Which records are meant when one speaks of an INTERPOL record?
The question "Do I have an INTERPOL record?" is not limited to Red Notices. In the INTERPOL Information System, a person's identity, biometric data, travel documents and criminal history may be processed under different notices and data cooperation tools:
- Red Notice (Kırmızı Bülten): A request to locate a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence, and to provisionally arrest them with a view to extradition, surrender or a similar legal procedure. It is not an international arrest warrant but an international request for judicial cooperation.
- Wanted Person Diffusion (Aranan Kişi Diffüzyonu): A flexible and fast notice sent directly by the source country to specific countries it selects, aiming to locate the person and, where the applicable national law allows, to arrest them provisionally.
- Blue Notice (Mavi Bildirim): Published to collect information about a person's identity, whereabouts or movements connected with a criminal investigation. It does not aim at direct arrest.
- Green Notice (Yeşil Bildirim): A warning about persons who may commit crimes and who may pose a probable threat to public safety.
- Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD): The recording in the system of a passport or identity document as cancelled, lost or stolen. It may lead to the person being stopped at a border gate even if they are not a wanted person.
- Identity Confusion / Wrong Match (Misinformed/Identity Theft): A situation in which innocent persons are matched in the INTERPOL database as wanted persons because of name similarity or the use of a false identity.
- National restriction codes and direct messages: Administrative restriction codes in Türkiye, such as G-87 (Activity Against General Security) or Ç-114, and direct NCB-to-NCB messages may not always be reflected in the CCF database.
For the general framework of INTERPOL notices, CCF review and the extradition process, you may refer to our guide What Is INTERPOL and the Red Notice?.
A passport record and a person search record are not the same thing
Not every obstacle encountered at a border gate or airport means that a Red Notice exists about the person. A passport record in INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database may show that the document has been invalidated by the state that issued it.
In case of an SLTD record:
- The source of the record must be investigated with the passport authority that issued the document and with the relevant National Central Bureau (NCB).
- Official population/passport records showing that the passport remains valid must be obtained.
- Deletion of the erroneous notice must be requested from the state to which the document belongs.
- Obtaining a new passport does not by itself remove the erroneous SLTD record of the old passport.
How to search the public Red Notice page
On INTERPOL's official View Red Notices web page, a search can be made by surname, first name, nationality, gender, age range and requesting country.
Steps to follow in the search:
- The first and last name must be entered in full, in the Latin spelling used in the passport.
- The Latin equivalents of Turkish characters (Ş→S, Ç→C, Ğ→G, İ→I, Ö→O, Ü→U) and transliteration variations must be tried separately.
- If there is dual citizenship, the search must be run by selecting each of the two citizenships.
- Maiden names or name changes must be taken into account.
- If a match is found, the page link, the date and a summary screenshot must be saved as legal evidence.
The official public search is only a superficial check. INTERPOL has expressly announced that the large majority of Red Notices are available only for law enforcement use. The absence of results in the public list does not prove that there is no secret or closed Red Notice or Wanted Person Diffusion about the person.
If my name is not on the public list, why might an INTERPOL record still exist?
The main reasons why the public page may give incomplete results are:
- The source state may not have requested that the Notice be published publicly.
- The record may not be a Red Notice but a Wanted Person Diffusion sent to member states of a sub-region.
- The record may be at the publication stage and held under review by the NDTF (Notices and Diffusions Task Force).
- Because of a change of surname or a different transliteration, the search criteria may not have matched exactly.
- Even if the INTERPOL record has been removed, the national arrest warrant of the source country or border control records imposed under Law No. 6706 in Türkiye may still continue.
The INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions Control Unit (NDTF) reviews all requests for compliance with the INTERPOL Constitution. However, because diffusions can reach target countries directly before the review is completed, a person may become subject to proceedings without appearing on the public list.
What is the CCF and what does an access request provide?
The CCF (Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files) is an independent body that supervises whether personal data processed in INTERPOL databases complies with the rules of the Organization and with human rights. The CCF Requests Chamber decides on applications for:
- Access to data,
- Correction or deletion of data,
- Review of a decision (Revision).
