 328-2901. Email: sosaccnot@nd.gov.

4. STEP 4Translate via EcuadorTranslations.com

   • After your background check is apostilled, submit it to EcuadorTranslations.com for certified Spanish translation and notarization.
   • Cost: $150 per document ($130 per document when submitting 3 or more). Price includes notarization.
   • Turnaround: 3 business days.
   • Upload a clear, color scan (300 DPI minimum) of the full apostilled document — including the apostille certificate itself.

Apostille authority

Key notes

• North Dakota uses a name-based criminal history check — fingerprints are not required. This simplifies the process but means results cover only records matched by name and identifiers.
• The request form requires at least two identifiers beyond your name (e.g., date of birth + SSN). Incomplete forms will be returned.
• The $15.00 background check fee is among the lowest in the country.
• North Dakota's apostille turnaround is fast (3 business days), making it one of the quicker states for the full background check + apostille process.
• If you need faster return delivery of the apostilled document, include your own prepaid overnight shipping label with the request.

Sources and verification