How to Schedule an Appointment on Identogo.com

What Identogo.com is and why you need an appointment there

Identogo.com is the official scheduling portal for fingerprinting and background check appointments run by IDEMIA, a company contracted by the FBI and state agencies. You use it to book a time slot at a physical location near you for live-scan fingerprinting — the digital method that captures your fingerprints and sends them directly to law enforcement databases.

You land on Identogo when a government agency, employer, or licensing board requires fingerprints for a background check. Common reasons include explore for a job in healthcare, education, security, or law enforcement; getting a professional license; adopting a child; or clearing a background check for housing or volunteering. The agency that requires the fingerprints tells you to go to Identogo to schedule, rather than handling appointments themselves.

The site does not process your fingerprints or decide whether you pass the background check — it only lets you book the appointment and find the nearest location. IDEMIA collects your prints at the appointment, then sends them to the FBI and relevant state agencies, who do the actual background check.

Key Takeaways

• Identogo.com is where you schedule a fingerprinting appointment when a government agency, employer, or licensing board requires a background check.
• You will need the agency code or case number from whoever required the fingerprints, plus a valid government-issued photo ID to bring to your appointment.
• The site shows you available time slots at locations near your address, and you can book same-day or future appointments depending on what is open.
• Fees vary by state and by the type of background check, and you usually pay at the location when you arrive, though some locations accept online payment.
• If you cannot find your agency code or the site will not accept it, contact the organization that required the fingerprints rather than Identogo customer service.

How to find your agency code before you book

The first step on Identogo.com asks for an agency code or case number — a code that identifies who required your fingerprints and what type of background check they need. Without this code, the site will not let you proceed. The agency that told you to get fingerprinted should have given it to you in writing, in an email, or on their website.

Check any letter, email, or document from the employer, licensing board, adoption agency, or government office that required the fingerprints. Look for language like "submit fingerprints to Identogo" or "use agency code" or "case number". If the document does not list a code, call or email the organization directly and ask for the agency code or case number you need to enter on Identogo.com. Do not guess or leave it blank — entering the wrong code will route your fingerprints to the wrong place and delay your background check.

Some employers or agencies give you a link to Identogo that already has the code built in. If you have that link, use it instead of going to the main Identogo.com homepage — it will skip the code entry step and take you straight to location and time selection.

Entering your information and selecting a location

Once you have your agency code, go to Identogo.com and enter it in the first field. The site will then ask for your name, date of birth, and the zip code or city where you want to be fingerprinted. Enter the information exactly as it appears on the government-issued photo ID you will bring to your appointment — mismatches between what you type and what your ID says can cause delays or require you to reschedule.

After you enter your location, the site shows a map and a list of nearby IDEMIA locations with their addresses and hours. Each location displays available appointment slots for the next several days or weeks, depending on how busy that site is. Click on a location to see its full schedule. Some locations fill up quickly, especially in urban areas, so if your preferred time is not available, check locations a few miles away or look at dates further out.

The site also tells you the fee for that location and whether you can pay online or must pay in person. Fees range from roughly $15 to $100 depending on your state and the type of background check, but the site shows the exact amount before you confirm your appointment.

Booking your appointment and what to bring

Select your preferred date and time, then review the appointment details on the confirmation screen. The site will show you the location address, the date and time, the fee, and instructions for what to bring. Read these instructions carefully — they vary by location and by the type of background check.

At minimum, bring a valid government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. Some locations accept only certain types of ID, so check the instructions Identogo shows you. Bring the ID in its original form; photocopies usually are not accepted. If your name has changed since your ID was issued, bring both your ID and a document showing the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.

Some locations ask you to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete a check-in form. Bring a pen. Do not bring children or other people into the fingerprinting room unless the location specifically says they are allowed. After your fingerprints are captured, you will receive a receipt or confirmation number — keep this in case you need to follow up with the agency that required the fingerprints.

