FBI vs RCMP Fingerprinting in Paris - Which One Do You Actually Need?

If you're living in Paris and preparing documents for the U.S. or Canada, you’ll quickly realize that not all fingerprint-based background checks are the same. Many people simply don’t know whether their application requires FBI fingerprints or RCMP fingerprints, and choosing the wrong one can delay visas, immigration files, employment screenings, or licensing approvals.

This guide breaks down the exact difference between FBI and RCMP fingerprinting, who needs each one, and how to get fingerprinting in Paris done smoothly. Globeia supports both services, helping applicants avoid mistakes, meet official requirements, and complete international background checks without confusion.

The FBI fingerprinting is the official method that is used to conduct the U.S. Identity History Summary Check which is usually required for U.S. immigration, visas, employment, licensing, and record reviews. In case you are in Paris or anywhere in France and need a U.S. background check, the FBI will only allow the fingerprinting on either the FD-258/FD-1164 fingerprint card or through an FBI-approved provider digitally.

The procedure remains the same even if you are living out of the country - the FBI will take your prints and compare them with its national criminal database and directly issue your results. People living in Paris are quite often the ones applying for FBI fingerprints for U.S. Green Cards, NVC cases, requests for FBI Apostille, adoption files, security jobs, and long-term immigration processing. 

When completed through Globeia, your fingerprints are captured accurately using FBI-compliant techniques, properly packaged, and routed to the correct processing channel to ensure fast acceptance.

RCMP fingerprinting is used for the Certified Criminal Record Check issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . It is the highest level of police clearance in Canada. Applicants in Paris, especially those with ties to Canada, need RCMP-certified fingerprints when applying for Canadian immigration (Express Entry, PR, citizenship), work permits, visas, professional licensing, pardons/record suspension, and many legal or official procedures.

The RCMP requires fingerprints to be submitted on C-216C fingerprint forms or converted into digital format by an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company like Globeia. Since the RCMP does not process civilian fingerprints outside Canada, Globeia securely digitizes your Paris-taken fingerprints and transmits them directly to the RCMP for processing.

For clients in France including Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, and all of Île-de-France, we ensure your RCMP forms meet full Canadian compliance to avoid rejections or processing delays. 

• For both FBI and RCMP fingerprinting, precision is not only a procedure but it’s vital. Misidentified or blurry fingerprints, forms that are not complete, or bad impressions can all result in delays, refusals, or longer processing times for U.S. visas, Canadian immigration, employment screenings, or professional licensing. For candidates in Paris and the rest of Île-de-France, even a tiny mistake can ruin a tight deadline or make an international application more difficult.

• Globeia Paris is in the picture here. Each fingerprinting meeting is run by a professional who is trained to ensure that your impressions comply with the FBI and RCMP standards, regardless of whether you are submitting fingerprints for a background check in the U.S. or police check in Canada. In addition, Globeia provides a Letter of Verification, formal recognition that your identity was authenticated and the collection of your fingerprints took place according to rigorous guidelines. Each letter has a distinct, encrypted QR code that allows the authorities, employers, and licensing organizations to verify the letter’s authenticity, thus lowering the chances of rejection, and giving you assurance in your submission. 

• By taking care of the prints, the card completion, and the handling securely, Globeia not only helps you to comply with the official requirements but also reduces your time, stress, and unnecessary travel in Paris or the nearby areas.

Step 1: Choose Your Fingerprint Service

• Before scheduling an appointment, it’s important to be clear about the purpose of your fingerprinting. Understanding your requirement helps determine whether you need FBI fingerprints (FD-258/FD-1164) or RCMP fingerprints (C-216C). Globeia Paris offers expert guidance to ensure you select the correct service.

Step 2: Book Your Appointment

• Now you can easily schedule a fingerprinting session by filling Globeia’s SmartForm. Appointments are flexible, with options for in-office visits at Globeia Paris or mobile fingerprinting across Paris and Île-de-France, covering departments such as Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Val-d’Oise, and Seine-et-Marne. Globeia also extends services to nearby major cities like Lyon. 

Step 3: Identity Verification and Fingerprint Collection

• At your scheduled appointment, a trained Globeia fingerprinting associate verifies your identity using a valid government-issued ID, such as a passport or national ID. Depending on your selected service, fingerprints are captured according to FBI or RCMP standards, ensuring all ridge details and impressions are accurate. Globeia handles both rolled and flat impressions, meeting the official quality standards required for international background checks.

Step 4: Card Preparation and Submission

• Globeia now prepares the fingerprint cards based on your selected service. Your fingerprints are securely sent to the authorized department, ensuring compliance and faster processing. If you choose fingerprint-only services, the cards are carefully packaged in a secure envelope and handed over to you for submission to the relevant authority. This process ensures that all submissions are handled safely and correctly, preventing rejections or delays.

Step 5: Letter of Verification

• Every fingerprinting appointment with Globeia also includes an official Letter of Identity Verification. This letter confirms that your identity was verified, fingerprints were captured following strict standards, and your prints are authentic. Each letter features a unique, tamper-proof QR code, allowing employers, licensing agencies, or authorities to verify the fingerprinting instantly and securely.

Step 6: Receiving Results

• Once submitted to the relevant department, FBI fingerprint results are typically delivered digitally within 1-3 business days, while RCMP background checks are processed in 2-4 weeks depending on volume. 
• With Globeia handling submissions, Paris-based applicants can trust that their fingerprints are accurate, accepted globally, and processed efficiently, eliminating common errors and delays in international background checks. 

Obtaining accurate FBI or RCMP fingerprints in Paris is critical for U.S. visas, Canadian immigration, employment, and international legal compliance. Globeia Paris simplifies this process with expert handling, mobile and in-office options, secure card preparation, and the exclusive Letter of Verification. Our services ensure fingerprints meet FBI and RCMP standards, reduce the risk of errors or rejections, and provide fast, globally recognized results. Whether you are a student, professional, expat, or HR team, Globeia delivers a streamlined, reliable, and fully compliant fingerprinting experience across Paris and Île-de-France.