The purpose of an access request is to learn whether data about the person exists in the INTERPOL Information System and what part of its content can be disclosed. The CCF is not a criminal court; it does not try whether a person is guilty, and its review is limited to the INTERPOL Constitution (in particular Articles 2 and 3).
A CCF access request does not cover all national and international records
A CCF access request does not search all national police databases in the world or bilateral judicial assistance records.
Areas that may fall outside CCF review:
- Arrest decisions that exist only in the source country's own national system,
- Judicial assistance procedures carried out outside INTERPOL channels (for example, through Europol or bilateral agreements),
- Direct NCB-to-NCB correspondence to which the INTERPOL General Secretariat is not a party,
- Administrative restriction codes such as G-87 and Ç-114 established in Türkiye by the Presidency of Migration Management.
Under Article 19(2) of the CCF Statute, the Commission cannot access on its own initiative direct NCB communications that do not enter the General Secretariat system, unless an allegation of a serious breach of rules is submitted together with evidence.
Critical limit: The reply from the CCF saying "there is no record about you in the system" does not mean that there is no national arrest warrant or deportation/restriction decision about you in the source country.
Is an access request the same as a deletion request?
No. Access and deletion requests differ in their legal nature and consequences:
| Type of Application | Main Purpose | Required Conditions and Documents | Decision Period (As a Rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Request | To learn whether personal data is processed | Identity document, power of attorney, admissibility form | 4 months from the date it is found admissible |
| Correction Request | To correct erroneous or outdated data | Supporting court decisions, official population and identity records | 9 months from the date it is found admissible |
| Deletion Request | Deletion of the record because it violates the INTERPOL Constitution | Grounds of legal violation (e.g. violation of Article 3 of the Constitution, political/religious motive, refugee status) | 9 months from the date it is found admissible |
| Revision | Re-examination of a final CCF decision on the basis of a new fact | New legal facts that could affect the decision and the date of learning them | within 6 months of learning the new fact |
Where and how is a CCF access request made?
As of 10.00 CET on March 26, 2026, all CCF applications (access, deletion, correction) must be made through INTERPOL's online CCF Online Portal.
Through the portal:
- The application form is completed electronically,
- The identity document, power of attorney and supporting documents are uploaded to the system,
- The progress of the application and the correspondence with the CCF are tracked in real time,
- Decisions are notified through the portal in a secure environment.
New applications submitted by e-mail or by post are invalid (exceptional cases under Article 25(2) of the CCF Working Rules are reserved). A CCF application is not subject to an official fee.
Currency Notice: Old forms and guides on the internet stating that applications should be sent by post or e-mail to the address in Lyon, France are no longer valid in light of the portal rule of March 26, 2026.
Which documents must be prepared for an access request?
To pass the admissibility review, the following documents must be submitted in full through the portal:
Identity documents
- A legible, colour and unredacted copy of a valid passport,
- Official identity documents showing a name change or dual citizenship, if any,
- Official documents verifying biometric data.
Representation documents
If the application is made through a lawyer:
- A specific power of attorney or authorization document, with a wet or electronic signature, clearly showing that the applicant has authorized the representative to access INTERPOL data before the CCF,
- A copy of the identity document of the lawyer or representative.
Supporting documents
- Interrogation or examination records drawn up at an airport or border gate,
- Court decisions, indictments, non-prosecution or acquittal decisions, if any,
- Certified translations into INTERPOL's working languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic) of documents in foreign languages.
For correction and deletion requests, it is recommended to submit the legal grounds in a summary petition not exceeding 10 pages, with detailed evidence attached as annexes.
How long does a CCF access request take?
Under the CCF Statute, the statutory periods run as follows:
- Admissibility Review: Notified within 1 month at the latest from receipt of the application.
- General Secretariat Review: Once the application is accepted, the General Secretariat transmits the data status to the CCF within 45 days.
- Access Decision: The CCF decides on the access request as a rule within 4 months from admissibility.
- Notification of the Decision: The decision given is notified to the applicant through the portal within 1 month at the latest.
Depending on the complexity of the specific case, these periods may be extended by the CCF with reasons.
