Washington Background Check & Apostille Guide

Issuing agency

Washington State Patrol (WSP) — WATCH

Steps to request and apostille your record

1. STEP 1Request Your Background Check

   • Washington state background checks are available through the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) system, operated by the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
   • Visit watch.wsp.wa.gov and submit a name-based search. The fee is $11 per name searched, regardless of the outcome. Payment is by debit/credit card or a pre-established billing account.
   • No fingerprints are required for a WATCH search. The system is available online 24/7.
   • If you need a notarized copy of your results for immigration purposes, you can request a notarized document for an additional $15 per notary request.

2. STEP 2Receive Your Results

   • WATCH results are typically available immediately online. You will receive one of three result types: an exact match with conviction records, a candidate list of close matches, or a 'No Record / No Exact Match Found' response.
   • Results include Washington state conviction information only — arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions and registered sex/kidnap offender information. Out-of-state records are not included.
   • The only way to positively link a person to a criminal record is through fingerprint verification. WATCH is a name-based search and may produce false matches.
   • Whether you also need a separate FBI background check depends on your route and current Ecuador eVISAS guidance — confirm before ordering. The criminal-record certificate must be issued within 180 days of your visa application date.

3. STEP 3Apostille Your Background Check

   • Once you have your Washington background check results, get the document apostilled by the Washington Secretary of State.
   • The fee is $15 per document. Submit your request by mail or in person at 416 Sid Snyder Ave., Olympia, WA. Walk-in requests can be processed same-day with no appointment required.
   • Mail requests are typically processed within 5–7 business days, though processing times are not guaranteed.
   • An expedited same-day service is available for $150 (in addition to the standard $15 fee) for urgent requests.

4. STEP 4Translate via EcuadorTranslations.com

   • Ecuador requires a certified Spanish translation of your apostilled background check. EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified translation and notarization services specifically for Ecuador visa documents.
   • Cost is $150 per document, or $130 per document when submitting 3 or more documents together. Turnaround is 3 business days.
   • Upload your apostilled document at EcuadorTranslations.com and receive your certified, notarized translation ready for your Ecuador visa application.

Apostille authority

Key notes

• Washington's WATCH system is one of the cheapest state background checks at $11 per search.
• WATCH is a name-based search only — it does not use fingerprints, so results should be cross-referenced carefully.
• The $150 expedited same-day apostille fee is in addition to the standard $15 document fee.
• For questions about WATCH, contact the Washington State Patrol Identification and Background Check Section.

Sources and verification