A criminal background check is required by most schools when teaching abroad. You’ll be working around children and young adults, so the school’s top priority (and ours) is the safety of the kids. We’ll also require a clean background check in order to join our teaching practicums at Wat Pho, so it’s important to get one done before coming over to teach abroad.
But how do you actually get a criminal background check to teach abroad?
As could be expected, every country has a slightly different procedure for getting this done. Got to love bureaucracy.
Luckily we’re here to help!
We’ve trained teachers from nearly every corner of the globe (except Antarctica, not a big market out there) and have put together a guide for some of the most common countries we see teaching abroad here in Thailand.
Getting a background check in the United States
You’ll need to get a Criminal Record Check through either your local police department or the FBI.
The FBI check is a bit more universally recognized and lasts longer, but also takes longer to process. If you go directly through the FBI it can take up to 14 weeks.
However, for an extra $50 you can go through one of the FBI’s approved channelers. These private firms are contracted by the FBI to help speed up the process and can take as little as a week!
Getting a background check in the UK
England and Wales
If you’re getting a background check from England or Wales, you’ll want to request a Basic Barring and Disclosure (DBS) check from the Gov.UK website.
To apply for the DBS in England and Wales you’ll need the following:
- Addresses for the last 5 years and the dates you lived there
- National Insurance number
- Passport
- Driving license
If you have everything, you can begin your application here.
The basic DBS costs £18 and usually takes about 14 days to process.
Ireland
You’ll want to get a Police Certificate issued by the Gardaí. These are issued by the superintendent of your local station, but you can use their station directory to find your local station.
To apply for a Police Certificate in Ireland you’ll need to have the following:
- Completed application form
- A certified copy of your passport, driving license or similar for identification purposes
- Proof of address and/or proof of previous addresses
This service is offered free of charge and typically takes around three weeks to process.
Northern Ireland
NIDirect offers an online criminal record check for teachers coming from Northern Ireland. Once you create an account, you’ll be able to apply for the basic check.
In order to get a background check in Northern Ireland, you’ll need the following:
- Your home addresses for the last five years
- Your National Insurance number
- Three different types of ID
- A valid debit or credit card
- Proof of Identity
- You’ll also need to submit proof of identity within 7 days, or your application will not be processed
A background check from NIDirect costs £18 and takes around three weeks to process.
Scotland
You’ll need to obtain a basic disclosure from Disclosure Scotland, which can be done online through the Mygov.scot website.
In order to apply for a background check online in Scotland, you’ll need the following:
- Your address details for the past 5 years
- Your National Insurance number (if you have one)
- Your passport number (if you have a passport – it can be from any country)
- Your driving license number, for either a full or provisional license (if you have a license)
- Your non-UK identity card number (if you have one)
You will also need a credit or debit card to pay online.
If you’re ready to apply, you can do so here.
The basic disclosure in Scotland costs £25 and usually takes around 14 calendar days to process.
Getting a background check in the Philippines
Filipinos teaching abroad can apply for an NBI Clearance Check through the National Bureau of Investigations.
In order to obtain an NBI certificate in the Philippines you must provide the following:
- Two valid forms of ID
- A completed fingerprint card form
- A colored 2″ x 2″ photograph, taken within 3 months of the date with a clear view of the applicant’s face and a plain white background
After applying online, you’ll be prompted to select an NBI clearance branch for an appointment. Your certificate will be given to you after this appointment.
Upon receipt of your NBI clearance certificate, double-check to make sure it has the embossed NBI DRY SEAL at its lower left portion. The clearance is invalid without it.
The NBI clearance certificate costs ₱130 and varies when it comes to processing. However, through Republic Act No. 11261 first time applicants DO NOT have to pay the fee!
Teachers from the Philippines who have applied for an NBI check before can apply here.
First time job seekers can apply without the fee here.
