Being asked to provide an apostilled fingerprints document is one of the less common requests in the legalisation process - but it does happen, and when it does, it is usually because a foreign authority has very specific requirements that cannot be satisfied by a standard criminal record check alone. Understanding what the document is, who issues it, and how it gets apostilled avoids unnecessary confusion.

What a fingerprints document is

A fingerprints document is typically a record of fingerprints taken by a UK police authority or an authorised fingerprinting service, issued as a formal document confirming that the fingerprints were taken and recorded. It may be requested alongside or instead of a criminal record certificate by foreign authorities handling immigration applications, overseas adoption processes, or professional licensing where the destination country maintains its own fingerprint-based background check system.

When it is requested

The most common situations are immigration and visa applications where the destination country requires fingerprint-based criminal record verification through their own systems; overseas adoption processes where the receiving country requires UK fingerprint records as part of the suitability assessment; certain professional licensing applications abroad, particularly in security, law enforcement and regulated sectors; and foreign police clearance processes where the destination authority runs UK fingerprints against their own databases.

How it gets apostilled

When a fingerprints document is issued by the police, it can be submitted directly to the FCDO for apostille given it bears a wet-ink signature and a date of issue. If the document was issued by a private company, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before it can be submitted to the FCDO. Photocopies are not allowed and will be rejected.

Confirm requirements before starting

Because this is an uncommon request, it is particularly important to confirm exactly what the foreign authority needs before beginning the legalisation process. Some authorities accept an ACRO Police Certificate or DBS certificate instead; others specifically require a fingerprints document. Getting this wrong wastes time and money. Call our team on +44 204 646 9400 to discuss your specific situation.