Criminal Record Certificate: Criminal Records Guide
Criminal Record Certificate: How to Apply, Check Fees and Obtain Police Clearance
A criminal record certificate is an official document issued by a police authority, criminal-history repository or another authorized government agency. It reports criminal-history information held by that agency or confirms that no matching record was found under its search procedure.
In the United States, people requesting such a certificate may need an FBI Identity History Summary, a state criminal-history check, a local police clearance letter or a certified court disposition. The correct document depends on whether it is required for employment, immigration, a visa, adoption, licensing or use in another country.
Government source review: October 20, 2026. Fees, document rules and overseas acceptance requirements can change.
What Is a Criminal Record Certificate?
A criminal record certificate is commonly requested as evidence of a person’s criminal-history status within a particular country, state or jurisdiction. Depending on the issuing agency, the result may contain reported convictions, arrests, charges, dispositions or a statement that no matching information was found.
The exact name and scope differ. In the United States, the FBI generally refers to its personal fingerprint-based result as an Identity History Summary. State police authorities may call their responses Criminal History Record Checks, Police Clearance Certificates or No Record Certificates.
Names that may refer to related documents
FBI Identity History Summary
Fingerprint-based information maintained by the FBI, or proof that the FBI has no matching Identity History Summary.
Criminal History Check
Information drawn from a particular state’s repository under its public or authorized screening rules.
Police Clearance Letter
A locally issued clearance or criminal records search response, where the police department offers this service.
Certified Court Disposition
Official confirmation of how a particular charge or criminal case ended, not necessarily a complete personal criminal history.
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
A document required by many foreign visa and immigration processes, issued under the relevant country’s rules.
Certificate of Good Conduct
A term used by certain countries and authorities for a qualifying police or criminal-record certificate.
Which Criminal Record Certificate Do You Need?
The purpose of the request determines which agency to contact and whether fingerprints, certification or an apostille are required.
| Your purpose | Likely starting document | Important check |
|---|---|---|
| Personal U.S. federal record review | FBI Identity History Summary | Requires fingerprints; $18 direct FBI fee. |
| Certificate for living or working abroad | FBI result, state police certificate or both | Ask the destination authority whether an apostille is required. |
| State criminal clearance | State police or state identification bureau check | Covers information under that state’s rules, not every U.S. jurisdiction. |
| Local police clearance | Police letter or local criminal record check | Confirm whether the issuing police department offers the requested certificate. |
| Prove a case was dismissed | Certified criminal court disposition | Request from the court that handled the case. |
| U.S. employment or licensing | Agency-authorized state/FBI background check | May require a specific fingerprint code and direct delivery to the agency. |
| Police certificate from India | India Police Clearance Certificate | Use Passport Seva or the appropriate Indian diplomatic mission. |
| Police certificate from the United Kingdom | ACRO Police Certificate | Different from a Basic DBS employment check. |
How to Get an FBI Criminal Record Certificate Online
The FBI provides a fingerprint-based Identity History Summary Check to eligible individuals requesting their own criminal-history information.
This response lists certain information reported to the FBI through fingerprint submissions. If no Identity History Summary exists, the FBI issues a response indicating that it has no prior matching arrest data on file.
The direct FBI application fee is $18 per person, excluding any separate fingerprinting service charge.
Step-by-step FBI online application
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Open the FBI Electronic Departmental Order portal.
Go to edo.cjis.gov, the FBI’s official electronic Identity History Summary application system.
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Begin your personal Identity History Summary request.
Follow the application prompts and provide the requested identifying and contact information. Enter your name carefully because it appears on the response.
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Pay the FBI’s $18 fee.
Use the available electronic payment process. Do not pay an unrelated private background-check website believing it is the FBI’s required portal.
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Choose how to submit fingerprints.
After applying and paying, you may visit a participating U.S. Post Office for electronic fingerprinting or submit an accepted fingerprint card by mail.
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Complete fingerprint submission.
For participating USPS locations, follow the electronic appointment or enrollment directions shown by the FBI. Postal fingerprinting charges are separate.
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Receive and review the result.
The electronic application provides electronic results, with a paper response option. Keep the original electronic file or paper response securely.
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Check foreign-use requirements.
If the result is needed overseas, ask the destination authority whether an apostille, additional authentication or translation is required.
How long does an FBI criminal record certificate take?
