District of Columbia Background Check from Abroad
State criminal history check
District of Columbia Background Check from Abroad
Yes. The MPD issues these specifically for overseas travel, which is exactly this use case.
- Fee
- $7.00
- Processing
- Six weeks by post; about two weeks if dropped off
- From abroad
- Possible
What to send, and where
| Agency | Metropolitan Police Department, Arrest and Criminal History Section |
|---|---|
| Form | Notarised letter requesting a police clearance |
| Fee | $7.00 |
| Payment | Money order payable to DC Treasurer. |
| Processing | Six weeks by post; about two weeks if dropped off |
| Post to | Metropolitan Police Department, Criminal History Section, 441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South, Washington, DC 20001 |
The Metropolitan Police Department, Arrest and Criminal History Section page for this request
Specific to District of Columbia
- The District issues a police clearance certificate by name, which is the document format most foreign authorities recognise.
- Send a notarised letter, a copy of your identification, the money order and a self-addressed envelope. Six weeks by post, so start early.
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 District of Columbia specifies its own form above, in which case order that form first and allow for it reaching you overseas.
After it arrives
A District of Columbia criminal history check is a state document, so it is authenticated by District of Columbia, 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia record from outside the United States?
Yes. The MPD issues these specifically for overseas travel, which is exactly this use case.
What does it cost?
$7.00 Money order payable to DC Treasurer.
How long does it take?
Six weeks by post; about two weeks if dropped off. Add international postage in both directions on top of that.
Do I need the District of Columbia check as well as the FBI one?
Only if the authority asking has said so. The FBI record already includes arrests that District of Columbia reported federally. Ask before paying for both.
Will it need an apostille?
If it is going to a foreign authority, yes. A District of Columbia check is a state document, so it is authenticated by District of Columbia 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.
