2026 FBI Background Check Guide for Georgia: What You Need

Need an FBI Background Check in Georgia? Here’s What You Need in 2026

If you need an FBI background check in Georgia, you will need current fingerprints, valid identification, and the specific instructions provided by the organization requesting your background check.

For an appointment with Safe Scan Fingerprinting, bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state-issued identification card, military ID, Green Card, or current passport. If your employer, licensing board, government agency, or other requesting organization gave you forms, an ORI number, submission instructions, or other documentation, bring those as well.

The exact process depends on why you need the FBI background check. That is important because a personal FBI Identity History Summary is not necessarily the same background check process required for professional licensing, employment, adoption, or another regulated purpose.

What Is an FBI Background Check?

An FBI background check commonly refers to a fingerprint-based search of records maintained by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.

The FBI formally calls the record provided directly to an individual an Identity History Summary. It contains information associated with fingerprint submissions reported to the FBI, including certain arrest information and other records maintained in the FBI’s systems.

Unlike a basic name-based search, the FBI Identity History Summary process uses your fingerprints to establish your identity.

That distinction matters if you have a common name, have changed your name, or need a fingerprint-based record for a professional or official purpose.

What Do I Need to Get an FBI Background Check in Georgia?

For most fingerprinting appointments, you should be prepared to bring three things:

Safe Scan accepts identification including a state driver’s license, state-issued ID card, military ID, Alien Registration Card or Green Card, and current passport.

If someone told you simply to “get an FBI background check,” find out exactly what type of check they require before your appointment.

Your employer, licensing board, attorney, government agency, or other requesting organization may have its own submission procedure.

Do I Need Fingerprints for an FBI Background Check?

Yes. An FBI Identity History Summary request requires fingerprints.

The FBI does not substitute a name-only search for the fingerprint requirement when an individual requests an Identity History Summary. The FBI also requires current fingerprints rather than allowing you to reuse a fingerprint card from a previous request.

For mailed requests directly to the FBI, a completed fingerprint card must contain the required identifying information along with all 10 rolled fingerprint impressions and the appropriate plain impressions.

Professional fingerprinting can also reduce the risk of problems caused by fingerprints that are unclear, incomplete, smudged, or improperly captured.

Can My Fingerprints Be Taken Electronically?

Yes, depending on the type of FBI background check and the submission method being used.

Safe Scan uses Live Scan technology to capture fingerprints electronically and offers FBI background check services at locations throughout Georgia. Its fingerprinting process allows technicians to capture the prints digitally rather than relying solely on traditional ink fingerprint cards.

The submission method matters.

An electronic fingerprint capture does not automatically mean every fingerprint request can be transmitted electronically to every agency. The receiving organization determines what submission method it accepts.

If your employer or licensing agency gives you specific instructions, those instructions should control the process.

Is an FBI Background Check the Same as a Georgia Background Check?

No. An FBI background check and a Georgia criminal history check are not automatically the same thing.

An FBI Identity History Summary searches information maintained in FBI systems based on your fingerprints. A Georgia-specific criminal history process involves records and procedures administered at the state level.

Georgia’s State Identification Bureau is the Georgia Crime Information Center within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Some professional or regulatory background checks may involve both state and federal records.

Do not assume that obtaining one type automatically satisfies a requirement for the other. Follow the instructions from the organization requesting your background check.

Do I Need an FBI Background Check for Employment or Professional Licensing?

Possibly, but your employer or licensing authority should tell you exactly which background check is required.

This is an area where choosing the wrong service can create unnecessary delays.

The FBI specifically notes that an Identity History Summary obtained for personal review is not automatically the proper procedure for employment, licensing, adoption, or other regulated purposes. Depending on the applicable law or program, your fingerprints may need to be submitted through a state identification bureau, federal agency, or other authorized channel.

If you are a nurse, financial professional, educator, contractor, healthcare worker, government applicant, or another licensed professional, check the instructions from your licensing board or employer before submitting fingerprints.

If you were given an ORI number, agency code, form, email, or instruction sheet, bring it to your fingerprinting appointment.

What Happens During an FBI Fingerprinting Appointment?

The fingerprinting portion of the process is straightforward.

Your technician verifies the information needed for the fingerprinting service and captures your fingerprints. With Live Scan, your fingers are scanned electronically rather than rolled in traditional fingerprint ink.

The prints can then be prepared or submitted according to the requirements of the background check you are completing.

Safe Scan provides electronic Live Scan fingerprinting and FBI background check services throughout its Georgia locations.

