Fingerprinting in Singapore: Where to Get Fingerprinted for International Applications

Fingerprints are already part of Singapore's immigration and identity infrastructure. ICA biometric enrolment, automated immigration clearance, and other government processes use biometric identification routinely. International fingerprinting is different.

When a foreign authority requests fingerprints for a background check or police clearance, it may require them on a specific physical card, captured using a particular method and submitted through a designated process. The fingerprints collected for an ICA immigration procedure cannot simply be reused for an FBI or RCMP application.

This blog explains where and how to get fingerprinting in Singapore for international background checks and other overseas requirements.

Fingerprinting in Singapore comes up in more situations than most people expect. Here are the four most common:

• Pre-employment background checks: The most common local use case. Employers often request a criminal record check in Singapore via the SPF's Certificate of Clearance (COC) to verify a candidate's history before hiring.

• Immigration and visa applications: Fingerprinting is required for Singapore PR applications, Employment Pass, and S Pass renewals. It's also needed when relocating abroad to Canada, the USA, the UK, or Australia.
• International checks: People in Singapore regularly apply for an RCMP criminal record check (Canada), an FBI background check (USA), and an AFP clearance (Australia) for immigration, employment, or licensing purposes.
• Identity verification and legal matters: Fingerprinting may be required for court proceedings, adoption applications, identity verification, and certain professional or regulatory licensing processes.

With Singapore's large expatriate and internationally mobile population, the need for fingerprint-based international checks is common for immigration, employment, and overseas applications.

In short, while your fingerprints may already be on file with the Singapore government, this is for their use only. For any international application, you will need to have a separate set of fingerprints taken specifically for that purpose, using the correct method and forms required by the requesting foreign authority.

Not all fingerprinting is the same. The type you need depends on what the check is for; here's how they differ.

Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting in Singapore

Ink or rolled fingerprinting is the traditional method in which each finger is rolled in ink and recorded on a fingerprint card. For international applications such as the RCMP Criminal Record Check (C-216C card) and FBI Identity History Summary Check (FD-258/FD-1164 card), this is the required method for applicants outside Canada and the United States.

Digital or Live Scan fingerprints taken overseas are not accepted for direct submission to these authorities. Because fingerprint quality is critical, the prints must be captured accurately by a trained fingerprinting associate and properly signed and stamped.

In Singapore, this service is available through specialized providers.

In Singapore, this service is available at designated SPF police stations and through specialized providers.

Live Scan Fingerprinting in Singapore

A digital capture with no ink is a faster and cleaner method than the traditional ink-and-roll method. However, live scan is not accepted for RCMP or FBI background checks outside Canada or the US, which still require ink-rolled fingerprints.

In Singapore, live scan is primarily used for government-administered processes. The ICA uses it for immigration clearance at Woodlands, Tuas, and Changi checkpoints, and MOM uses it during biometric enrollment when issuing Employment Pass and S Pass cards.

If your fingerprinting requirement is for a Singapore-specific immigration or pass renewal process, rather than an overseas background check, live scan may apply. Always confirm with the requesting authority first.

Mobile Fingerprinting in Singapore

A trained fingerprinting associate comes directly to your location, home, office, or hotel, anywhere in Singapore. This covers all areas of the island, from CBD, Orchard Road, Tampines, Jurong, Yishun, Woodlands, and Changi.

It's ideal for busy expats, individuals with mobility constraints, or companies that need bulk employee fingerprinting done on-site without disrupting the workday. Globeia offers mobile fingerprinting in Singapore for both individual clients and corporate teams.

Singapore Police Force (SPF) - Certificate of Clearance Fingerprinting

If your fingerprinting need is specifically for an SPF Certificate of Clearance (COC), fingerprinting is centralized at a single location:

• Certificate of Clearance Office, Block D, #02-07/08, Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088762.

Non-citizens whose COC application has been accepted can book a fingerprinting appointment (via the SPF e-Services portal) to have their impressions taken at this address, within a set window from the date of application. 

Note that this route is specifically for the COC process; it is not a general walk-in fingerprinting service for FBI, RCMP, or other overseas cards, and other police stations or neighbourhood centres do not routinely offer this service to the public. 

If you need fingerprints for an international application rather than a Singapore COC, a private provider is the more direct option (see below).

Private Fingerprinting Service Providers in Singapore

For those with tight deadlines or specific international check requirements, such as the FBI's FD-258/FD-1164 card or the RCMP's C-216C card, private providers offer more flexible appointments and faster turnaround than booking through the SPF's COC process.

Several providers operate from in-office locations across the CBD, Raffles Place, and Orchard, and also offer mobile fingerprinting across Singapore for clients who prefer to be seen at home or at work.

Globeia is one such provider, specialising in international fingerprinting for clients across Singapore, including the RCMP, FBI, and other international checks, with mobile fingerprinting options available island-wide.

The form you need depends entirely on who is requesting your fingerprints.

Forms for Singapore-Specific Applications

These are used when the requesting authority is within Singapore, such as for local employment or immigration processes.

Forms for International Applications (Submitted from Singapore)

These are required when a foreign government or agency requests your fingerprints for a background check or police clearance. The completed physical card must be filled out correctly, with legible prints and the applicant's signature, by a qualified fingerprinting official.