The FBI currently publishes these processing targets:
| FBI request method | Published processing timeline |
|---|---|
| Electronic request and fingerprints submitted at participating USPS | Generally within 48 hours after fingerprint submission. |
| Electronic request with mailed fingerprint card | Approximately 10 days after the FBI receives the card. |
| Complete mailed paper application | Up to 15 days, plus mailing and delivery. |
These are published estimates rather than guaranteed deadlines. Incomplete requests or unreadable fingerprints may cause delays.
How to Apply for an FBI Criminal Record Certificate by Mail
The FBI accepts paper Identity History Summary applications. This route is useful for applicants who cannot use participating electronic fingerprinting locations or who prefer a mailed request.
FBI mail application checklist
- Completed and signed applicant information form.
- Current fingerprint card with required identifying information.
- Ten rolled fingerprint impressions.
- Plain or flat impressions of all ten fingers.
- Payment of $18 per applicant.
- Valid contact information and return mailing address.
- Review of the latest FBI checklist.
Step 1: Download the application form
Use the applicant form linked from the FBI Identity History Summary instructions.
Each person applying must submit their own signed application.
Step 2: Get a current fingerprint card
The FBI accepts its FD-1164 fingerprint form, including correctly printed cards on standard white paper. Some fingerprint providers may prefer standard fingerprint card stock.
Fingerprints can be taken by a qualified technician, local police department or authorized fingerprint provider. If live-scan equipment is used for a mail submission, obtain an accepted hard-copy card.
Step 3: Include payment
For mail applications, the FBI accepts a credit-card payment form, a money order or a certified check.
Money orders or certified checks should be payable to:
Treasury of the United States
Do not send cash, a personal check or a business check.
Step 4: Send the complete application
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
United States
Phone: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
If you started your application electronically and are only mailing the fingerprint card, use the address and confirmation instructions provided with your electronic order instead of submitting a second application unnecessarily.
Can you receive a certificate with no criminal record?
Yes. If the FBI does not find an Identity History Summary associated with the submitted fingerprints, it sends a response explaining that no prior arrest data is on file with the FBI.
That document reflects the FBI’s records. It should not be interpreted as universal proof that no incident or criminal court case has ever occurred anywhere.
How to Get a State Police Criminal Record Certificate
U.S. states maintain their own criminal-history systems through agencies such as state police, departments of public safety or departments of justice.
The correct issuing authority depends on the state and the intended use of the certificate.
Start with the FBI’s State Identification Bureau directory to identify the official agency.
Pennsylvania: PATCH No Record Certificate
Pennsylvania’s State Police operates Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH).
If a completed name-based search finds no matching record in the Pennsylvania State Police central repository, the requester can print a No Record Certificate.
- Open Pennsylvania PATCH.
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Select Submit a New Record Check.
Follow the instructions for an individual or authorized organizational request.
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Enter the required details.
Complete the requester and record-subject information.
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Pay the published fee.
The standard record check costs $22. Online credit-card transactions have carried an additional 2% fee since April 22, 2026.
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Review the result.
The system may return No Record, Record or Request Under Review. Under Review is not proof that the person has a criminal record.
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Print the final certificate.
PATCH does not mail online-requested results. The requester is responsible for printing the available completed response.
The state also offers a different Individual Access & Review request, costing $20 by mail, for a person who wants to inspect their fuller personal state history, including nonconviction information. This document cannot be notarized through that process.
Florida: Certified and Noncertified Criminal History Checks
Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides several records-check methods.
The Instant Search is a noncertified name-based public history search costing $24 plus a $1 card-processing fee.
For official certified or noncertified checks, FDLE offers a separate search handled by agency staff.
The FDLE website publishes approximately five business days for a noncertified staff-processed result and six to seven business days for a certified one, excluding postal delivery.
The standard search fee is $24, subject to payment-processing terms.
Florida also offers a free, fingerprint-based Personal Review for a person to inspect their own record. However, FDLE explicitly states that the Personal Review cannot be used for immigration, employment, licensing or certification.
Other states
New York, Texas, California, Wisconsin and other states have different rules concerning fingerprinting, certification, public searches and permissible uses.
Do not assume a state background-check report is acceptable just because another state offers a similarly named certificate.
For example, California’s personal record-review procedure is different from its official immigration-related criminal-history request procedure.
How to Get a Certificate of No Criminal Record
A certificate of no criminal record is sometimes called a No Record Certificate, Police Clearance, or Certificate of No Criminal History.
It indicates that an authorized agency did not find information meeting the search criteria in its designated records.
