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International Background Check

International Screening from 244 Nations

HireSafe has the knowledge and experience to guide our clients and maintains up-to-date country-specific requirements for screening and data security. If you're interested, submit a consultation request below free of charge.

HireSafe has added the newest addition to our international background checks: Global Homeland Security & Terrorist Watchlist at no additional cost. This powerful global background screening tool features automated continuous monitoring of searched businesses and individuals. This service is available to clients who recognize themselves as part of a global economy and workforce.

Nations available with our International Background Check

HireSafe offers an extensive list of countries available for secure candidate screening, review the list below to ensure we cover the area you need!

  • Admiralty Islands
  • Afghanistan
  • Akrotiri
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Angola
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Azores
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Balearic Islands
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • British Indian Ocean Terr.
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Canary Islands
  • Cape Verde
  • Caroline Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  • Colombia
  • Comoros
  • Congo (Brazzaville)
  • Congo (Dem. Republic)
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Cote D'Ivoire
  • Croatia
  • Curacao
  • Cyprus, N. (Turkish Side)
  • Cyprus, Rep.
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Djibouti
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French Southern Territories
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Gaza Strip
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Holy See
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Madagascar
  • Madeira
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Martinique
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia, Fed. States
  • Midway Islands
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Pitcairn
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Reunion
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Saba
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre & Miquelon
  • Saint Vincent & Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome & Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Sint Maarten
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Georgia (SGSSI)
  • South Korea
  • South Sudan
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Togo
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Wallis & Futuna
  • West Bank
  • Western Sahara
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Special Challenges with International Background Checks

When performing international background checks, there are unique challenges that are to be faced. Every country is entirely different. Techniques and information that we take for granted in the United States are often not available abroad. Outside of the United States, there is limited access to public records and types of information needed for background screenings. Each country has its own laws, customs, and procedures for background screenings. Access to criminal records can be a challenge. In many countries, it is complicated to obtain criminal records. There are parts of the world where such records are not available without retaining a local private investigator that has their own resources.

Language barriers can be a particular challenge when obtaining an international background check. While all foreign investigators utilized by HireSafe can communicate in English, that is not typically their first language. Also, technical words can lead to some confusion. Therefore understanding each other can become an issue while communicating with foreign schools and employers. There can also be language issues in reviewing court documents for criminal record searches. Here at HireSafe, our criminal researchers will provide translations of any court documents.

There are differences in courts and criminal systems around the world. In doing international criminal searches, each country has its own legal codes, definitions of crimes, and court systems. International criminal checks require an understanding of each country's court system. For example, how are criminal records created and maintained, where should searches be conducted, the type of available documents, and their meaning.

International time differences can make communicating challenging with researchers, past employers, and schools, causing delays and contributing to lag time in the reporting process. Each country might also have different means of communication. Although e-mail would be preferable, not all countries have a reliable e-mail system. Instead, we may have to communicate through a fax machine. Challenging delays can also be due to each country's calendar holidays or another internal problem.

For us to efficiently conduct international verifications, it is crucial to have the applicant provide as much information as possible. It is not practical, for example, for an American firm to attempt to call a foreign country to locate the past employer's phone number. HireSafe will typically need permission to contact the applicant directly to obtain any additional necessary information. If HireSafe needs to help an employer arrange for the services of an investigator abroad, then in many countries, payment must be made in that countries' currency. Some investigators require that any or all receive payment in advance.

HireSafe makes payment arrangements through an international wire transfer ($24 to $40) or a foreign currency money order sent by Federal Express.

International background checks usually are more expensive than a comparable investigation in the United States. The pricing can be more reasonable because an employment screening will consist of verifying supplied information. However, even checking the information provided can be expensive for the reasons indicated above. For some countries, there is also a translation fee. Exact fees charged vary by country. In many countries, criminal searches must be conducted in each relevant location where a person has lived, worked, or studied. There are very few countries that have a true "national" or "official" criminal search system. The searches are usually limited to felonies or pressing matters. Even though the methods for international background checks are not perfect, it allows an employer to demonstrate due diligence in the hiring process and discourage applicants with something to hide; this is according to a signed release under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

USA-based compliant background check provider for 25 years.

HireSafe has provided compliant employment background check services for over 25 years. We're a 2003 founding member of the PBSA, and all our screening services are FCRA compliant and completed within the USA.

With us, you’ll never worry about your company’s data being shipped overseas to third-world countries, unlike many other background check companies. We value and guard the applicants' personal information like it was our own.

International Background Check Solutions Tailored to your Industry

You have specific requirements that need to be satisfied and vital regulations that govern your industry. HireSafe understands what's required and can help you maintain compliance and employ best practices in your background screening efforts. International criminal background checks require an understanding of each country's court system, how criminal records are created and maintained, where searches should be conducted, the type of available records, and what the documents mean. We at HireSafe provide you with that perspective.

For most employers, an international background check involves verifications of the supplied information, as opposed to an active investigation. In other words, an employer will have already obtained from the applicant the name, addresses, and phone numbers of previous employers or schools. Also, the employer will have obtained locations where an applicant has lived, worked, or studied, which is essential to know where to conduct criminal background searches. The employer does not need to hire an international investigator to locate that information.

A typical international background check will consist of contacting the employers and schools that have been supplied and conducting a criminal check to the extent possible in that country. International screening may also include, if available, a driving record and credit report.

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