How to Apostille a Massachusetts CORI Report
Updated: Oct 31
Need your Massachusetts background record for use abroad?
Start by confirming whether the receiving office wants a Massachusetts CORI, an FBI Identity History Summary or both. For a CORI request, obtain the appropriate certified report from the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), then review its signature and the certification route for your destination. Boston Notary Service can help you plan the agreed preparation, submission and return delivery.
First, identify the document you actually need
Document | What to check |
Massachusetts CORI report | A Massachusetts criminal record response. Ask the recipient whether this is the record it requires. |
CORI request or acknowledgment form | Paperwork used to request or authorize a check. Notarizing this form does not turn it into the issued background report. |
FBI Identity History Summary | A separate federal background report. It follows the federal certification route rather than a Massachusetts apostille. |
If the instructions simply say “police clearance,” ask the receiving organization to name the required record. A state CORI is not automatically a substitute for an FBI report, and an FBI report is not automatically a substitute for a specifically requested Massachusetts record.
1. Get the receiving office’s requirements
Record type: CORI, FBI report or another specifically named record.
Destination country and the organization receiving the document.
How recently the report must have been issued.
Whether it requires originals, certified records, translation or additional supporting documents.
The date the completed packet must arrive.
2. Request the appropriate certified CORI
Use the current DCJIS individual-request instructions to obtain your own record. Check the available request method, identity requirements and current fees before submitting. If you need help understanding the preparation, contact us before ordering or mailing documents; we will explain what assistance is available.
The online account process changed in October 2026. DCJIS directs users to MyMassGov for the updated iCORI system. Follow its current instructions rather than relying on an older saved login page or application checklist. Keep your login credentials private.
3. Review the report before arranging an apostille
Keep the issued report, certification and accompanying pages together. Tell us how it was obtained and whether you hold the original or only a digital result. We review the actual document and signature before confirming what must be submitted.
A notarial act on a request or identity-verification form is a separate step from authenticating the issued report. Do not add a notary stamp to a government-record photocopy and assume it replaces the appropriate certified document. Massachusetts excludes notarized photocopies of government-issued records from its authentication process.
Already have a CORI PDF? Start by telling us the document type and destination. A digital copy can help identify what you have, but a review copy is not a promise that the same file can be submitted for certification. We confirm the required version before you send originals.
4. Confirm the destination route
The applicable apostille or authentication route depends on the document and destination. Treaty relationships and receiving-office requirements matter. We review those details for your request rather than using a fixed country list or promising acceptance everywhere.
An apostille authenticates the relevant signature, capacity or seal; it does not certify that every statement in the report is correct or that you meet a foreign authority’s eligibility rules. The recipient still decides whether your packet satisfies its requirements.
5. Plan submission and return delivery
Allow time for obtaining the report, any preparation that is still needed, certification and shipping. Give us the arrival deadline at the start. We confirm the service scope, quote and available timing after reviewing the document; urgent handling is subject to document readiness and availability.
If translation is required, arrange it with your chosen translation provider. Share any instructions about the order of translation and certification so the work can be planned correctly. Boston Notary Service does not provide translation services.
Your CORI apostille preparation checklist
The exact background record named by the recipient.
The certified report and accompanying pages you already hold.
Written destination instructions and any issue-date limit.
Your arrival deadline and return-delivery location.
A note about missing records, preparation questions or separately arranged translation.
Common questions
Does every CORI need to be notarized?
Do not assume every document with “CORI” in its name needs the same treatment. Request forms, identity-verification paperwork and issued reports serve different purposes. We review the actual document and confirm the required preparation.
Can you help if I am outside Massachusetts?
Tell us where you are, which record you have and where the finished packet needs to go. We can review the agreed preparation, submission and return options without requiring you to guess the route first.
Should I email my full background report?
For an initial question, send the record type, destination and deadline. Keep Social Security numbers, account credentials and sensitive report contents out of general email or chat. We will explain the appropriate next step for document review.
Will an apostille guarantee acceptance?
No. Confirm the record, issue date and any translation requirements with the receiving office. Certification and the recipient’s decision are separate parts of the process.
Let’s review your next step
Share what you have and where it is going. We will explain the preparation, agreed service and quote before you proceed.
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