Which information can the CCF disclose and which can it limit?
Although data access is the rule under Article 35 of the CCF Statute, disclosure of information may be restricted or refused at the request of the source country where any of the following circumstances exist:
- Public security, national security or the confidentiality of ongoing criminal investigations,
- The protection of the rights and freedoms of third parties,
- The risk of jeopardizing international police cooperation.
Where a confidentiality restriction is applied, the CCF may, without giving details to the applicant, reply that "the necessary checks have been carried out".
How should a CCF access response be interpreted?
The official letters received from the CCF must be correctly understood in legal terms:
- Notification that data exists: It shows that there is a record in the INTERPOL system. Information is shared to the extent permitted. The next step should be a deletion or correction application.
- Notification that no data exists: It shows that, as of the date of review, there is no record in the INTERPOL Information System. It does not remove national arrest decisions in the source country.
- Response that checks were carried out but details cannot be disclosed: It shows that the source country has imposed a restriction. There is a high probability that the person has an INTERPOL record; the travel risk continues.
- Response that the data has been deleted: It shows that the record has been removed from the INTERPOL system. To annul arrest decisions under domestic law, this decision must be submitted to the national courts.
Is a CCF application confidential?
CCF applications are confidential in principle. However, when an application is accepted, the CCF contacts the INTERPOL General Secretariat and the relevant National Central Bureau (NCB) in order to verify the data. Information that the applicant specifically wishes to keep confidential (for example, details of an asylum or refugee application) is not shared with the NCB of the source country.
Can a definitive check be made in Türkiye through the police, the prosecutor's office or e-Devlet?
No. There is no official screen in Türkiye through which citizens or foreigners can directly query the INTERPOL Information System (Red Notice/Diffusion) via e-Devlet, the General Directorate of Security or the prosecutor's offices.
The Turkish Judicial Criminal Record (sabıka kaydı) does not include international Red Notices. The Turkish NCB (INTERPOL Department of the General Directorate of Security) does not respond to individual query requests. The only official channel for access to personal data is the CCF.
Does filing a CCF application stop arrest or travel risk?
No. A CCF access or deletion application:
- Does not automatically suspend the INTERPOL record,
- Does not stop national arrest warrants,
- Does not prevent provisional arrest in Türkiye under Article 14 of Law No. 6706,
- Does not remove the risk of detention at border gates.
In urgent cases (actual risk of extradition, threat of arrest), an Interim Measures request should be made under Article 37 of the CCF Statute, asking for the record to be temporarily suspended until the review is completed.
The domestic dimension in Türkiye: Law No. 6706 and provisional arrest
When an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion exists about a foreigner or a Turkish citizen present in Türkiye, the process is carried out within the framework of the Law No. 6706 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters:
- Provisional Arrest (Article 14): A Red Notice or diffusion record gives the Turkish law enforcement authorities the power of provisional arrest. The arrested person is brought before a criminal judge of peace within 24 hours.
- Provisional Detention (Article 15): Until the extradition request document arrives, the judge may order provisional detention or judicial control against the person.
- Cases of Non-Extradition (Article 18): If there is serious suspicion that prosecution has been carried out on grounds of torture, ill-treatment, race, religion, citizenship or political opinion, the extradition request is rejected and the detention based on the INTERPOL record is lifted.
What do the court decisions show?
CJEU Grand Chamber: WS v. Bundesrepublik Deutschland
CJEU, C-505/19, May 12, 2021: The Court held that, under Article 54 of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement, provisional arrest again in EU Member States on the basis of a Red Notice issued about a person who has a final judgment or an acquittal for the same act is contrary to the principle of ne bis in idem (not to be tried twice for the same act), and that data processing must be stopped.
ECtHR: M.C. v. Türkiye
ECtHR, Application No. 31592/18, June 4, 2024: In the case brought by an applicant who was detained in Türkiye on the basis of a Red Notice issued by Russia and held in custody for extradition, the ECtHR found a violation of Article 5(1) of the ECHR (Right to Liberty and Security), stating that the legal basis for detention for extradition must be foreseeable and clear. A Red Notice alone cannot be an automatic justification for detention.