The most important part is making sure the correct service is selected before the fingerprints are submitted.

How Much Does an FBI Background Check Cost?

Safe Scan currently charges $90 for a direct Identity History Summary request. That fee covers the FBI’s federal processing fee and should not be confused with fees charged by a fingerprinting provider, channeler, shipping service, or other organization involved in the process.

The total amount you pay can therefore depend on how your fingerprints are captured and how the request is submitted.

For professional licensing or employment background checks, fees may also depend on the program or requesting agency.

How Long Does an FBI Background Check Take?

Processing time depends on how the request is submitted and the type of background check requested.

The FBI states that electronically initiated Identity History Summary requests may be processed faster than traditional mailed submissions, but it does not guarantee a universal turnaround time for every request.

Safe Scan electronically captures fingerprints and offers electronic submission options for eligible services, and it takes 24 to 48 hours to get the results back by email.

If you have an employment start date, licensing deadline, international document deadline, or other time-sensitive requirement, schedule your fingerprinting as early as possible rather than relying on a specific estimated turnaround.

What Happens If My Fingerprints Are Rejected?

If fingerprints cannot be processed because the impressions are not clear enough, new fingerprints may be required. Your fingerprints will be retaken free of charge for one additional time if rejected the first time.

The FBI recommends having fingerprints taken by a fingerprint technician when there are repeated problems obtaining acceptable prints.

Fingerprint quality can be affected by worn fingerprints, cuts, scars, dry skin, moisture, occupation-related wear, and the way the fingerprints are captured.

An experienced technician can identify many of these issues during the fingerprinting session and work to obtain the clearest impressions possible.

Where Can I Get an FBI Background Check in Georgia?

Safe Scan Fingerprinting provides FBI background check and fingerprinting services at locations across the Atlanta metropolitan area and surrounding Georgia communities.

Current Safe Scan service locations include:

Alpharetta, McDonough, Atlanta, Gainesville, Dallas, Chamblee, Snellville, College Park, Buford, Stone Mountain, and Marietta.

That gives professionals throughout Metro Atlanta multiple options for completing their fingerprints without traveling to a single centralized office.

Before booking, make sure you know who is requesting your background check and whether they provided any specific instructions.

Before You Book: Make Sure You Are Getting the Right Background Check

The phrase “FBI background check” can refer to several different situations.

You might need fingerprints for:

Those situations do not always use the same submission process.

If another organization requires the background check, start with its instructions. Look for an ORI number, agency code, fingerprint form, background check authorization, or directions explaining where the results must be sent.

That small step can help prevent you from completing the wrong fingerprinting service.

Frequently Asked Questions About FBI Background Checks in Georgia

What should I bring to an FBI fingerprinting appointment?

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and any documents or submission instructions provided by the organization requesting the background check. If you were given an ORI number or agency information, bring that as well. Safe Scan lists driver’s licenses, state-issued IDs, military IDs, Green Cards, and current passports among its accepted forms of identification.

Can I get an FBI background check without fingerprints?

No, not when requesting an FBI Identity History Summary. The FBI uses fingerprints to verify your identity and does not provide a name-only substitute for this process.

Can I reuse fingerprints from an old FBI background check?

No. The FBI requires current fingerprints for a new Identity History Summary request. A fingerprint card used for an earlier request cannot simply be resubmitted.

Is an FBI background check valid for every employer or professional license?

No. Employers, licensing boards, and government agencies may have their own legally required background check procedures. Always follow the instructions from the organization requesting your background check rather than assuming a personal FBI Identity History Summary will satisfy the requirement.

Can Safe Scan take electronic fingerprints for an FBI background check?

Yes. Safe Scan offers Live Scan fingerprint capture and FBI background check services in Georgia. The exact submission method depends on the purpose of the check and the requirements of the receiving organization.

Where can I get FBI fingerprinting near Atlanta?

Safe Scan Fingerprinting serves customers from multiple Georgia locations, including Atlanta, Alpharetta, McDonough, Gainesville, Dallas, Chamblee, Snellville, College Park, Buford, Stone Mountain, and Marietta.

Ready to Complete Your FBI Background Check?

If you need an FBI background check in Georgia, start by confirming the requirements from your employer, licensing board, attorney, government agency, or other requesting organization.

Then bring your valid photo ID and any instructions they provided to your fingerprinting appointment.

Book your FBI background check appointment with Safe Scan Fingerprinting at a convenient Georgia location and get your fingerprints captured for the correct service.