The issuing agency must be considered when interpreting the result.
| No-record response | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| FBI no-summary response | No matching Identity History Summary was found in the FBI’s fingerprint-based records. | Not proof that every local, state or court event has been reported to the FBI. |
| State police no-record certificate | No reportable record was found in that state’s repository under its procedure. | Not a guarantee of no criminal history in another state or federal jurisdiction. |
| Local police clearance | A search result or certification within the issuing department’s stated scope. | Not necessarily a statewide or nationwide clearance. |
| County court no-record letter | The court did not locate a specified record under its search criteria. | Not a nationwide criminal-history background check. |
Suppose a county clerk issues a letter saying no criminal case was located for a particular name and date range.
The letter describes that county’s records search. It does not establish that the person has no case in another county or state.
For a broader formal requirement, obtain the specific state or federal document requested by the recipient.
How Much Does a Criminal Record Certificate Cost?
The total depends on the issuing country or state, fingerprinting provider, delivery method and authentication requirements.
| Certificate or service | Published fee | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary | $18 | Fingerprints and third-party service charges may be additional. |
| FBI fee waiver | Possible for qualifying applicants | Contact the FBI before applying and submit required proof of indigence. |
| Pennsylvania PATCH check | $22 | 2% online card transaction fee; optional $5 notarization through mail procedure. |
| Pennsylvania Individual Access & Review | $20 | Mail application; personal record review, not the same as a standard certificate. |
| Florida FDLE Instant Search | $24 + $1 | Noncertified public instant result. |
| Florida FDLE certified history check | $24 | Additional online processing terms apply. |
| Florida FDLE Personal Review | No FDLE fee | Fingerprint provider may charge; cannot be used as a certified employment or immigration check. |
| Federal apostille or authentication | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State charge; mailing and translation are separate. |
| India Police Clearance Certificate | ₹500 | Passport Seva fee for applications in India; consular fees abroad may differ. |
| UK Basic DBS check | £20 | Current basic employment check; not a substitute for every overseas visa ACRO certificate. |
Fees are based on published government schedules reviewed in October 2026. Recheck amounts at the official application website before submitting payment.
How to Get a Criminal Record Certificate Apostilled
A criminal record certificate may need an apostille or another authentication certificate before a foreign authority accepts it.
An apostille confirms the authenticity of official signatures, seals or stamps for use under the applicable Hague Apostille Convention. It does not certify that the criminal-history information itself is complete.
Federal FBI certificate versus state-issued certificate
FBI Identity History Summary
For an FBI-issued result that requires an apostille, use the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
The FBI normally supplies the result with its official watermark and an official’s signature.
State Police or Court Certificate
For a state-issued document used in a Hague Convention country, authentication normally begins with the appropriate state authority, often the Secretary of State.
State-specific notarization or certification requirements may apply.
Step-by-step FBI criminal record apostille
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Obtain the official FBI result.
Request the Identity History Summary through the FBI’s authorized process and retain its official signed or watermarked response.
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Confirm that an apostille is required.
Ask the foreign embassy, visa office, employer or receiving authority. A non-Hague Convention destination may require another type of authentication and consular legalization.
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Open the U.S. Department of State authentication service.
Follow its instructions for federal documents.
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Complete Form DS-4194.
Enter the required applicant details, destination country and document information.
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Pay $20 per document.
Follow the payment method permitted for mail or in-person submission.
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Send the documents through the approved process.
Include the FBI result, form, required payment and return-shipping materials.
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Receive the authenticated document.
Keep the apostille or authentication certificate attached to the relevant record when presenting it abroad.
How long does U.S. federal apostille processing take?
The Department of State currently publishes:
- Mailed authentication requests: processing within approximately five weeks after receipt, excluding shipping.
- Standard Washington, D.C. drop-off requests: processing within seven business days, according to the posted procedure.
- Eligible emergency travel situations: a separate appointment procedure with narrow qualifying criteria.
Check the current Department of State submission and processing instructions before shipping a time-sensitive document.
How to Get a Criminal Record Certificate for a Visa or Immigration
Countries use different names and issuing authorities for police clearance certificates. A certificate accepted by one country is not necessarily accepted by another.
Before applying, check the destination country’s immigration instructions, the certificate’s issuing authority, accepted document age, and any apostille or translation requirement.
United States applicants requesting FBI clearance from abroad
If you live outside the United States, you can begin an electronic FBI Identity History Summary request and mail a completed fingerprint card with the electronic confirmation printout.
The FBI’s direct process can be used for eligible overseas applications. However, the FBI says its approved private channelers can process only eligible U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents physically located in the United States or its territories.
U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, according to the Department of State’s criminal records guidance.
Important rule for U.S. immigrant visa applicants
Use the destination-specific instructions and the U.S. Department of State immigrant visa document guide.
