How to Request Fingerprinting Services in the UK

Most people go their whole life without thinking about their fingerprints. Then, out of nowhere, a job, a visa, or a background check makes it a requirement, and suddenly there are questions with no easy answers. The scale of this in UK is very big.

This blog talks about how fingerprinting is done, where you can get professional fingerprinting services in UK, what documents are required at a fingerprint appointment, and how to avoid the small mistakes that lead to rejected prints and delayed applications. 

• Expats who lived in North America returning to the UK, or UK citizens applying for US Green Cards, Canadian Permanent Residency (PR), work permits, or adoption clearances.
• South African Expats living in the UK needing passport renewals or clearance forms requiring ink fingerprinting.
• Global Emigrants applying for visas and police clearance certificates (Criminal Record Check) for countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE, Singapore, Qatar, and Nigeria.
• Corporate HR Teams and Relocation Agencies conducting bulk background screening for incoming or outgoing international staff.

Metropolitan Police and Regional Constabularies: Some police stations in the UK (like Metropolitan Police, South Wales Police, Sussex Police, Avon and Somerset Police, Surrey Police) offer fingerprinting services to the public, mainly for visa applications, background checks, or international job requirements. You usually need to book an appointment in advance.

Private Fingerprinting Agencies: These are companies that specialise in taking fingerprints for international documents like background checks or employment screening. They tend to be quicker and more flexible than police stations, with shorter waiting times and more appointment slots during the week. 

Mobile or Doorstep Services like Globeia: This option is for people who cannot travel to an office, such as elderly individuals, people with health issues, or those with a busy schedule. A trained technician visits your home or workplace with the equipment needed to take your fingerprints. It costs more than the other two options because of the travel and personalised service, but it saves time and effort.

Also Check How to Prepare for Your Mobile Fingerprinting Appointment?

• FBI Identity History Summary (USA): Fingerprints are captured on FD-258 or FD-1164 cards.
• RCMP Criminal Record Check (Canada): Fingerprints captured on C-216C or equivalent cards.
• South African Police Clearance Certificate: Fingerprints are taken on the SAPS91(a) form.
• Singapore Certificate of Clearance: Fingerprints are taken on the COC fingerprint form.
• UAE and Qatar Police Clearance: Both countries have their own specific fingerprint cards.
• FINRA Compliance Checks: Fingerprints are taken on the compliant specific hard card required for financial industry background checks in the USA.

Some police stations in the UK also offer fingerprinting for ACRO or DBS checks, though this is only needed in rare cases where standard identity documents are not enough to confirm someone's identity.

There are two main ways to get your fingerprints taken in the UK, the traditional ink and roll method and the modern digital livescan method.

Traditional Ink and Roll Fingerprinting Method

This is the method most people picture when they think of fingerprinting. It has been used for over a hundred years and it still works well, which is why it has not disappeared. This is how this method works:

• Each finger is pressed onto an ink pad.
• The finger is then rolled from one side of the nail to the other onto a paper card, so the full print is captured, not just the middle.
• This is repeated for all ten fingers.
• Sometimes flat prints (pressed straight down, not rolled) are also taken as a check.
• The card is left to dry, then handed to you or sent off by the person who took your prints.

Modern Livescan Fingerprinting Method

Livescan is the digital version, which doesn't make use of any ink. You place your fingers on a small glass scanner. It works a bit like a photocopier or a scanner you would use for documents. There is no mess and nothing needs to dry. This is how it works:

• Each finger is placed and gently pressed onto the glass plate of the scanner.
• The scanner reads the print and turns it into a digital image straight away.
• The system checks the quality of each print on the spot, so if one is unclear, it can be retaken immediately.
• The final set of prints is either printed onto a card, sent electronically to the organisation that needs it, or both.

When Different Type of Fingerprinting is Required

It depends entirely on why you need to be fingerprinted, not on personal choice in most cases.

• If police need your fingerprints, it will almost always be livescan.
• If you are applying for a UK visa, it will be a digital scan at a VAC (Visa Application Centre).
• If you need fingerprints for something like an international background check, you may be asked for a specific card format, which could mean ink and roll, livescan, or sometimes both.

Prices are not the same everywhere. Police stations set their own fees, and private providers do too, so the amount you pay depends on where you go and what you need the fingerprints for.

These are rough ranges, not fixed prices. Some police forces charge more than others. Some private providers charge more if they come to your home or office instead of you visiting them. If you need a card for a country like South Africa, you may pay less, since some countries are exempt from VAT.

The other exempted countries are:

• Canada
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Arab Emirates
• Japan
• Nigeria
• Qatar
• Jamaica
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia

The actual process of taking your fingerprints only takes about 5 to 10 minutes, whether it is done with ink or through livescan. Livescan is usually a bit faster since there is no ink to dry or forms to wait on. Most of your time is spent waiting before your turn, especially at busy police stations. On the whole, you should plan for about 20 to 30 minutes for the full visit, though it can take longer during peak hours or if the centre is short staffed.

Make sure you keep the right documents with you, whether you’re getting fingerprinted in a physical centre or at your chosen location by mobile providers:

• Two government-issued IDs, like a valid passport and your UK driver’s license.
• Proof of address from the last three months, such as a bank statement, council tax bill, or utility bill (a mobile phone bill is usually not accepted.)

If your passport is with the Home Office, bring a photocopy of the passport ID page along with an officially stamped letter. You can also request your passport back from the Home Office for 24 hours if you need the original document.

