International Criminal Search:
Records From Beyond U.S. Borders.

If your applicant has lived, worked, or studied abroad, a domestic search will never find what happened there. We source criminal records directly from foreign courts and police agencies in the countries where your applicant has history.

Typically 3 to 10 business days — varies by country
Not all countries provide accessible criminal records to foreign requestors. Before ordering, confirm your applicant has an international address history we can search. We will always tell you upfront what is and is not available for a given country.

Every country maintains its own criminal record system, and most of those systems are completely invisible to a domestic background check. A county search, statewide search, and federal search together cover the United States thoroughly — but none of them touch what happened in Canada, the UK, India, or anywhere else your applicant has spent time. If those years go unchecked, you have a gap in your screening.

We source international criminal records directly from foreign courts, national police agencies, and governmental record authorities in each country — not from a generic international database. That distinction matters because database-only international searches frequently return incomplete or outdated information. We go to the source.

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Country-Specific Sourcing

Each country has its own record system. We source directly from foreign courts and police agencies, not from a single generic international database.

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Translation Included

All records returned in a non-English language are professionally translated before delivery. You receive a clear, readable report regardless of country.

Required For Global Roles

If your applicant has international address history, years spent abroad are completely invisible to a domestic search. This is the only way to check those years.

We Tell You What’s Possible

Some countries restrict access to foreign requestors. We will always tell you upfront what we can and cannot search before you order — no surprises.

Commonly Searched Countries

We search criminal records in countries across every region. Availability and turnaround vary by country — contact us for a specific inquiry.

Australia
Belgium
Canada
France
Germany
India
Ireland
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Philippines
South Africa
Spain
United Kingdom
And More

Don’t see the country you need? Call us at 860-678-0066 — we will tell you exactly what is available and what the process looks like before you commit.

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When a country has no accessible records, we say so

Some countries — particularly in parts of the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia — either do not maintain centralized criminal records accessible to foreign requestors, or restrict access entirely. When we cannot obtain a record, we tell you explicitly. We do not return a clear result when we were unable to search. You will always know the difference between a genuine no-record result and a country where the search was not possible.

What’s Included in Your Report

Data points returned vary by country. The following are included where available from the source authority.

Charge Description (Where Available)
Country Of Record
Court Or Issuing Authority
Date Of Birth On File
Disposition Or Sentence (Where Available)
Name On File At Time Of Record
Offense Date (Where Available)
Record Classification Or Severity
Translation Notes (Where Applicable)

What To Know Before You Order

Some countries require a notarized consent form signed by the applicant before releasing records to a third party. We will let you know at the time of order if this applies to the country you are searching, and we will provide the necessary forms. Turnaround for these searches is typically longer — plan for up to 15 business days in countries with consent requirements.

International searches are priced by country based on the sourcing complexity involved. We will always give you a clear cost before you commit. There are no surprise fees.

International criminal searches do not replace domestic searches. Always run a county or statewide search for U.S. history in addition to any international search for time spent abroad.

Pair With a County or Statewide Search for Complete Coverage

International covers the years your applicant spent abroad. County and statewide cover their U.S. history. Running both together means no part of their background goes unchecked — domestic or international.

Learn About County Criminal Search

Frequently Asked Questions

What information is needed to run an international criminal search?
Every search requires the subject's full name, date of birth, current address, end user location, and reason for request. Many countries also require a country-specific ID — such as a passport number, national ID, or government-issued document number. Some searches require a signed consent form and a copy of the subject's passport or government ID (front and back). Requirements vary by country — call us at 860-678-0066 before ordering if you are unsure.
How long does an international criminal background check take?
Turnaround varies by country. Some searches return within 3–5 business days. Others, particularly in regions with limited electronic court access, can take 1–3 weeks. Submitting complete documentation upfront — signed consent, copy of ID — keeps things moving. We provide estimated turnaround times by country before you order.
Do I need the applicant's consent for an international criminal search?
Yes. Signed consent is required for every international search. Depending on the country, you may also need a copy of the applicant's passport or passport number, or a copy of their government-issued ID — sometimes front and back. Missing documentation is the most common cause of delays, so submitting everything upfront is important.
What shows up on an international criminal background check?
Results vary by country. Many reports include criminal convictions, pending charges, and court dispositions. Some countries provide police clearance certificates rather than direct court records. Certain jurisdictions have limited electronic access, which can affect the depth and format of results. We source records directly from foreign courts and police agencies — not third-party aggregators.
Can I run an international criminal search on a U.S. citizen who lived abroad?
Yes. If a U.S. citizen lived, worked, or studied in another country, an international search covers that period of their history. U.S. criminal searches only cover domestic records — any time spent abroad is a gap unless you run an international search for those countries. This is especially important for candidates who spent significant time overseas. Note that for U.S. citizens, requests typically require a passport number rather than a foreign government ID number.
How accurate are international criminal background checks?
Accuracy depends on the country. In countries with centralized, well-maintained court systems, results are highly reliable. In regions with fragmented or manual records, results reflect what is officially available. Some countries offer only a national-level search, while others allow local or provincial-level searches that go deeper. We are transparent about what level of coverage is available before you order, and we source directly from courts and police agencies.

Don’t Leave International History Unchecked.

No contracts. No minimums. Real people answering every call.