How a Florida fdle background check is used in Turkey
Türkiye doesn't routinely ask Floridians for a criminal record. It may come up for a teaching job, certain work-permit or long-term residence files, or an adoption. When it does, ask whether a statewide FDLE record is acceptable or whether they want the FBI check, which we don't handle. Then plan the Turkish side: documents used in Türkiye typically need the apostille plus a Turkish translation approved by a Turkish notary. An FDLE record must be notarized at issuance before it can be apostilled.
Translation for Turkey
Turkish offices expect a Turkish translation. Turkish consulates in the U.S. accept a translation by a sworn translator, certified by a U.S. notary and apostilled, which matches our rule: certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. In Türkiye, a sworn translator's translation approved by a Turkish notary is the alternative. Ask the Turkish consulate in Miami whether the translator must be registered on its list.
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 Turkey
- Order online — pick "FDLE background check" and "Turkey" 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 Turkey with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for Turkey. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.