Payment methods and what happens if you cannot pay at your appointment

Most IDEMIA locations accept cash and card payments at the appointment. Some locations allow you to pay online when you book through Identogo.com; if that option is available, the site will show it during checkout. If you pay online, you still go to the appointment at the scheduled time — the payment just means you will not need to pay again when you arrive.

If you cannot afford the fee or cannot pay at the time of your appointment, contact the organization that required the fingerprints. Some employers, government agencies, or licensing boards cover the cost or have a fee waiver process. Do not skip the appointment hoping to reschedule for free later — rescheduling on Identogo.com will charge the same fee again.

If you book an appointment and then cannot make it, cancel it on Identogo.com as soon as you know. Cancellation policies vary by location, but canceling ahead usually means you can reschedule without paying twice. If you miss an appointment without canceling, you may lose the fee or be required to pay again to book a new slot.

Troubleshooting common problems on Identogo.com

If the site rejects your agency code and says it is invalid, do not try different variations. Instead, contact the organization that gave you the code — they may have provided it incorrectly, or the code may not yet be active in the Identogo system. This is especially common if you just received the requirement and the organization has not yet submitted your information to IDEMIA.

If you cannot find a location near you or all nearby slots are full, expand your search radius on the site. IDEMIA has locations in most cities and many suburbs, but rural areas may have fewer options. You can travel to any location in your state; the fingerprints go to the same databases regardless of where you are fingerprinted. If you still cannot find availability, check back in a few days — locations often open new appointment slots as they process existing appointments.

If you book an appointment but then lose your confirmation email, log back into Identogo.com with the same name and date of birth you used to book, and the site will show your upcoming appointments. Write down the location address and time before you go. If you cannot log back in, contact the location directly using the phone number Identogo provided during booking.

After your appointment: what happens next

After IDEMIA captures your fingerprints, they send the images electronically to the FBI and to your state's law enforcement agency. The organization that required the fingerprints then receives the background check results. This process usually takes one to three weeks, though it can take longer if the FBI needs to do additional research or if your state is backlogged.

You do not hear back from Identogo or IDEMIA after your appointment — they do not tell you whether you passed or failed the background check. Instead, the organization that required the fingerprints contacts you with the results. If weeks pass and you have not heard anything, contact that organization, not Identogo. They can tell you whether the background check is still pending or whether there was a problem with your fingerprints that requires you to reschedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an Identogo appointment for someone else?

No. The person being fingerprinted must create their own account on Identogo.com and book their own appointment. They will need their own agency code and their own valid photo ID to bring to the appointment. If you are helping someone else, you can walk them through the steps, but they must enter their own information and select their own time slot.

What if I do not have a government-issued photo ID?

Contact the location where you have your appointment scheduled and ask what alternative forms of ID they accept. Some locations accept a passport card, a tribal ID, or a military ID if you do not have a driver's license or state ID. If you have no photo ID at all, call your state's DMV or the location directly to ask what documents you can bring instead — requirements vary by state and by the type of background check.

Can I reschedule my appointment on Identogo.com?

Yes. Log into your Identogo account, find your upcoming appointment, and look for a reschedule or cancel option. If you cancel and rebook, you will be charged the fee again unless the location has a cancellation policy that waives it. If you cannot reschedule online, call the location directly using the phone number Identogo provided during booking.

How long does the fingerprinting appointment actually take?

The appointment itself usually takes 10 to 20 minutes from the time you arrive until your fingerprints are captured. If the location is busy, you may wait longer before they call you in. Arrive a few minutes early so you have time to check in and fill out any forms the location requires.

What if my fingerprints are rejected or unclear?

If the FBI or state agency cannot read your fingerprints clearly, the organization that required the background check will contact you and ask you to reschedule for a new appointment. You will usually have to pay the fee again. This is rare, but it can happen if your fingerprints are very faint, scarred, or if the equipment had a technical problem. When you reschedule, tell the location staff about the previous rejection so they can take extra care with the capture.