How a Florida fdle background check is used in Nicaragua
Migración asks first-time residency applicants for a criminal-record certificate from their country of origin, apostilled. For a U.S. citizen, the question is which record Migración will take: a federal FBI record (which we don't handle) or a Florida state record from FDLE. Ask Migración or your Nicaraguan attorney before you order anything. If a Florida record is accepted, it has to be the version notarized when FDLE issues it. A plain printout from the online search can't be apostilled, and you'll pay for the search twice.
Translation for Nicaragua
Our standard for a translation is a translator's certification, notarized by a different notary, with its own Florida apostille. Nicaragua may instead require the translation to be made in Nicaragua: its notarial law (Ley 139) allows translations in a public deed before a Nicaraguan notary with at least ten years of incorporation, through an interpreter the notary appoints. Ask the receiving office which version it accepts before you pay for either.
What your FDLE criminal history check must look like
Order the certified, notarized criminal history from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement — the version FDLE notarizes at issuance. An online instant check or a printout without FDLE's notarial certificate cannot be apostilled. The notarized FDLE result is a Florida document, so it receives a Florida apostille; an FBI identity history summary is a federal document that goes to the U.S. Department of State instead and is not something we handle. If the receiving office asks for a "state police certificate", the notarized FDLE check is what they mean.
Step by step: FDLE background check apostille for Nicaragua
- Order online — pick "FDLE background check" and "Nicaragua" on the order form; $220 per document, $380 for two, $160 each for three or more.
- Send a photo — reply to the confirmation email with a picture of the document. We check the certification before anything ships, so a defect is caught before it costs you a round trip.
- Drop it at FedEx — after approval, FedEx emails you a prepaid QR code; show it at any FedEx Office or Ship Center, no printer or label needed.
- Filed in person in Tallahassee — we walk the document into the Florida Department of State and ship the apostilled original back by FedEx within 5–7 business days of receipt — to your U.S. address, or to Nicaragua with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for Nicaragua. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.