International background checks
International background checks across Europe.
Scaut runs international background checks on candidates, employees and contractors who have lived or worked in other countries. One online order covers identity, sanctions and watchlists, employment and education in 36 European countries, and criminal records in 28 as standard, with other countries on request. Automated checks return in seconds, international criminal records take a median of 4.6 days, and you pay as you go from the free Basic plan (1 credit = €1 excl. VAT, see pricing).
- 36 European countries
- Criminal records in 28 countries
- ISO 27001 certified
- Data stored in the EU
How it works
How do I run a background check on someone who lived abroad?
Order checks for each country the person has lived or worked in, and let the candidate give consent and verify their identity online. Scaut then requests the records from official sources in each country and returns one report with the findings country by country.
The same flow works for new hires, existing employees and contractors with site or system access. For hiring, see pre-employment screening.
Choose the countries and checks
Pick the countries from the person’s address and work history, for example the last 7 years, and the checks the role requires.
The candidate consents online
The candidate gets a secure link, gives consent, verifies their identity and, where a registry requires it, signs an authorisation digitally.
Scaut contacts the sources
Identity, sanctions and watchlist checks run immediately. Criminal records, employment and education are requested from national registries, employers and institutions in each country.
One report for every country
Results arrive in one report on the platform, with a status update as each check completes.
Coverage
Which international checks can I order?
Core checks are available in all 27 EU states, the UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, Moldova and five Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania): 36 European countries in total. Criminal records are standard in 28 of them. Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and countries outside Europe are available on request.
Identity, sanctions and watchlists
Identity, sanctions and watchlist checks are automated and return in seconds, whatever country the person comes from.
- ID document and identity verification
- International sanctions lists
- PEP and wanted persons lists
- Adverse online information
Criminal records
Requested from the national criminal register of each country the person lived in, with the candidate’s signed authorisation.
- 25 EU member states, including for non-EU nationals who lived there
- The UK, Switzerland and Ukraine as standard; Moldova and the Western Balkans on request
- Spain, Austria, Greece and Cyprus answer only for citizens and registered residents
- Hungary through the candidate’s own request
- Spent convictions are not disclosed
Employment, education and more
Verified with former employers, schools and official records in each country.
- Employment history, priced per employer
- Education and qualifications
- References and right to work
- Financial, directorship and trade licence checks
Hiring someone from outside the EU? If they previously lived in an EU country, Scaut can query that country’s register to confirm there is no record there, alongside checks in their home country on request. To screen a foreign company and its directors instead, use business screening.
Scaut by the numbers
Europe-wide coverage. Results in seconds, not weeks.
- Central & Eastern Europe (18)
- Rest of EU, UK & Switzerland (18)
- On demand (3)
of EU countries covered
All 27 EU states plus the UK and Switzerland
CEE countries covered
11 EU states plus Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans
Median for automated checks
80% return within 5 seconds
Completed the same day
65% within 24 hours
of pay-as-you-go clients order again
Basic plan, no subscription. Orders in two or more separate months
Certified since 2021
ISO/IEC 27001:2022, data stored in the EU
Based on Scaut platform data as of November 2026. Coverage shows where core checks are available, and turnaround times run from order to final result.
Turnaround
How long does an international background check take?
Automated checks return in seconds. Checks that depend on a foreign registry, employer or school take days, and an international criminal record takes a median of 4.6 days.
Times are measured on the Scaut platform from order to final result. The median is the typical case; the right-hand column shows when 80% of checks are done.
| Check | Median | 80% done within |
|---|---|---|
| Automated checks (ID, sanctions, watchlists) | 3 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Financial check | 2 minutes | 20 hours |
| International criminal record | 4.6 days | 8 days |
| Employment and education verification | 7 days | 14 days |
Pricing
How much does an international background check cost?
You pay per check in credits, and 1 credit = €1 excl. VAT. There is no subscription needed to start: the Basic plan is free and you top up credits as you go.
Packages for whole roles and volume bundles cost less per check. See pricing and plans.
| Check | EU | Rest of world |
|---|---|---|
| ID and identity verification | 16 | 16 |
| Sanctions and watchlists | 16 | 16 |
| Criminal record | 50 | 80 |
| Employment (per employer) | 23 | 23 |
| Education | 23 | 23 |
| Financial check | 23 | 43 |
Prices in credits per person. 1 credit = €1 excl. VAT.
FAQ
International background checks: common questions
What is an international background check?
An international background check verifies a person’s history in every country they have lived or worked in, not only their current one. It usually combines identity, sanctions and watchlist checks with criminal records, employment and education from each country.
Which countries does Scaut cover?
Core checks are available in 36 European countries: all 27 EU states, the UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, Moldova and five Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania). Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and countries outside Europe are available on request. Criminal record checks are standard in 28 countries (25 EU states, the UK, Switzerland and Ukraine) and available on request for Moldova and the Western Balkans. Need a specific country or check? Tell us what you need and we will confirm what we can cover.
How long does an international criminal record check take?
On the Scaut platform the median is 4.6 days from order to final result, and 80% are completed within 8 days. Automated identity, sanctions and watchlist checks return in seconds.
Can you check someone who is not an EU citizen but lived in the EU?
Yes. Scaut can query the criminal register of the EU country where the person lived to confirm there is no record there. Spain, Austria, Greece and Cyprus answer only for their citizens and people with officially registered residence.
Do I need the candidate’s consent?
Yes. The candidate gives consent online and, for countries whose criminal register requires it, signs an authorisation digitally so Scaut can request the record on their behalf. All checks are processed under GDPR and data is stored in the EU.
Will the report show spent convictions?
No. Spent convictions are not disclosed. You receive a verified report of the findings, not a transferable criminal record certificate.
How much does an international background check cost?
You pay per check in credits, where 1 credit = €1 excl. VAT. A criminal record check costs 50 credits in the EU and 80 elsewhere, and identity verification costs 16. The Basic plan is free, so you can start without a subscription.
Start your first international check today
Create a free Basic account, top up credits and send the candidate their link in minutes. Need several countries, a custom package or an integration? Book a call with our team.