Warning: Korean Immigration will not accept documents older than 6 months

American Background Checks

There are two different options for obtaining an FBI background check. It can be done by requesting it directly from the FBI or through a channeler.

If you choose to request it directly from the FBI, you can either submit your fingerprints digitally or have your fingerprints taken and mailing your fingerprints in. The processing timeframe for the digital submission is a few days as opposed to mailing in your fingerprints, which will take a few weeks to process. Do not forget to get your results apostilled.

Direct Request Method

The form that you will need to obtain from the FBI is the Identity History Summary Check. You will need to submit an order form along with your fingerprints when you request the Summary Check. You can submit your fingerprints digitally using the FBI Electronic Department Order (eDo) System or have your fingerprints taken using Paper Fingerprint Cards. If you use the Paper Fingerprint Card, you can have your fingerprints taken at your local police station or by using a private fingerprinting service. To obtain digital fingerprints for the eDO system, you use the link below to find a post office near you that offers this service.

Channeler Services (Recommended)

There are several companies that are approved by the FBI to be official channelers for obtaining Identity History Summary Checks. They act as a middleman between you and the FBI and will facilitate and expedite the process. Below will be a link to the list of FBI approved channelers. National Background Check, INC. is the preferred channeler to work with and their link will also be provided below. If you choose to use their services, they will provide you with a list of local locations that will be able to provide you with fingerprinting services. Please remember to select the "Livescan" option, as this will allow you to digitally submit your fingerprints.

Canadian Background Checks

If you are a Canadian citizen, you will need to obtain your background check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). This is a check that is done at the federal level and is known as the RCMP Check. You will need an order from and a completed fingerprint card in order to request one. The order form can be obtained either from the police or from a fingerprinting service. There are two different submission options. The first, which is strongly recommended is submitting your fingerprints electronically using a digital fingerprinting service. This method saves both time and money. The second method is submitting your fingerprints via registered mail, which will take much longer to process. Do not forget to get your results apostilled.

Digital Method

If you choose to submit your fingerprints electronically, you have several options available to you. You can call your local police station and ask if they offer this service, as many of them do. There are also several private companies that offer this option as well. The most highly recommended companies are Commissionaires and Clearneed, whose links are provided below.

Registered Mail Method

In order to use this method you will need to take a RCMP fingerprint card to your local police station and have your fingerprints put on this form. You will then need to mail the fingerprint card together with the form (which you can also obtain at the police station) using registered mail. This method takes much longer (several months) and there is no way to track the progress of your RCMP check. Only use this method if you have no other options available to you.

Australian Background Checks

Australian nationals will need to go to the Australian Federal Police website (link below) and select from either the name based search report option or the fingerprint based search report option. Both are accepted by Korean immigartion.

Irish Background Checks

You will need to apply for a Police certificate from the county you reside in, either in person or by mail to the Superintendent in charge your district. The Police certificate can be obtained at the county's Garda Siochana Office. Links for the Garda Siochana office and the Police Certificate Page are listed below. Please do not forget to get your results apostilled.

New Zealand Background Checks

You will need to obtain a federal level Criminal Record Check from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice. The links to the Ministry of Justice and to the Criminal Record Application site will be listed below. Do not forget to apostille your results once you have received them.

South African Background Checks

You will need to go to the South African Police Service with a clearance order form and get your fingerprints taken at the Police Station using a SAPS 91(a) form that you can request from them. Using these two forms, you will then request a federal level police clearance certificate. The links to the South African Police Service (SAPS) website as well as to the Police Clearance Order Form can be found below. Please remember to have your results apostilled once you have received them.

United Kingdom Background Checks

United Kingdom background checks come from three different websites according to the country you reside in. There are three levels of background checks: Basic, Standard, or Enhanced. All three methods are accepted by Korean immigration; however the Basic method (BDS) is the quickest and least expensive and is therefore the recommended method. The links to the background check websites will be listed below by country. Do not forget to apostille your background check once you have received it.

England and Wales

BDS checks can be requested from The Disclosure and Barring Service using the link below.

Scotland

The Disclosure website for residents of Scotland can be accessed using the link below.

Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland, you need to request an AccessNI check from the niDirect Portal in the link below.