When applying for South African police clearance certificates, foreign visas, or international background checks, fingerprinting is often a non-negotiable step. For many global expats, the challenge is not the requirement itself, but knowing exactly where to go to ensure the prints are accepted by authorities like the FBI (USA) or RCMP (Canada).
But for South Africans, having fingerprints ready for a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate means getting the SAPS 91(a) form done in wet ink. When living abroad, it can be daunting to find an establishment that offers wet-ink fingerprinting services.
Processes vary wildly by borders. Some countries rely solely on state police, while others have shifted to private, accredited providers. This guide maps trusted fingerprinting services across more than 20 countries to help you get it right the first time.
Why fingerprinting is required for international applications
Fingerprinting remains the “gold standard” for identity verification. It is primarily used for:
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC): Required for both your home country and countries where you have resided.
- Immigration and Visas: Mandatory for permanent residency in the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada.
- Employment Background Checks: Specifically for high-security sectors or working with vulnerable groups.
- Citizenship Applications: Ensuring a clean criminal record before naturalisation.
What is the main goal of fingerprinting services?
If anyone can take an ink pad and do their own fingerprints, what’s the real reason for getting your fingerprints “officially” taken? The answer is clear: when receiving a SAPS 91(a) application form at the SAPS CRC (Criminal Record Centre), authorities need to know that the fingerprints on the form are in fact those of the person applying (and whose ID/passport copy is included).
Therefore, fingerprints can be taken by yourself, but under the observation of someone with a stamp who can sign that the fingerprints are yours and the ID document is, in fact, yours. Otherwise, criminals could use other people’s fingerprints!
That being said, here is a directory of institutions you can visit to get the SAPS-quality wet-ink fingerprint services needed for a South African Police Clearance Certificate. If you know of any other services, any errors, or changes to the list below, please get in touch so we can make corrections.
Global Fingerprinting Directory
| Establishment Name | Country | Website | Offers Wet-Ink? | Notes / Description |
| South African Police Service (SAPS) | South Africa | https://www.saps.gov.za | Yes | The primary provider for local PCCs. Service is free but you must take the form with you to complete the PCC yourself. |
| Apostil.co.za | South Africa | https://www.apostil.co.za | Yes | Assists with professional capture and expedited submission of prints to the Criminal Record Centre (CRC). |
| Notaries Public | South Africa | N/A | Yes (Witness) | Can witness and sign the SAPS 91(a) form to verify the fingerprints belong to the person identified. |
| Commissioner of Oaths (Post Office) | South Africa | https://www.postoffice.co.za | Yes (Witness) | The Post Office Manager acts as a Commissioner to sign and stamp the fingerprint form for identity verification. |
| Comm. of Oaths: Bank Manager | South Africa | N/A | Yes (Witness) | Bank managers are authorized to witness and verify the identification of the person being fingerprinted. |
| Comm. of Oaths: School Principal | South Africa | N/A | Yes (Witness) | Principals can verify identity and sign the form as a Commissioner of Oaths. |
| Comm. of Oaths: Religious Leader | South Africa | N/A | Yes (Witness) | Priests, Ministers, and other religious leaders who are registered Commissioners of Oaths can witness the process. |
| Globeia | United Arab Emirate | https://www.globeia.com/ | Yes | Provides mobile fingerprinting (they come to your home/office) for international police checks. |
| Al Yalayes Govt Services | United Arab Emirate | https://alyalayis.com/ | Yes | A major center in Dubai for processing UAE ID and fingerprinting for government clearances. |
| IdentoGO | United States | https://www.identogo.com | Primarily Digital | The primary provider for many US states; they have thousands of locations for digital “Live Scan” prints. |
| Fieldprint | United States | https://www.fieldprint.com | Yes | A major FBI-approved channeler that handles fingerprinting for employment and remote identity verification. |
| Accurate Biometrics | United States | https://accuratebiometrics.com | Yes | One of the highest-rated channelers for international applicants needing ink-to-digital conversion. |
| First Advantage | United States | https://fadv.com | Yes | Large global provider focusing on corporate background screening and biometrics. |
| The Fingerprint Room Inc. | Canada | https://thefingerprintroom.com | Yes | A leader in international fingerprinting; experts at digitising ink prints sent from South Africa. |
| Frontier One Inc. | Canada | https://f1fingerprint.ca | Yes | An RCMP-accredited agency with numerous locations offering both ink and digital services. |
