Fingerprinting in Singapore: FBI, RCMP and International Checks Explained

You've just received a job offer, or a letter from Canadian immigration, and they're asking you to get fingerprints done in Singapore. You're not sure where to go, what form you need, or how long it takes. You're not alone.

Singapore is home to over 1.6 million foreigners and sits at the heart of global business in Asia. Whether you're an expat, a PR applicant, or relocating to Canada, the US, or Australia, fingerprinting comes up constantly for background checks, criminal record check, and visa applications.

This blog explains the fingerprinting options available in Singapore, where you can get fingerprinted, and what you need to know when applying for international checks such as FBI and RCMP criminal record checks.

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.

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 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) Stations

The most straightforward option for background check fingerprinting locations in Singapore is your nearest SPF station. Appointments can be booked through the SPF e-Services portal. Some key locations in Singapore include:

• Central Police Divisional Headquarters: New Phoenix Park, Irrawaddy Road, Singapore.
• Tampines North Police Post: East Singapore.
• Yishun South Neighbourhood Police Centre: North Singapore.
• Additional divisions in Ang Mo Kio, Jurong, Bedok, and Woodlands also provide fingerprinting services.

The SPF officer will sign and stamp your fingerprint form, which is a mandatory requirement for the RCMP, FBI, and most international submissions.

Private Fingerprinting Service Providers in Singapore

For those with tight deadlines or specific international check requirements, private providers offer more flexible appointments and faster turnaround than SPF stations. 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.

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 at an SPF station in Singapore.

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 Criminal Record Checks.

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.