ECtHR: Liu v. Poland
ECtHR, Application No. 37610/18, October 6, 2022: In the case of an applicant arrested in Poland at the request of China on the basis of a Red Notice, the ECtHR, taking into account the human rights violation and the risk of ill-treatment (Article 3 ECHR) in the requesting country, held that detention in the extradition process violated the Convention.
Constitutional Court (AYM): individual application decision
Constitutional Court (AYM), Azamatjon Rakhimov application, Application No. 2014/19285, May 8, 2019: The Constitutional Court held that the right to liberty and security guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution had been violated, because a foreigner provisionally detained for extradition on the basis of an INTERPOL Red Notice was held beyond a reasonable time and was not subjected to effective judicial review.
Council of State (Danıştay) 10th Chamber: restriction codes and INTERPOL records
Council of State (Danıştay) 10th Chamber, E. 2021/4581, K. 2023/1204: In an action for the annulment of the G-87 (Activity Against General Security) restriction code established by the Presidency of Migration Management, on the basis of a diffusion or Red Notice record about a foreigner, the Council of State emphasized that the administration cannot rely on abstract records; if it cannot present concrete information and documents, the restriction code is unlawful.
How do academic studies assess the access problem?
Machiko Kanetake, in the study "INTERPOL's Red Notices: Human Rights Safeguards for Targeted Individuals" (AJIL Unbound, Vol. 120, 2026, pp. 17–22), states that although Red Notices do not create an automatic obligation for member states to arrest, the lack of transparency causes severe restrictions on the travel, banking and property rights of individuals.
Rutsel Silvestre J. Martha, in The Legal Foundations of INTERPOL (Hart Publishing), emphasizes that passing the INTERPOL Information System through the principles of international law and the filter of Article 3 of the Organization's Constitution (political restriction) is vitally important for the protection of personal data.
Initial risk assessment by record type
| Detected or Suspected Situation | Main Risk | First Legal Step to Take |
|---|---|---|
| Public Red Notice | Direct arrest at the border gate, detention and extradition risk | International travel must be stopped; a CCF deletion application and the source-country file must be examined. |
| Closed Red Notice / Diffusion | Sudden detention and administrative custody at transit countries | An urgent Access Request must be opened through the CCF Online Portal. |
| SLTD passport record | Seizure of the document, detention at the airport | Correction must be made with the passport authorities of the issuing country and the NCB. |
| G-87 / Ç-114 restriction code in Türkiye | Deportation of a foreigner and entry ban to Türkiye | An action for annulment of the restriction code must be filed before the administrative court. |
| Identity confusion / similarity | Wrongful detention because of another wanted person | The identity verification file, including biometric and administrative data, must be submitted to the CCF. |
Safe action plan where an INTERPOL record is suspected
What to do in the first 24–72 hours
- The official public portal must be checked with name and passport variations.
- Upcoming international travel and transit flights must be suspended.
- The criminal file of the source country, the decisions about the person and any in-absentia arrest warrants must be obtained.
- An access request file must be prepared through the current CCF Online Portal account in 2026.
- Any documents on refugee status, acquittal or limitation periods must be translated, if available.
What not to do
- Passport copies must not be uploaded to unofficial "INTERPOL check" websites on the internet.
- The absence of a name on the public list must not be interpreted as "I have no record" and travel must not be undertaken on that basis.
- Trust must not be placed in fraudsters who promise a fake "INTERPOL Clean Record Certificate".
- Contradictory statements must not be made before the court file of the source country has been examined.
How to recognize fake INTERPOL letters and fraud attempts
INTERPOL publishes official warnings against fraud carried out using its name and logo:
- INTERPOL does not collect fines: No INTERPOL official may ask you for a penalty, a settlement or a payment for the deletion of a record.
- INTERPOL does not freeze bank accounts: INTERPOL does not place blocks on bank accounts or issue documents for the lifting of a block.
- Official notices are not made by e-mail or WhatsApp: Criminal summonses are served by official law enforcement and judicial authorities.
How should a CCF decision be used before other authorities?