When you book a fingerprinting appointment in Singapore, you must confirm which form or process applies to your specific situation. Reputable service providers, such as Globeia, will supply the correct card for international applications and ensure it is completed accurately before submission.

If you are unsure which form applies to your case, it is always best to check with the requesting authority first or consult a provider experienced in both Singapore domestic and international fingerprinting.

For many people in Singapore, the fingerprinting requirement isn't local; it's for a foreign government. Here's how each international check works.

RCMP Criminal Record Check from Singapore

Anyone applying for Canadian permanent residency, citizenship, employment, or overseas adoption will likely need an RCMP criminal record check. Your fingerprints are taken on the C-216C form.

The completed form is then submitted through an RCMP-accredited company, which digitizes the fingerprints and submits them directly to the RCMP CCRTIS. Globeia Incorporated in Toronto is RCMP-accredited and authorized to submit fingerprints to the RCMP for Singapore applicants.

FBI Background Check from Singapore

An FBI background check is commonly required for U.S. immigration applications, employment visas, professional licensing, adoption matters, and certain federal employment positions. Applicants in Singapore must have their fingerprints captured on the FBI's standard FD-258/FD-1164 fingerprint card. The completed fingerprints are then submitted to the FBI, either directly or through an FBI-compliant company, for processing.

Globeia assists Singapore-based clients by coordinating FBI-compliant fingerprinting and managing the submission process through Globeia Inc. in the US, providing support from fingerprint collection to document coordination.

Other International Checks Available from Singapore

Singapore-based individuals also regularly apply for:

• Australia AFP (Australian Federal Police) clearance.
• UK DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar police clearance certificates.

Globeia supports a wide range of international background checks, wherever you're headed from Singapore.

Also Read: All your Questions about Fingerprint Checks Answered

What Globeia offers from Singapore:

• RCMP criminal record checks for Canadian immigration and employment.
• FBI Identity History Summary for US visas and licensing.
• AFP (Australia), UK DBS, UAE, and other international checks.
• Mobile fingerprinting across Singapore for individuals and corporate clients.

Who uses Globeia in Singapore:

• Expats relocating from Singapore to Canada, the USA, the UK, or Australia.
• Singapore PRs applying for citizenship or immigration abroad.
• Employers conducting international background screening on Singapore-based staff.
• HR teams and recruitment agencies managing bulk fingerprinting.

Why Globeia specifically:

• Expert knowledge of both Singapore's fingerprinting process and international submission requirements for each country.
• Submission coordination for FBI background check through Globeia Inc. in the US and for RCMP criminal record check through Globeia Incorporated in Toronto.
• Manages the entire paperwork process, so you do not have to determine which forms, authorities, or application procedures apply to your case.
• Serves clients across all of Singapore: Central, East (Tampines, Changi), West (Jurong), and North (Yishun, Woodlands).

Globeia provides a single, streamlined solution for individuals in Singapore who require international fingerprinting services, helping ensure the process is completed accurately and efficiently.

If you’ve never applied for an international fingerprint check before, here's what the process looks like when you use Globeia from Singapore.

Step 1: Contact Globeia and Confirm Your Requirements

Visit Globeia's website or contact the team directly and explain what you need, whether it's an RCMP criminal record check for Canada, an FBI background check for the United States, or another international check. Globeia will confirm the exact requirements for your application, so you know which process to follow from the beginning.

Step 2: Mobile Fingerprinting at Your Location

A trained Globeia associate comes directly to your home, office, hotel, or any other location in Singapore at a time that suits you. The associate arrives with the correct fingerprint card for your application, whether it is C-216C form or FD-258/FD-1164.

Your fingerprints are reviewed on-site for quality, and if any print is smudged or does not meet the required standard, it is retaken immediately to help minimise the risk of rejection.

Step 3: Globeia Submits Your Fingerprints

Once your fingerprints have been collected, Globeia coordinates submission to the relevant international authority through its global network of offices. For RCMP Criminal Record Checks, completed C-216C forms are mailed to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, which holds RCMP accreditation and electronically submits fingerprints to RCMP CCRTIS. For FBI background checks, completed FD-258/FD-1164 cards are mailed to Globeia Inc. in the USA, where they are processed and submitted to the FBI on your behalf.

Throughout the process, Globeia monitors the application and provides status updates, so you always know where your application stands.

Step 4: Receive Your Final Certificate

Once processing is complete, your criminal record check certificate is issued either electronically or in paper format, depending on the issuing authority. If apostille, legalization, or certified translation is required, Globeia can also coordinate these additional services.

The entire process can be managed from Singapore, making it a convenient option for busy professionals, expatriates, and overseas applicants.

Fingerprinting in Singapore does not have to be complicated. Once you understand which authority requires your fingerprints and which form must be used, the process becomes much easier to manage.

Whether you need fingerprints for an RCMP Criminal Record Check, an FBI background check, or another international application, using the correct procedures is essential to avoid delays and rejections. For applicants dealing with overseas authorities, managing different forms, submission methods, and document requirements can still be time-consuming.

Globeia simplifies the process by coordinating fingerprinting, submissions, and related document services from Singapore, helping individuals, expats, and professionals complete their applications accurately and efficiently.