Getting a background check in Canada
Canadians teaching abroad will need to apply for a Criminal Records Check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
First, you’ll need to get your fingerprints taken by one of the RCMP’s accredited fingerprinting companies. Most companies can submit these directly to RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). If your fingerprinting service cannot submit them to the CCRTIS, then you’ll have to take your prints to your local police station and submit them there.
There is a federal processing fee of CDN$ 25, as well as possible local processing fees depending on your local municipality. Processing can take anywhere from a few days for clean records to 120 business days for manual processing or if there’s a match to a criminal record.
Honestly, it can be a bit of a pain in Canada so check out their page for more information!
Getting a background check in Australia
Australians looking to teach abroad will need to get a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
ACIC works with both Australian police agencies and ACIC accredited bodies to provide these clearance checks.
To apply for a background check in Australia, follow this process:
- Contact an ACIC accredited body or an Australian police agency that can submit a police check on your behalf.
- You need to complete the accredited body or police agency’s application form; this application might be online or in paper form. You must consent to the check being done—known as ‘informed consent’.
- With the completed application form and informed consent, you will provide your identity documents to the accredited body or policy agency. You must follow a linkage process to establish your identity.
- The linkage process might take place in person or through an online digital communications tool (such as a webcam). The accredited body or police agency then verifies your identity.
- Your police check is lodged into the National Police Checking Service Support System (NSS), the national IT system owned by the ACIC. The police then assess your criminal and conviction information (if applicable), and determine what information about you can be released, based on the purpose of the check and relevant spent convictions legislation.
- Your check result is returned to the accredited body or police agency you submitted your check through.
Getting a background check in New Zealand
If you’re teaching abroad from New Zealand you’ll want a Criminal Record Check from the Ministry of Justice.
To apply for a Criminal Record check in New Zealand, you’ll need the following:
- A valid identification
- Your signed and dated Authority to Release Information Form
Make sure that your signatures match on the two forms, and that everything is submitted in .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, or .PDF formatting. You’re welcome.
New Zealand takes the crown for efficiency with background checks. You can apply online for free, and can take as little as three days to process!
Getting a background check in India
Indians teaching abroad will need to obtain a Police Character Certificate (PCC). This comes from the Ministry of External Affairs. Their system can be a bit confusing, but we’ve broken it down step by step.
Here’s what you need to do to get a background check in India:
- Go to the Official Passport Website.
- Choose the correct police district and create an account
- Click on the link to Apply for Police Clearance Certificate and fill out the online form
- You can also download and fill out the Application Form to apply manually
- Click submit and then “Pay & Schedule Appointment” to pay the fee and schedule your appointment at the passport office to receive your PCC
- You can pay the fee online with the digital payment methods provided
- Print out a copy of the application form you filled out. Make sure it has your Application Reference Number (ARN) and bring it with you to the appointment
- You should get a text or email confirming your appointment
- If you don’t, make sure you provided the correct information in your application
Can a background check be done in Thailand?
Actually it might be possible for some nationalities to get your background check done in Thailand. It can only be done at the Police Clearance Center in Bangkok. However the process is a bit complicated, not available to all, and it helps to have a working knowledge of Thai language. We recommend getting it done at home.
For those already abroad, background checks can sometimes be done through your country’s embassy or consulate. Check the website of your nearest embassy to see if it’s one of the services they offer.
Wrapping Things UP
A lot of info here, and quite a bit for some of us to do (sorry Canada and India) so it’s best to get started as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that most of these checks will last between 3-5 years, but vary depending on the country. Be sure to know how long your background check will be valid for before taking it abroad.
However getting a background check is FAR from impossible for all of you, especially now that you’ve got Destination TEFL on your side. Our specialty is getting people abroad. We’ll help with all of the little things (like background checks) so you can stay focused on the big things.
Like changing your life and seeing the world.
And of course, if you’re ready to change your life by teaching abroad then our TEFL program is one click away. We’ll get you here, give you the best TEFL training on the planet, then help you get a job teaching abroad one you pass your course!
