Certain organisations, both in the UK and abroad, may ask you to provide your fingerprints for a variety of reasons. Often, if the fingerprints are needed overseas, and you don’t want to – or can’t – travel, you will be asked to have a copy of your fingerprints notarised.

Notaries Hasib Heron, Basil Preuveneers and Steven Dasgupta at 6 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1, are often asked to notarise a set of fingerprints.  Sometimes a template type form is provided – for example  – if you are renewing a South African passport, you’ll need to bring the form supplied by the South African embassy.  There are many firms that do provide a fingerprint-taking service, but you will need to check if the set needs to be notarised so as not to waste your time and have to have them taken again at the notary’s office. 

There are many reasons that people require fingerprints to be taken; for example: police clearance certificates, regulatory or immigration purposes or various identification documents.  If you need your fingerprints taken for the US then you’ll need to download the FBIs own form from their website and bring that with you to your appointment.  U.S. embassies and consulates do not generally provide a fingerprint-taking service. 

Other reasons you many need to have a set of fingerprints verified include – for a Security Industry Authority (SIA) Licence, to work with children, as part of an adoption application, to do business with, or work in, the US, to buy or train a racehorse in the US, for foreign professional exams or to work for a company that trades overseas.

Notaries Hasib, Basil or Steven are happy to assist with the taking of fingerprints – tissues at the ready!  Please do remember that the Notary should see any paperwork detailing why a set of fingerprints is required

Best wishes,