Fingerprinting in Sri Lanka for FBI, RCMP & International Background Checks

Living in Sri Lanka and needing an FBI background check, RCMP Criminal Record Check, or another international fingerprint submission puts you in a position that many Sri Lankan-based applicants find confusing: where exactly do you go?

The Canadian High Commission or the US Embassy in Colombo does not offer fingerprinting for background checks. The Sri Lanka Police Department issues its own clearance certificate but this document covers Sri Lankan criminal history only and cannot substitute for overseas background checks.

The best possible option for Sri Lankan application is finding a professional private fingerprinting provider. This guide covers every stage of the fingerprinting process beginning with how to find the right fingerprinting provider, such as Globeia for your specific international background check.

The Canadian High Commission in Colombo Cannot Help

The Canadian High Commission handles consular and visa matters. It does not collect fingerprints for RCMP Criminal Record Check applications. Applicants who contact or visit the High Commission expecting RCMP fingerprinting assistance will be redirected.

The US Embassy in Colombo Does Not Provide FBI Fingerprinting

The US Embassy in Colombo serves diplomatic and consular functions. The US Department of State explicitly states that US embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services for FBI Identity History Summary requests. Applicants requiring FBI fingerprinting in Sri Lanka must use a private professional provider.

Sri Lanka Police Cannot Complete International Fingerprint Cards

The Sri Lanka Police Department operates its own biometric and clearance processes for domestic purposes. It is not equipped to capture fingerprints on international card formats, such as the FBI FD-258 or RCMP C-216C. It does not offer official signatures required by overseas authorities.

Sri Lanka Is Not a Hague Convention Member

Sri Lanka has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. This means FBI background checks or other internationally issued documents intended for use in Sri Lanka cannot simply be apostilled. They may require a full authentication and legalisation involving the US Department of State and the Sri Lanka Embassy or Consulate in the United States.

A Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate and an international background check are different documents issued for different jurisdictions. The Sri Lanka Police certificate addresses your criminal record in Sri Lanka, while an FBI Background Check covers U.S. records and an RCMP Criminal Record Check covers Canadian records. They also follow different fingerprinting and submission requirements.

You may need both documents if an authority wants to verify your history in more than one country. For example, a Canadian immigration application may require a Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate for your residence history in Sri Lanka and an RCMP Criminal Record Check for your Canadian history, where applicable. One document cannot replace the other.

Millions of Sri Lankan nationals have lived, worked, or studied in Canada, the United States, Australia, and the UK. International fingerprinting demand in Sri Lanka is driven primarily by:

Sri Lankan Nationals Applying for Canadian Immigration

Applicants with prior Canadian residence history who are now based in Sri Lanka and applying for Canadian permanent residency, citizenship, or sponsored family visas may require an RCMP Criminal Record Check.

Former US Residents Now Living in Sri Lanka

Those who previously lived in the United States and are now based in Sri Lanka may need an FBI Identity History Summary for US immigration, overseas employment verification, or professional licensing in a regulated field.

Sri Lanka-Based Professionals Applying for Overseas Licensing

Healthcare workers, engineers, financial advisers, lawyers, and other regulated professionals applying for licensing in Canada, the US, Australia, or the UK frequently need fingerprint-based background checks from their home country or countries of prior residence.

Applicants Relocating to Australia, the UK, or Other Third Countries

Many Sri Lanka-based applicants moving to Australia require an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check. Those relocating to the UK may need an ACRO International Criminal Records Certificate. Both require specific fingerprint cards captured by a professional provider in Sri Lanka.

Finance Professionals Registering With FINRA

Financial industry professionals in Sri Lanka registering with FINRA-regulated US firms may need to submit fingerprints under FINRA Rule 17f-2 on the FINRA-designated card.

