New Hampshire Background Check from Abroad
State criminal history check
New Hampshire Background Check from Abroad
Yes, by post, with section II notarised.
- Fee
- $25.00
- Processing
- Varies; confirm when you submit
- From abroad
- Possible
What to send, and where
| Agency | New Hampshire State Police, Criminal Records Unit |
|---|---|
| Form | DSSP 256, Criminal History Record Information Release Authorization |
| Fee | $25.00 |
| Payment | Cash, cheque, money order, Mastercard, Visa or Discover, in the exact amount. |
| Processing | Varies; confirm when you submit |
| Post to | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Criminal Records Unit, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305 |
The New Hampshire State Police, Criminal Records Unit page for this request
Specific to New Hampshire
- Section II must be notarised for a posted request. Use a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
- The fee must be exact. An overpayment will delay the request.
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 New Hampshire specifies its own form above, in which case order that form first and allow for it reaching you overseas.
After it arrives
A New Hampshire criminal history check is a state document, so it is authenticated by New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire record from outside the United States?
Yes, by post, with section II notarised.
What does it cost?
$25.00 Cash, cheque, money order, Mastercard, Visa or Discover, in the exact amount.
How long does it take?
Varies; confirm when you submit. Add international postage in both directions on top of that.
Do I need the New Hampshire check as well as the FBI one?
Only if the authority asking has said so. The FBI record already includes arrests that New Hampshire reported federally. Ask before paying for both.
Will it need an apostille?
If it is going to a foreign authority, yes. A New Hampshire check is a state document, so it is authenticated by New Hampshire 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.