A decision of the CCF stating that a record has been deleted or does not exist is a final document. However, this decision does not automatically update national systems:
- The decision must be submitted to the Directorate General for Foreign Relations and European Union of the Ministry of Justice in Türkiye.
- An application must be made to the INTERPOL Department of the General Directorate of Security in Türkiye so that the search note in the national police system (UYAP/EGİM) is removed.
- Unjust administrative restriction codes (such as G-87) must be removed by submitting them to the Presidency of Migration Management.
- An officially certified copy must be presented to the border authorities of the target countries of travel.
What work does Güneş & Güneş Law Firm carry out?
Güneş & Güneş Law Firm, with its team specializing in international criminal law and INTERPOL law, provides legal advice and attorney services in Turkish, English, German and Russian in the following matters:
- Carrying out official Access, Correction and Deletion applications through the 2026 CCF Online Portal,
- Conducting urgent intervention files with a request for Interim Measures,
- Conducting the defence in provisional arrest and extradition cases in Türkiye under Law No. 6706,
- Following actions for annulment of G-87 and related restriction codes in administrative jurisdiction,
- Managing individual applications before the Constitutional Court and the ECtHR.
Frequently asked questions
Is there no Red Notice about me if my name does not appear on Google or on the INTERPOL website?
No. Most Red Notices are secret. Not being on the public list does not prove that there is no record.
Does INTERPOL issue a clean record certificate to anyone?
No. INTERPOL does not issue a standard "criminal record certificate". Information can only be obtained through an access request via the CCF portal.
Is a CCF application subject to a fee?
The CCF does not charge an application fee. However, legal representation, translation and domestic litigation costs are separate matters.
Can I submit my application by e-mail or by post?
No. From March 26, 2026, applications are accepted only through the online CCF Portal.
Will the source country find out that I have applied to the CCF?
The application is confidential; however, the General Secretariat may contact the NCB of the source country to verify the data. Sensitive confidentiality requests must be stated in the application form.
How long does it take for a CCF decision to be issued?
Access requests are, as a rule, decided within 4 months after they are accepted, and deletion requests within 9 months.
Conclusion
For a person who suspects that there is an INTERPOL record about them, public search screens are not sufficient. The only official and legally secure route, mandatory as of 2026, is to make a proper access request through the CCF Online Portal.
A CCF application alone is not sufficient; the Law No. 6706 in Turkish domestic law, the case law of the Constitutional Court and the ECtHR, and border restriction codes must be assessed at the same time. Travel safety and the protection of liberty require an expert review of international criminal law. The prior permission dimension of codes such as N-99 is explained in our article Prior permission and visa with explanatory notes under N-82 and N-99 restriction codes.
Privacy and legal notice
The information presented in this article is for general information purposes and does not replace a legal opinion based on the specific characteristics of a concrete case. All data and documents shared with Güneş & Güneş Law Firm are kept in absolute confidence under professional secrecy and the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK).
Sources and legal bases
INTERPOL official sources
- CCF — Online Application Portal: Mandatory online portal from March 26, 2026 and application principles.
- Statute of the CCF: Statute of the Commission (Articles 19, 34, 35, 37).
- INTERPOL Constitution: Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution (prohibition of political persecution).
Court decisions
- CJEU Grand Chamber: WS v. Bundesrepublik Deutschland, C-505/19, May 12, 2021 (EU:C:2021:376).
- ECtHR: M.C. v. Türkiye, Application No. 31592/18, June 4, 2024.
- ECtHR: Liu v. Poland, Application No. 37610/18, October 6, 2022.
- Constitutional Court (AYM): Azamatjon Rakhimov, Application No. 2014/19285, May 8, 2019.
- Council of State 10th Chamber: E. 2021/4581, K. 2023/1204 (annulment of restriction code).
Legislation and academic sources
- Law No. 6706 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Official Gazette, May 5, 2016, No. 29703).
- Machiko Kanetake, "INTERPOL's Red Notices: Human Rights Safeguards for Targeted Individuals", AJIL Unbound, Vol. 120, 2026.
- Rutsel Silvestre J. Martha, The Legal Foundations of INTERPOL, Hart Publishing.