Alabama Background Check from Abroad
State criminal history check
Alabama Background Check from Abroad
Yes. The application takes a fingerprint card taken by any authorised law enforcement agency, which can be one outside the United States.
- Fee
- $25.00
- Processing
- Five to ten business days after they receive it
- From abroad
- Possible
What to send, and where
| Agency | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Criminal Records and Identification Unit |
|---|---|
| Form | Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information |
| Fee | $25.00 |
| Payment | Money order or cashier's cheque payable to ALEA. Personal and business cheques are refused. |
| Processing | Five to ten business days after they receive it |
| Post to | ALEA Criminal Records and Identification Unit, PO Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511 |
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Criminal Records and Identification Unit page for this request
Specific to Alabama
- The application must be signed before two witnesses or notarised. From abroad, a U.S. consular notarisation satisfies this.
- Send a copy of valid photo identification with the application.
Getting fingerprinted where you are
Local police, a private fingerprinting service, a U.S. post if it still offers it, or ink at home. Take more than one card. Use the FD-258 unless Alabama specifies its own form above, in which case order that form first and allow for it reaching you overseas.
After it arrives
A Alabama criminal history check is a state document, so it is authenticated by Alabama, not by the U.S. Department of State. Most states require the response to be notarised or certified before the authenticating authority will touch it, and several sell a notarised version for exactly this purpose. Buy it at the time rather than discovering later that you have to start again.
We handle the apostille
Once your Alabama check exists we can authenticate it, legalise it for a non-Convention country, and have it translated. Tell us the destination and the deadline.
Questions people actually ask
Can I request my Alabama record from outside the United States?
Yes. The application takes a fingerprint card taken by any authorised law enforcement agency, which can be one outside the United States.
What does it cost?
$25.00 Money order or cashier's cheque payable to ALEA. Personal and business cheques are refused.
How long does it take?
Five to ten business days after they receive it. Add international postage in both directions on top of that.
Do I need the Alabama check as well as the FBI one?
Only if the authority asking has said so. The FBI record already includes arrests that Alabama reported federally. Ask before paying for both.
Will it need an apostille?
If it is going to a foreign authority, yes. A Alabama check is a state document, so it is authenticated by Alabama rather than by the U.S. Department of State, and it usually has to be notarised or certified first.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