India: Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
In India, applicants commonly obtain the Police Clearance Certificate through the Ministry of External Affairs’ Passport Seva system.
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Open the official Passport Seva portal.
Go to passportindia.gov.in.
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Register or log in.
Create a Passport Seva account if you do not already have one.
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Select Apply for Police Clearance Certificate.
Complete the applicant, passport, address and required declaration fields.
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Submit the application and receive an ARN.
Keep the Application Reference Number for tracking.
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Pay ₹500 and book the appointment.
Select the available Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
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Attend with original documents.
Bring the passport and documents specified by the official application checklist.
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Complete any required verification.
The authorities determine whether additional police verification is necessary before the PCC is issued.
For Indian passport holders residing outside India, applications generally go through the relevant Indian embassy, consulate or high commission, under its current requirements.
United Kingdom: ACRO Police Certificate vs. DBS Certificate
The United Kingdom has different criminal-record products for different purposes.
The ACRO Police Certificate is commonly requested for visas, emigration, overseas residency or citizenship purposes.
A Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is an employment-related document showing qualifying unspent convictions and conditional cautions under its disclosure rules.
A Basic DBS certificate is not necessarily acceptable where a foreign immigration authority specifically requests an ACRO Police Certificate.
The UK government currently lists a Basic DBS check fee of £20, but ACRO has its own certificate application and fee arrangements.
Applying for a certificate from another country
For other countries, identify the recognized police clearance authority through the receiving country’s immigration instructions.
When applying for a U.S. immigrant visa, the Department of State provides country-specific Reciprocity and Civil Documents information describing accepted police certificates and issuing authorities.
These requirements are not universal for every foreign visa. They are a useful official reference for U.S. visa applicants.
How Long Is a Criminal Record Certificate Valid?
A criminal record certificate does not have one universal validity period. The issuing agency may not set an expiration date, but the requesting organization may require the document to be recently issued.
| Situation | How validity is determined |
|---|---|
| FBI personal record response | The receiving institution determines how recently the result must have been issued. |
| State police certificate | Depends on the state’s procedures and requesting organization’s policy. |
| Foreign work visa | Check the destination country’s immigration rules. |
| U.S. immigrant visa police certificate from another country | Generally subject to the State Department’s two-year rule, with exceptions for a previous country of residence when the applicant has not returned. |
| Certified court judgment | The judgment is a historical court document; the recipient may require a recently certified copy. |
How do you verify a certificate?
Use the issuing agency’s verification instructions. For example, Pennsylvania PATCH provides a status and validation service for completed No Record and Record responses using its control number and related request information.
Check the document’s issuing authority, reference number, name and date. A document with an official-looking seal is not automatically genuine.
What If Your Criminal Record Certificate Contains an Error?
An official background-check response may contain outdated arrest dispositions, incorrect identifying information or missing court outcomes.
If you find a problem, contact the agency that issued the result and follow its record challenge procedure.
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Identify the incorrect entry.
Write down the arrest date, agency, offense, case number and reported disposition.
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Obtain the actual court document.
Request a certified judgment, dismissal order or other relevant official document from the original court.
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Determine which agency reported the information.
The FBI often relies on data submitted by state or other authorized criminal justice agencies.
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Submit an official correction or challenge.
Use the FBI or state criminal-history repository’s established process.
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Provide available supporting evidence.
Attach the relevant court disposition or government record requested by the agency.
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Review the updated result.
If the correction is accepted, verify that the final history reflects the corrected information.
Does the FBI charge for challenging a report?
No. The FBI does not charge for an Identity History Summary challenge.
The FBI’s published average challenge response time is approximately 45 days from receipt.
Why a Criminal Record Certificate Application Gets Delayed or Rejected
| Problem | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FBI fingerprints rejected | Incomplete or illegible fingerprints. | Follow the FBI resubmission instructions and use a qualified technician. |
| Wrong certificate ordered | Personal-review response does not meet formal requirements. | Ask the recipient which agency, record type and authentication it requires. |
| PA PATCH shows Under Review | Possible name match requiring manual review. | Check the original control number; do not automatically pay for a duplicate request. |
| No Record result not accepted | Certificate lacks the required geographical scope, certification or apostille. | Follow the destination authority’s document requirements. |
| Certificate name differs from passport | Name variation, different ordering or legal-name change. | Contact the issuing agency about correction and any required supporting documents. |
| Foreign authority requests legalization | Document requires apostille or non-apostille authentication. | Confirm the applicable federal or state authentication process. |
| Application submitted from abroad | USPS electronic fingerprint option unavailable locally. | Use the FBI’s accepted mailed fingerprint-card procedure. |
| Report shows an old arrest without disposition | Court outcome may not have been reported to the repository. | Request the certified case disposition and follow the correction process. |
| Police clearance cannot be verified | Unknown issuer or missing official reference details. | Contact the genuine issuing agency, not the seller of a third-party document. |
Can someone else get your FBI certificate?
