Apply Criminal Record Check Online

First identify why the criminal record check is being requested

Before you apply for a criminal record check online, identify the purpose and jurisdiction. A personal FBI Identity History Summary, a state criminal-history check, an employer or licensing fingerprint check, and a court-record search are different products. The requesting organization may be legally required to use a specific channel, so an online self-check is not automatically a substitute.

Online does not mean fingerprint-free

The FBI’s electronic Departmental Order process lets you complete the application and payment online, but the identity search is still fingerprint based. After the electronic request, you can submit fingerprints electronically at a participating U.S. Post Office or mail a completed fingerprint card. The FBI explicitly says it does not provide name checks for Identity History Summary requests.

For a personal FBI Identity History Summary, budget the current $18 fee

The FBI publishes a fee of $18 per Identity History Summary request, whether the request is electronic or by mail. Electronic requesters can receive an electronic response and may choose a mailed response. The FBI does not offer expedited handling, although electronically submitted requests should process faster once the required fingerprints are received.

1. 01
   Complete the official request

   Use the FBI’s Identity History Summary instructions and enter your own identifying information.

2. 02
   Submit payment

   Pay the FBI’s current $18 request fee using an accepted method.

3. 03
   Provide current fingerprints

   Use a participating Post Office electronic submission or mail a current fingerprint card.

4. 04
   Read the response as an identity-history product

   A response may contain a summary or indicate no summary; it is not a court-certified disposition for a particular case.

Use the requesting agency’s channel for regulated employment or licensing

For many jobs, licenses, adoptions, clearances, and other regulated purposes, the agency requesting the check controls the authorized process. It may provide an originating-agency number, service code, fingerprint vendor, consent form, or destination. Follow those instructions instead of independently ordering a self-check and hoping it will be accepted.

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  Who is requesting the check?
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  Which jurisdictions must be searched?
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  Is a fingerprint submission required?
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  Must results go directly to the agency?
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  Does the agency require a sealed, authenticated, apostilled, or court-certified document?

State checks and court records answer different questions

A state criminal-history repository generally compiles reportable events under that state’s rules. A court record is the file of a particular prosecution. If an online criminal-history response shows an event you need to document formally, the next useful step may be the originating court’s certified disposition rather than another broad background search.

The FBI maintains a State Identification Bureau directory to help locate the official state repository. State fees, public-access rules, fingerprint requirements and correction procedures differ, so verify them with the specific state source instead of applying one state’s rules nationwide.

Certification and authentication have specific limits

An individual cannot request an FBI-certified copy of fingerprints or Identity History Summary information through the public personal-request process. The FBI does authenticate its ordinary Identity History Summary responses with its watermark and an official signature, and it explains separate apostille steps where needed. If a receiving organization asks for “certified,” ask what exact certification or authentication it means before ordering the wrong product.

Challenge inaccurate FBI summary information instead of ordering repeatedly

If your FBI Identity History Summary appears inaccurate or incomplete, use the FBI challenge process. The FBI says challenges have no fee and the average response is within 45 days of receipt. Because much of the underlying arrest and disposition information comes from contributing agencies, supporting court documents can be important to a correction request.