Rhode Island Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

Rhode Island Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • Request a background check from the Rhode Island Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), under the Attorney General's Office.
   • For immigration and international use, you should request a national fingerprint-based background check (not just the state name-based check). The national check costs $35.00 and covers federal and out-of-state arrests in addition to Rhode Island records.
   • IMPORTANT: When requesting for overseas/immigration use, tell the Attorney General's office that you need the document to bear the signature and seal of the Attorney General. This is required for apostille authentication.
   • You can submit your request in person at the Attorney General's Customer Service Center (4 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920) or by mail. In-person requests accept credit or debit card. Mail-in requests require a check or money order payable to 'BCI.'
   • Bring a valid photo ID. For the fingerprint-based national check, fingerprints will be taken at the BCI office or at a local law enforcement agency.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • Allow 7 business days for processing for fingerprint-based national checks.
   • Mail-in requests should allow 14 days total (including mailing time and BCI processing).
   • A state-only BCI check ($5.00) shows only Rhode Island convictions and pending cases. The national check ($35.00) is recommended for immigration purposes as it provides a more comprehensive record.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • After receiving your background check with the Attorney General's signature and seal, submit it to the Rhode Island Secretary of State for apostille.
   • The apostille fee is $5.00 per document — one of the lowest in the country.
   • You can apply online at services.sos.ri.gov for apostille/legalization.
   • Standard processing takes approximately 1-10 business days depending on volume and document complexity.
   • Rhode Island Secretary of State: 148 West River Street, Providence, RI 02904. Phone: (401) 222-1487. Email: corporations@sos.ri.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

• Rhode Island has two tiers of background checks: state-only ($5.00, name-based) and national ($35.00, fingerprint-based). For immigration, the national check is recommended.
• You MUST request that the Attorney General's signature and seal appear on your background check document. Without this, the Secretary of State cannot apostille it.
• Rhode Island has one of the lowest combined fees for background check + apostille: $35.00 + $5.00 = $40.00 total before translation.
• The Rhode Island Secretary of State offers online apostille applications, which is convenient for tracking your request.
• The BCI office in Cranston handles both in-person requests and fingerprinting, so you can complete both steps in one visit.

Sources and verification