The ordinary FBI Identity History Summary procedure is for the record subject. A qualifying attorney or authorized representative may assist using the required permissions, but an unrelated private person cannot simply obtain another individual’s confidential FBI criminal-history report.
Some states permit public name-based criminal-history checks, but those searches have different legal rules and identity limitations.
Does a criminal record certificate show everything?
Not necessarily. Fingerprint repositories depend on information submitted by authorized agencies. State certificates may cover only state-maintained information, while local police checks may have even narrower coverage.
For a particular conviction or dismissal, a certified court judgment is often the best way to prove the actual case outcome.
Criminal Record Certificate FAQs
1. What is a criminal record certificate?
It is an official document from a police authority or criminal-history agency reporting available criminal-history information about a person, or indicating that no matching record was found under the agency’s search rules. The document’s name and coverage differ by jurisdiction.
2. How do I get a criminal record certificate in the USA?
For a federal fingerprint-based result, use the FBI Identity History Summary application at edo.cjis.gov. For a state certificate, contact the state’s criminal-history repository. For a particular court judgment, ask the court clerk that handled the case.
3. How much does an FBI criminal record certificate cost?
The FBI charges $18 per person for a direct Identity History Summary request. Fingerprint collection and any third-party services may cost extra. Eligible individuals unable to pay may ask the FBI about a fee waiver before applying.
4. Can I get a criminal record certificate online?
Yes, some agencies accept electronic applications. The FBI’s online application still requires fingerprints through an accepted electronic or mailed process. Pennsylvania PATCH and certain other state services also issue completed online background-check responses.
5. How do I get a certificate showing no criminal record?
Request a background-check response from the authority specified by the recipient. The FBI issues a no-summary response when no matching Identity History Summary exists. Pennsylvania PATCH can issue a printable No Record Certificate when its search returns the corresponding result.
6. Do I need fingerprints for a criminal record certificate?
An FBI Identity History Summary requires fingerprints. Some state police certificates are fingerprint-based, while other public state criminal-history checks are name-based. Follow the issuing agency’s instructions.
7. Is an FBI criminal record certificate valid for immigration?
It may be accepted for particular foreign immigration or residency applications, sometimes with an apostille. However, a U.S. immigrant visa applicant generally does not need a U.S. police certificate for residence in the United States. Always check the specific visa program.
8. How do I get an apostille for my criminal record certificate?
For an FBI-issued document, follow the U.S. Department of State authentication procedure using Form DS-4194 and the $20 per-document fee. State-issued documents generally follow state authentication procedures, depending on the destination country.
9. How long does a criminal record certificate remain valid?
There is no universal expiration period. The receiving employer, immigration authority or government office may require a recently issued certificate. Confirm the relevant rule before applying.
10. What if my criminal record certificate contains incorrect information?
Contact the issuing agency and use its correction or challenge procedure. Obtain a certified court disposition if the mistake concerns a criminal case outcome. FBI Identity History Summary challenges are free.
Official Criminal Record Certificate Websites
The following government resources provide the procedures used in this guide. Always use the latest instructions from the agency issuing the certificate.
United States — FBI and state criminal history
- FBI — Identity History Summary Requests
- FBI — Direct Electronic Application
- FBI — Fees, Fingerprints, Corrections and No-Record Responses
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Directory
- FBI — Approved Channelers and Restrictions
- Pennsylvania State Police — PATCH Certificate Application
- Pennsylvania — No Record Certificates and Verification
- Pennsylvania — Background Check Forms and Fees
- Florida FDLE — Certified and Noncertified Criminal History
- Florida FDLE — Free Personal Criminal History Review
Apostille, immigration and overseas certificates
- U.S. Department of State — Criminal Record Checks for Overseas Use
- U.S. Department of State — Apostille and Authentication Requests
- USA.gov — Authentication of Federal and State Documents
- U.S. Immigrant Visa — Police Certificate Requirements
- India Passport Seva — Police Clearance Certificate Application
- India Passport Seva — PCC Fees
- United Kingdom — ACRO Police Certificates and Personal Records
- United Kingdom — Basic DBS Check Instructions