The Government Route (CID Headquarters, Colombo)

Applicants have the option to approach local law enforcement directly for physical fingerprinting. The police department manually captures your ink fingerprints on standard fingerprint cards. However, the Sri Lanka Police cannot submit your prints to an overseas government database. They will hand you the physical card. You need to independently courier the card to an accredited scanning vendor in Canada or the US to complete the background check.

Private Professional Fingerprinting Providers 

Private providers experienced with international background check requirements are the most reliable option for FBI, RCMP, FINRA, AFP, and ACRO fingerprinting in Sri Lanka. Before booking, confirm:

• The provider supplies the correct card for your specific authority.
• The associate reviews every impression before the appointment concludes.
• The provider can sign and certify the completed card as the collecting official.
• The provider has an established submission route to the relevant authority in Canada or the US.

Mobile Fingerprinting Across Sri Lanka - Globeia

If you have a busy schedule, cannot travel to the fingerprinting office, prefer getting fingerprinted at the convenience of your home or office, mobile fingerprinting is the right option for you. Globeia's mobile fingerprinting service covers Colombo and other locations, with all required cards, professional equipment, and documentation brought directly to your preferred address.

The fingerprint card required depends on the authority requesting your background check. Using the wrong card may cause automatic rejection:

Note: Your fingerprinting provider in Sri Lanka should provide the correct card as per the international application.

Here is what you need to prepare for your fingerprinting appointment:

What to bring: 

• Valid and unexpired passport, primary identity document for all international fingerprinting.
• Secondary government-issued photo ID - National Identity Card (NIC), driver's licence, or Sri Lanka Residence Visa.
• Any application reference number or forms from the requesting authority.
• Employer CRD number if applying for FINRA registration. 

Personal details to confirm in advance:

• Your full legal name
• date of birth
• place of birth
• citizenship 

Note: Any discrepancy like inverted date format, missing middle name, or spelling variation can create an identity mismatch with the receiving authority.

On the day of your fingerprinting appointment:

• Wash hands thoroughly but avoid heavy moisturisers immediately before the appointment. Overly moisturised skin can cause impressions to be too faint for automated processing.
• Avoid hand sanitiser with thick residue for at least 30 minutes before the appointment.
• Plan for 15 to 30 minutes including identity verification, fingerprint capture, and quality review.

Your fingerprint card can look complete and still create problems later if the wrong form, incorrect applicant information, or incomplete certification is used. These are some of the mistakes international applicants in Sri Lanka should avoid:

1. Using a card that does not match the background check

FBI, RCMP, FINRA, and other authorities require different fingerprint cards or forms. Confirm the required form before your appointment rather than trying to adapt a generic fingerprint card afterward.

2. Leaving certification fields incomplete

International fingerprint cards usually require information about who took the fingerprints, where and when they were taken. Missing signatures, agency details, dates, or other required fields can even make a clear fingerprint record unsuitable for submission.

3. Providing fingerprints that are difficult to read

Extra or insufficient in, smudging and poor rolling technique can make it difficult to read your impressions. Dry and damaged fingertips can also affect the impressions. Therefore, it is crucial to take help from a professional fingerprinting provider in Sri Lanka, such as Globeia, who capture rolled and flat impressions before finalizing the card and retake the prints where necessary.

4. Entering applicant details incorrectly

Fill in the correct personal details on the fingerprint card. All the details must match the documents used  in the application. Sri Lankan applicants should pay particular attention to the English spelling of their names on the passport, especially where Sinhala or Tamil names have been mentioned differently across documents.

5. Treating fingerprint collection as the entire application

After completing the impressions, you may still need to courier, digitize, and submit the documents through the correct authority or accredited provider. Additionally, it may also require you to arrange returns, translate or apostille the document.

The fingerprinted card follows a different route depending on the application. Here is how the card is sent to the FBI and RCMP from Sri Lanka for further processing:

Sending Fingerprints from Sri Lanka to the FBI

For an FBI Identity History Summary Check, applicants outside the United States can submit a completed fingerprint card by mail. The current FBI processing fee is $18.

