Criminal Background Checks
Criminal Background Checks for Aliyah: A Country-by-Country Guide
For most applicants with nothing on their record, the criminal background check is the most mechanically straightforward document in the file. It's also the one that catches people out — not because the certificates are hard to get, but because anyone who has lived in several countries needs several of them, each with its own system, timeline and apostille, all due at once.
Download the free guide. The full Olim Advice PDF, Criminal Background Checks for Aliyah, has the per-country procedure, cost tables and disclosure guidance. Get the PDF →
Which countries do I need a check from?
The Jewish Agency requires a clearance from every country you've lived in for six months or more as an adult — regardless of citizenship. A US national who studied in London and worked in Toronto needs three: FBI plus state checks, ACRO, and RCMP. Some caseworkers apply the threshold strictly, others flexibly. Plan as if it will be strict.
United States: FBI plus state checks
The most common US mistake is submitting only the FBI check. Israel requires both layers.
The FBI Identity History Summary is fastest through an FBI-approved channeler — online registration, fingerprinting, results by email in 3–5 business days for about $30–50. The direct-mail route costs $18 but takes 8–12 weeks.
State checks are separate, from every state of six-month-plus adult residence, each apostilled by that state's Secretary of State — while the FBI document is apostilled by the US State Department in Washington DC. Build your list of states first, then order in parallel.
United Kingdom: the ACRO Police Certificate
The ACRO certificate covers the whole UK in one document and is name-and-date-of-birth based — no fingerprints, which makes it the fastest of the four. Apply online with ten years of address history and all previous names; £55; 10–15 working days. An apostille is often not required — confirm with your caseworker before paying the FCDO £30 for one you may not need.
Canada: the RCMP Criminal Record Check
One federal certificate covers all of Canada — no provincial layer to add. Apply online, submit fingerprints through an accredited agency, pay CAD 25 (plus CAD 25–60 fingerprinting); 2–3 weeks once prints arrive. Since 2024, RCMP certificates are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.
South Africa: start six months early
The SAPS Police Clearance is the slowest and most awkward — built for in-person submission inside South Africa, with from-abroad routes through embassies (8–16+ weeks) or paid agents. It's valid for only six months and needs a two-step authentication: Commissioner of Oaths/Notary, then a DIRCO apostille. For South African olim this is usually the critical-path document — order it first, not last.
How do the four systems compare?
FeatureUSAUKCanadaSouth AfricaMethodFingerprintName & DOBFingerprintFingerprintProcessing3–5 days10–15 days2–3 weeks4–6 weeksCost$18–50£55CAD 43–105R100–150ApostilleFed + stateRarelyHague (2024)AlwaysFrom abroadEasyEasyMediumVery hard
Lived in all four? Order in reverse of speed — South Africa first (twelve months out), then UK and Canada (six months), then the USA (three months) — so they finish together.
What do I need to disclose?
The question is never whether to disclose, only how. Always disclose anything on the certificate, anything pending, and anything you know resulted in a court appearance even if the certificate is silent. A fully spent youth caution from twenty years ago, disclosed honestly, is not an obstacle. A concealed conviction discovered during processing is. For anything more than minor and historical, speak to a vetted aliyah lawyer before submitting — to position the disclosure correctly, not to hide it.
General guidance, not legal advice. Free download: Criminal Background Checks for Aliyah — the full Olim Advice guide (PDF). See also the complete documents-required-for-aliyah checklist.