Washington Background Check from Abroad
State criminal history check
Washington Background Check from Abroad
Yes. Post the record review card and $12.00, and the full record comes back to the address on the card.
- Fee
- $12.00 by post for the full record; $11.00 online through WATCH for convictions only
- Processing
- Immediate online; by post, varies
- From abroad
- Possible
What to send, and where
| Agency | Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section |
|---|---|
| Form | Record review and challenge fingerprint card, requested from the section |
| Fee | $12.00 by post for the full record; $11.00 online through WATCH for convictions only |
| Payment | With the posted card; card payment online for WATCH. |
| Processing | Immediate online; by post, varies |
| Post to | Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633 |
The Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section page for this request
Specific to Washington
- WATCH returns a result instantly online but shows convictions only. A visa office usually wants the full record, which is the posted route.
- Request the review card first from (360) 534-2000 option 5, or crimhis@wsp.wa.gov.
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 Washington specifies its own form above, in which case order that form first and allow for it reaching you overseas.
After it arrives
A Washington criminal history check is a state document, so it is authenticated by Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington record from outside the United States?
Yes. Post the record review card and $12.00, and the full record comes back to the address on the card.
What does it cost?
$12.00 by post for the full record; $11.00 online through WATCH for convictions only With the posted card; card payment online for WATCH.
How long does it take?
Immediate online; by post, varies. Add international postage in both directions on top of that.
Do I need the Washington check as well as the FBI one?
Only if the authority asking has said so. The FBI record already includes arrests that Washington reported federally. Ask before paying for both.
Will it need an apostille?
If it is going to a foreign authority, yes. A Washington check is a state document, so it is authenticated by Washington 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.