Steps to follow:

• Complete the FBI Identity History Summary request and payment.
• Have your fingerprints taken on the required card by a fingerprinting provider.
• Check that the card contains complete and legible impressions and required information.
• Send the physical fingerprint card and required application materials to the FBI CJIS Division in West Virginia.
• The FBI processes the fingerprint submission and issues the Identity History Summary.

The FBI does not offer expedited processing for Identity History Summary requests.

Sending Fingerprints from Sri Lanka to the RCMP

The process is different for an RCMP Criminal Record Check. Applicants outside Canada cannot mail their fingerprint cards directly to CCRTIS. Instead, they need to submit it through an RCMP-accredited fingerprint company in Canada:

Steps to follow:

• Have all ten fingerprints taken in black ink by an authorized provider in Sri Lanka.
• The fingerprint document should include the required agency information along with the name and signature of the official who took the impressions.
• Send the original paper fingerprint document to an RCMP-accredited fingerprint company in Canada.
• The accredited company converts the paper fingerprints into a digital format using an approved card-scanning system.
• The company submits the electronic fingerprint transaction to RCMP CCRTIS.
• CCRTIS processes the application and issues the criminal record check according to the application and delivery method selected.

The RCMP specifically states that physical fingerprints should not be mailed directly to CCRTIS because they will not be accepted.

The total fingerprinting cost depends on the type of application, way of submission, and further requirements. Here is an estimated cost of different international background checks and applications:

Note: There is no single fixed total cost for fingerprinting in Sri Lanka. Contact Globeia for a full quote based on your specific authority, location, and additional document requirements.

Before booking your fingerprinting provider in Sri Lanka, make sure:

They Use the Correct Fingerprint Card

An experienced provider knows which fingerprint form your application requires and they arrange it for you. Avoid providers who use a generic card without first confirming whether it is accepted by the requesting authority. 

They Know the Technique to Take Clear Ink Fingerprints

International fingerprint cards require clear and complete ridge impressions. The person taking your impressions should understand proper ink-and-roll technique and know how to identify and solve problems such as smudging, excessive ink, dry skin, or incomplete impressions.

They Review the Card Before Submission

A fingerprint appointment should not end as soon as the impressions are taken. The provider should check the card for missing information, unclear impressions, incorrect personal details, required signatures, and other visible errors.

A review at this stage can help you avoid sending an incomplete card overseas and discovering the problem later.

They Provide a Clear Process and Receipt

Choose a provider that can clearly explain the service, documents required, delivery arrangements, and any additional charges. You should receive confirmation of the service and retain your courier or tracking details when the original card is sent overseas.

For sensitive biometric information, also ask how your personal and fingerprint data is handled and whether copies are retained after the service.

They Understand the International Submission Route

Make sure the provider can clearly explain what happens to your card after the appointment. They should understand the different submission routes followed for different applications.

Globeia brings professional mobile fingerprinting to your home, across Colombo and other locations in Sri Lanka.

At Your Fingerprinting Appointment

A Globeia associate:

• Brings the fingerprint card needed for your specific application, such as FD-258 for the FBI or C-216C for the RCMP.
• Takes rolled and flat impressions according to the requirements of the receiving authority.
• Reviews the impressions before finalising the card and retakes unclear prints when necessary.
• Cross-checks your personal details against your identification document.
• Provides the completed fingerprint documentation and appointment records required for the next stage.

What Globeia Coordinates After Fingerprinting in Sri Lanka

The right fingerprinting service can save you from repeating an overseas background-check process later. In Sri Lanka, start with the requirements of the authority requesting your fingerprints, then choose a provider that can handle the correct card, clear impressions, and next-stage submission.

With Globeia, you can arrange mobile fingerprinting across Sri Lanka and coordinate FBI, RCMP, FINRA, and other international fingerprinting requirements through one service.

Book your fingerprinting appointment with Globeia in Sri Lanka.