Fingerprinting Services in Medellín: What Are Your Options?

You need your fingerprints taken in Medellín, but where do you go? It's a more common question than you'd think, especially among expats dealing with visas, immigration paperwork, or international background checks. The answer depends on what the fingerprints are for. For domestic purposes, a local police station may be enough. But for international background checks, like the FBI Identity History Summary or an RCMP criminal record check, the process gets more complicated. In this blog, we'll cover every option available to you, from police stations to mobile fingerprinting services in Medellín that come straight to your door. 

The need for fingerprinting in Medellín mainly comes down to two groups of people: visa applicants and those who need international criminal record checks.  

Visa Applications

People applying for international visas from Medellín need to provide their biometrics, not just fingerprints, but also photographs and, in some cases, iris scans. This is a standard requirement of the international missions and consulates present in the city.

For example, if you want to apply for a Spain visa from Medellín, you'll need to visit the Spanish embassy, consulate, or their official outsourced visa provider. During that appointment, you'll complete the biometric capture process on-site. 

International Background Checks

While background checks are a part of the visa application process, they require a separate set of fingerprints. And this process is overseen by entirely different authorities.

When you apply for international visas, especially long-stay visas or permanent residency, from Medellín, you'll be asked to provide a clean criminal record check from every country you've lived in over the past several years. Immigration authorities want to confirm that your history is free of criminal activity and that you'll be a law-abiding resident in their country as well.

The required duration of stay, age thresholds, and other specifics vary from country to country, but you'll need to get your fingerprints taken to generate most of these background checks. Some of the most common situations where you'll need fingerprinting in Medellín for international background checks include:

• Expats in Medellín applying for a long-term Colombian visa, such as the migrant or resident visa.
• Residents applying for work or study permits, other long-stay visas, permanent relocation, or immigration to a third country.
• People using their time in Colombia to process dual citizenship for another country.
• Professionals hired by MNCs operating in Medellín, where employment verification and international background screening are part of the onboarding process.
• Digital nomads and remote workers whose home-country employers or clients require an updated criminal record check.
• Professionals applying for licensing or certification abroad, such as nurses, teachers, engineers, or financial advisors.
• People applying for adoption, foster care, or child-related volunteer roles in other countries.

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This is one of the most common pain points for people here. For visa applications, there are designated embassies and outsourced service providers, all overseen by the respective country's government. But when it comes to fingerprinting for international criminal record checks in Medellín, there is no official government agency that both takes your fingerprints and assists with their submission to foreign authorities.

Some authorities allow applicants to submit their own requests directly. However, fingerprints must always be collected in person on the correct official forms by a trained associate  as self-collected fingerprints have a higher risk of rejection.  

Can You Get Fingerprinted at a Police Station in Medellín? 

One option for getting fingerprinted in Medellín is visiting your nearest local police station. Local police officers can help roll your fingerprints onto specific fingerprint cards. However, this isn't a fully reliable option for international background checks. This is why:

• They may not have the required fingerprint cardstock. You'll have to source the correct cards yourself (such as the FBI's FD-258 or FD-1164) and bring them with you.
• Officers are mostly experienced with domestic fingerprinting. Fingerprints for international criminal record checks require specific rolling techniques, card formats, and ink standards that local officers may not be familiar with.
• Quality checks are not their priority. International authorities are extremely strict about fingerprint submission standards. A single smudge, incomplete ridge detail, or improperly rolled print can lead to instant rejection.
• They can only help with fingerprinting, not submission. Police stations aren't equipped for electronic transfer of fingerprints to international authorities, nor can they arrange physical courier delivery of your fingerprint cards. Once your prints are taken, you're on your own for the entire submission process.
• Only on-site service is available. You'll need to carve out time from your already busy schedule to travel to the station and work around their availability, with no mobile or at-home option.

So, the only practical alternative is finding a trustworthy and experienced fingerprinting service provider in your area. Globeia Medellín is among the most reliable and increasingly popular mobile fingerprinting services. They not only capture your fingerprints to international standards, but also coordinate their submission to the right authority through their global network of offices.

Best of all, you don't have to travel anywhere. Their service is fully mobile, and their associates come to you, anywhere in Medellín! 

How Globeia Provides Fingerprinting Services in Medellín 

Globeia Medellín specializes in mobile ink fingerprinting services for individuals, families, and corporate clients For the purpose of obtaining an international background check, the traditional ink-and-roll technique is the most widely accepted method. In fact, when fingerprints are taken outside the country where the requesting agency is located, ink-and-roll is usually the only format accepted.

Apart from the popular FBI fingerprinting in Medellín, Globeia offers support for other international criminal record check applications, such as:

• RCMP Criminal Record Checks
• Singapore Certificate of Clearance
• Australian Police Check
• Hong Kong Criminal Record Checks, and more.

While most providers in Medellín operate from physical offices, not everyone can travel to those locations. With the doorstep fingerprinting services offered by Globeia, a trained associate comes to your home, office, or hotel and captures your fingerprints using the ink-and-roll method. This option is best for people with mobility limitations, those living outside the main metro area, or for background checks that don't accept digital prints.  

Unlike local police stations that only take fingerprints, Globeia also helps coordinate the next stages of the process through its international network, making it easier for applicants in Medellín to complete their background check requirements.

Globeia’s mobile fingerprinting process in Medellín is designed to be simple, and it takes just four steps from booking to receiving your results. 

Step 1: Schedule Your Appointment Using SmartForm

The process starts completely online through Globeia’s digital platform, known as SmartForm. Just visit their secure portal, enter your basic personal details, select the specific type of background check you need, and pick a time that fits your schedule. Before confirmation, the system uses a secure Face ID scan to verify your identity.

Step 2: Fingerprinting Done At Your Convenience

A trained Globeia associate will travel directly to your preferred location in Medellín, whether that is your apartment, a hotel, or a co-working space. They bring all the professional ink and official, country-specific fingerprint cards to capture your rolled fingerprints cleanly, reviewing them on the spot to make sure they meet strict international standards.

Check How to Prepare for Your Mobile Fingerprinting Appointment?

Step 3: International Submission Coordination

Once your fingerprints have been collected, the completed fingerprint cards are securely couriered to the appropriate Globeia processing office. For FBI background checks, cards are sent to Globeia Inc. in the USA. For RCMP Criminal Record Checks, cards are sent to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, the RCMP-accredited entity responsible for digitization and electronic submission to RCMP CCRTIS. 

Step 4: Secure Delivery of Documents

After the federal government finishes your background check, Globeia ensures you get your official results safely. Depending on how you want them to be delivered, you will receive your official background check report as a secure digital PDF via email, or as an original physical copy delivered straight to your doorstep by a trusted courier. 

Globeia has been in the international fingerprinting and cross-border documentation business for more than a decade now. After serving over 30,000 clients across nearly 100 countries, they've earned the trust of individuals, professionals, and corporate clients from a wide range of industries. And this is why choosing Globeia makes sense for people in Medellín:

When you first look into getting fingerprinted in Medellín, along with related terms like international background checks, apostille, and legalization, you’re bound to feel confused and unsure where to start. Having a reliable partner like Globeia can take a lot off your plate. They don't just provide excellent fingerprinting services, they offer real guidance at every step, from booking your appointment to delivering your verified results.

Ready to get started? Book your fingerprinting appointment in Medellín through Globeia's SmartForm today!