• Step 1: You arrive at the centre and check in at the front desk, showing your booking confirmation if you have one.
• Step 2: Your ID and proof of address are checked to make sure everything matches your appointment details.
• Step 3: You are called in and asked to confirm basic details like your name and date of birth.
• Step 4: Your fingerprints are taken, either through the ink and roll method or the digital livescan method, depending on the centre.
• Step 5: Each print is checked for clarity, and if one comes out smudged or unclear, it is retaken on the spot.
• Step 6: Once all ten fingers are captured, your prints are either printed onto a card, saved digitally, or sent electronically to the organisation that requested them, depending on the scope of services provided by the agencies.
• Step 7: You are given a receipt or confirmation slip before you leave, which you should keep safe for your records.

An international background check is not valid in the UK or in most other countries just because it has been issued. Before it can be used abroad, it needs to be authenticated by the right government body, otherwise the receiving country or organisation may simply reject it. This step confirms that the document and the signature on it are genuine.

Apostille: For countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is all that is needed. For example, if you have an RCMP Criminal Record Check and want to use it in the UK, it must first be apostilled by Global Affairs Canada. 

Legalisation: If the country you are dealing with is not part of the Hague Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar, or Nigeria, an apostille alone will not work. In this case, your RCMP Criminal Record Check will first need to be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, and then legalised by the embassy or high commission of that specific country.

• Hydrate Your Skin Early - Start preparing your hands 3 to 5 days before your scheduled visit. Drink plenty of water and apply a daily hand moisturizer. Good skin hydration makes the natural ridges on your fingertips clear and easy to read.
• Protect Your Hands from Harsh Chemicals - Avoid doing heavy household cleaning, gardening, or manual labor without protective gloves in the days leading up to your session. Harsh cleaning products and rough surfaces can cause small cuts, peeling skin, or calluses on your fingertips, which can disrupt the fingerprint pattern.
• Wash Your Hands Right Before the Session - When you arrive at the venue, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and basic soap to remove sweat or dirt. Then, thoroughly dry your hands with a clean paper towel.
• Do Not Push Too Hard - Pressing down flattens the ridges on your finger, squishing the lines together and turning the image into a dark blob. You need to keep your hand completely relaxed. Let the trained technician guide your fingers with even pressure.
• Cross-Verify Personal Details - Typing mistakes in your name, date of birth, or address will cause the system to reject the file. Always ensure details match your UK passport or official government ID exactly.
• Handle Your Fingerprint Card with Care - A perfectly good set of prints can still be rejected if the card is damaged before it arrives, whether from being folded to fit a smaller envelope, getting wet or damp in transit, or bending inside a flimsy envelope. Sending the card flat, in a sturdy envelope, and choosing a tracked postal service could be the best solution for this.

Globeia is a trusted, professional fingerprinting service provider serving individuals, corporate organizations, and institutions across the entire United Kingdom. With years of industry expertise, Globeia offers fully compliant fingerprint collection tailored to meet strict international standards.

Why UK Applicants Trust Globeia

Doorstep Fingerprinting Services

Globeia offers the convenience of mobile, doorstep fingerprinting for applicants across UK. Our mobile services cover London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and Edinburgh, along with the surrounding areas, and beyond. If you live in London, you also have the option of an in office appointment at our physical location.

• Office address: 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington Station, London, UK
• Office hours: Monday to Friday, 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Corporate or Bulk Fingerprinting

For corporate offices, HR teams, immigration consultants, and relocation specialists across UK, Globeia can scale to match daily fingerprinting needs for employees and clients. Trained associates can be sent directly to your office or campus, and the service scales from 10 people to over 500 at once.

On Spot Quality Checks

Every fingerprint taken by Globeia goes through a quality check on the spot. Our trained fingerprinting associates check each print for clarity and completeness as they go. If a print is not good enough, it is retaken immediately, rather than being sent off and rejected weeks later.

Letter of Identity Verification

Every fingerprinting appointment with Globeia in the UK ends with a Letter of Identity Verification. It features a QR code and serves as verifiable proof to the receiving authority that your fingerprints were collected professionally, using strict identity verification protocols.

Global Operational Network

Globeia has processing offices and coordination teams around the world, including in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe, and India. If you choose to, your fingerprints can be sent to the relevant authority, such as the FBI or the RCMP, on your behalf through these offices, all within a single workflow.

Multi Country Background Check Support

Globeia's fingerprinting services in the UK support international checks from multiple countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Bahrain, UAE, the Philippines, South Africa, and more. You can get fingerprinted for several different background checks through a single provider.

3 Simple Steps To Book Your UK Fingerprint Appointment With Globeia

Step 1: Complete the SmartForm: Visit Globeia's official website, fill out the online SmartForm, sign up, and create your account password.

Step 2: Choose Your Purpose: Select the destination country and the specific background check or fingerprint service you require, then make your secure online payment.

Step 3: Schedule Your Session: Choose your preferred date, time slot, and location details (whether an in-office visit or a mobile doorstep appointment). Complete the quick digital Face ID verification to confirm your booking.

In just 3 simple steps, your appointment is confirmed and a trained associate will arrive at your specified location to complete your fingerprinting. Click here to begin.

Fingerprinting is one of the more old-fashioned parts of an otherwise very digital process. You can apply for most background checks from your phone. But somewhere in that same application, you'll still be asked to physically show up somewhere and press your fingers onto glass or ink.

Where people lose time isn't the fingerprinting itself. It's picking the right provider and not leaving it until the last minute. A police station appointment is fine if you've got weeks to spare and don't mind the limited slots. A private provider is worth the extra cost if you're on any kind of deadline, mainly because they'll catch a bad print before it becomes a rejected application three weeks later.

Book your appointment now, get it done, and stop thinking about it. It's genuinely the least interesting part of whatever bigger process brought you here.