FBI and RCMP fingerprinting in Paris — frequently asked questions
Which form do you need? Which documents should you bring? Find answers to prepare for fingerprinting in Paris for an FBI request or a Canadian criminal record check.
Tell us which service you need and when you are available. We confirm your slot by email, usually within one business day.
Which form do I need for a Canadian RCMP criminal record check?
For the Canadian service, Sequana takes ink fingerprints on the C-216C form. Select the RCMP service when booking and check the requesting authority’s letter and your accredited Canadian company’s instructions before the appointment.
What should I bring for an RCMP appointment — do I need an FBI QR code?
Bring your valid passport, the authority’s request letter, and any instructions from the accredited Canadian company that will digitize your card. You do not need an FBI QR code for a Canadian check.
Where do I send the Canadian fingerprint card?
For an IRCC criminal record check from outside Canada, arrange submission through an accredited company in Canada. You send your completed card to that company, which digitizes the prints and submits them electronically to the RCMP. Do not send the paper card directly to the RCMP.
Is this the biometrics appointment for a Canadian visa?
No. Visa-application biometrics and a Canadian criminal record check are separate procedures. Follow the appointment instructions issued by IRCC for visa biometrics. For Canadian citizenship applications, IRCC currently requires fingerprints to be collected inside Canada; check the instructions for your application before booking in Paris.
Where can I get FBI fingerprints taken in Paris?
Sequana, a private investigations agency in Paris, takes ink fingerprints on the FBI FD-1164 card for people in France requesting their FBI Identity History Summary (background check). We fill in and sign the form with you and prepare it for submission to the FBI.
Do I need the FD-258 or the FD-1164?
For your own FBI Identity History Summary (background check), the form is the FD-1164 — the FBI’s “Identity History Summary Request”. The FD-258 is a different card, the “Applicant Fingerprint Form” used for US employment, licensing, and criminal-justice checks submitted by an employer or agency. If you’re requesting your own FBI record, you need the FD-1164, which is what we provide.
What is an FBI Identity History Summary?
It is the official record the FBI holds about you — arrests and certain federal employment, military, or naturalization information — informally called a “rap sheet”. Individuals can request their own, commonly for a visa, immigration, residency, naturalization, or adoption abroad.
How do I get my FBI fingerprints done from France?
Sequana takes your ink fingerprints on FD-1164 cards in Paris. From France, follow the FBI’s direct-request instructions. FBI-approved Channelers may only process requests for U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents physically in the U.S. or its territories.
What do I need to bring for an FBI request — is it the QR code?
Yes. Most people first request their Identity History Summary from the FBI and receive an email with a QR code. Bring that email (with the QR code) and your passport — we include the QR code with the documents sent. You do not need an ORI code for a personal Identity History Summary request.
How much does it cost?
€150 per person for an in-office appointment, including two FD-1164 cards for the FBI service. Travel appointments are quoted separately.
Which ID do you accept?
A valid passport only. The name on the card will be the name on your passport. We do not accept national ID cards or driver’s licenses, and we cannot use an expired passport. We only inspect your ID to complete the form — we do not keep a copy.
Can minors be fingerprinted?
No — we are not able to fingerprint minors.
Do I need ink fingerprinting or live-scan?
Two capture methods exist: ink-and-roll on the FD-1164 card and live-scan (electronic). Live-scan is faster and lower-rejection but is not available everywhere; from outside the US, ink-and-roll on the card is the standard route, which is what we provide in Paris.
Can I get fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Paris?
No. The U.S. Embassy in France does not provide fingerprinting services to the public. Sequana is a private provider that takes ink fingerprints in Paris.
How long does an FBI Identity History Summary take?
Check the FBI’s current processing times for your submission route and allow additional time for postage. The fingerprinting appointment takes about 45 minutes; this is separate from the FBI’s processing time.
Do you serve clients outside Paris?
Fingerprint appointments take place at 26 place du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris. Travel within roughly a two-hour train radius around Paris is available when the booking warrants it, and at-home visits are available for elderly or mobility-limited clients.
How do I gain access to the Sequana apps?
The iOS, iPadOS, and macOS apps are invite-only tools for private investigators and other people collaborating with Sequana on a case. If your work with Sequana requires app access, we provide an account with permissions limited to your role and the relevant casework. There is no public sign-up.