| Commissionaires | Canada | https://commissionaires.ca | Yes | Canada’s largest private fingerprinting provider with over 50 offices nationwide. |
| Globeia Canada | Canada | https://globeia.ca | Yes | Specialises in helping people in the Middle East and Europe get Canadian RCMP checks via Toronto. |
| UK Fingerprints | United Kingdom | https://ukfingerprints.com | Yes | Based in London and other major cities. They are the “gold standard” for FBI/RCMP prints in the UK. |
| Globeia London | United Kingdom | https://globeia.com | Yes | The only RCMP-accredited company with a physical office in London for live-scan digital submissions. |
| The Fingerprint Hub | United Kingdom | https://fingerprint.org.uk | Yes | Offers professional ink rolling for FD-258 (USA) and SAPS (South Africa) forms. |
| An Garda Síochána | Ireland | https://www.garda.ie | Yes | Local stations can provide prints, but for specialized international needs, private providers are often used. |
| Fingerprints Today Ireland | Ireland | https://fingerprintstodayie.com | Yes | A leading private provider in Dublin focused on international fingerprinting requirements. |
| Fingerprints Paris | France | https://fingerprintsparis.com | Yes | A specialist English-speaking service focused on FBI and RCMP ink-roll prints. |
| Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) | Germany | https://www.bka.de | Yes | The Federal Criminal Police handle official forensics; expats often use private agencies for visas. |
| Globeia Amsterdam | Netherlands | https://globeia.com | Yes | Offers ink-rolling and digital services specifically for the expat community in the Benelux region. |
| VES-Services | Netherlands | https://ves-services.nl | Yes | Specialized services for South African PCC requirements and professional ink-rolling. |
| Swedish Police Authority | Sweden | https://polisen.se | Yes | Provides fingerprinting for international use at select service centres. |
| Australia Post | Australia | https://auspost.com.au | Yes | Many post offices are accredited to capture biometrics for National Police Checks. |
| CrimeCheck Australia | Australia | https://www.crimecheckaustralia.com.au | Digital | An ACIC-accredited agency providing streamlined digital fingerprinting coordination. |
| InterCheck Australia | australia | https://www.intercheck.com.au | Yes | A popular choice for expats and corporate clients needing international-standard background checks. |
| Fingerprints Perth | australia | https://fingerprintsperth.com | Yes | A private service specifically for international document requirements like FBI and RCMP checks. |
| NZ Fingerprinting Service | New Zealand | https://www.nzfingerprintingservice.co.nz | Yes | Dedicated private provider that stepped in when many police stations stopped public services. |
| Globeia India | India | https://globeia.com | Yes | A private provider with offices in Indore specializing in international formats. |
| Singapore Police Force (SPF) | Singapore | https://www.police.gov.sg | Yes | Highly regulated. Fingerprints are taken at the Certificate of Clearance (COC) Office. |
| Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) | Malaysia | https://www.rmp.gov.my | Yes | Handled at the Bukit Aman headquarters (Bukit Aman) for international clearances. |
How to choose a fingerprinting provider
Not all providers are equal. Choosing the wrong one can lead to rejected applications and months of delays.
- Check Accreditations: Ensure they are recognized by the destination authority (e.g., FBI-approved or RCMP-accredited).
- Ink vs. Digital: Some countries only accept “Live Scan” (digital), while others (like many South African requirements) still require high-quality ink-on-paper prints.
- Expat Focus: Private providers are often better equipped to handle non-citizens and provide the correct forms (like the FD-258 for the US).
What if there is no provider in your country?
If you are in a remote region or a country with limited infrastructure, you may need to:
- Request a Fingerprint Kit: Some agencies mail you the cards and ink strips for a “self-roll,” though these have a higher rejection rate.
- Visit a Consulate: Some embassies provide fingerprinting services for their own citizens residing abroad.
- Travel to a Hub: Expats in Africa often travel to South Africa (Johannesburg or Cape Town) to access professional private services.
How Apostil.co.za can assist
Navigating international bureaucracy is exhausting. At Apostil.co.za, we bridge the gap between fingerprinting and final document legalisation. We assist South Africans and international clients with:
- Expert Guidance: Knowing exactly which forms and which providers are required for your specific visa.
- Global Coordination: Helping you find the nearest trusted provider, no matter where you are in the world.
- End-to-End Processing: We handle the submission of your fingerprints, the collection of your Police Clearance, and the necessary Apostille or Attestation to make the document legal for use abroad.
Need help with your fingerprints or Police Clearance? Contact us today for professional assistance.