Special Consular Services

How To Apply For a Criminal Records Check

The U.S. Embassy cannot provide criminal record information for individuals who have visited or resided in the United States. These records can be applied for through the following websites:

United States:  www.fbi.gov
United Kingdom:  www.met.police.uk

You may also find the following information from the Department of State's website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1201.html# useful.

U.S. citizens may be asked to present a "certificate of good conduct" or "lack of a criminal record" for a variety of reasons for use abroad including adoption, school attendance, employment, etc. U.S. law enforcement authorities may not be familiar with such a procedure, since it is not commonly requested in the United States. There are a variety of options available to U.S. citizens seeking to obtain proof of their lack of a criminal record.

LOCAL POLICE CHECK:  Go to your local police department where you reside or last resided in the United States, request that the police conduct a criminal records search and provide you with a document reflecting that there is no history of a criminal record. Local police departments may require your personal appearance in order to conduct the search. Your local police department can phrase this in whatever way it deems appropriate. The document should then be authenticated for use abroad following our guidance on authentication or legalization of documents ( http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/hague_issues/hague_issues_562.html ).

FBI RECORDS CHECK:  The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) centralizes criminal justice information and provides accurate and timely information and services to local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies, the private sector, academia, and other government agencies. The subject of an identification record may obtain a copy thereof by submitting a written request to the CJIS. The request must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of identity (consisting of name, date and place of birth, and a set of roll-inked fingerprint impressions) and a certified check or money order for the processing fee. The FBI will not provide copies of arrest records to individuals other than the subject of the record.

GETTING YOUR FINGERPRINTS TAKEN:  U.S. citizens should be able to obtain fingerprint cards from their local police departments. U.S. embassies and consulates do not generally provide this service. (Note: The U.S. Embassy in London does not provide this service. You may contact the National Fingerprint Centre at New Scotland Yard for assistance (http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/fingerprint_services.htm).

AUTHENTICATION OF POLICE OR FBI CERTIFICATES OF LACK OF A CRIMINAL RECORD:  Documents required for use abroad may require additional authentication after you obtain the local police seal or FBI certificate. See our guidance on authentication or legalization of documents (http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/hague_issues/hague_issues_562.html).

back to top ^