International Background Checks: When and Why You Need Them

International background checks verify a rental applicant's criminal history, identity, and sometimes employment or education credentials in countries outside the United States. They are necessary when a prospective tenant has recently arrived in the U.S., has lived abroad for an extended period, or lacks a domestic credit and rental history for standard screening.

Immigrants make up nearly 14% of the U.S. population, and the majority of new arrivals are looking for rental housing. Landlords who refuse to consider international applicants limit their tenant pool unnecessarily. Landlords who accept them without proper screening take on unnecessary risk. The right approach is to screen international applicants with the same rigor you apply to domestic applicants, using the tools available for cross-border verification.

When Do You Need an International Background Check?

Standard U.S. tenant screening services rely on Social Security Numbers (SSNs) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to pull credit reports, criminal records, and eviction history from domestic databases. An international background check becomes necessary when:

• The applicant has no SSN or ITIN. Foreign nationals who recently arrived in the U.S. may not yet have either number. Without one, TransUnion and other credit bureaus cannot generate a screening report.
• The applicant has lived outside the U.S. for a significant period. Even U.S. citizens who lived abroad for several years may have gaps in their domestic credit and rental history. An international check fills those gaps.
• The applicant's rental and employment history is primarily overseas. If most of the applicant's verifiable history comes from another country, domestic databases will show very little.
• Your property is in a market with high international demand. Areas like South Florida, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and university towns see a disproportionate number of international applicants. In South Florida, for example, international buyers account for a significant share of real estate transactions.

What Does an International Background Check Cover?

International screening is not a single product. It varies significantly by country, and the data available depends on local laws, record-keeping practices, and government accessibility. A typical international tenant screening may include:

Criminal Record Search

A criminal search in the applicant's country of origin or prior residence. Coverage and depth vary by country. Some nations maintain centralized criminal databases. Others require requests to local police or judicial authorities. In certain EU countries, strict data privacy regulations (including GDPR) limit third-party access to criminal records.

Identity Verification

Confirmation that the applicant is who they claim to be, using a passport, national ID, or government-issued documentation from their home country.

Global Watchlist and Sanctions Screening

A search against international watchlists compiled from government agencies worldwide, including lists of individuals involved in terrorist activities, money laundering, fraud, violations of banking regulations, and fugitives from justice. This is often referred to as OFAC screening in the U.S., but international screening services check lists from multiple countries.

Employment and Education Verification

Contacting previous employers or educational institutions in the applicant's home country to verify claims on the application. This is more time-consuming than domestic verification due to language barriers, time zone differences, and varying response rates.

What International Screening Does NOT Provide

There are limitations landlords need to understand:

• No U.S. credit report. Without an SSN or ITIN, credit bureaus cannot generate a domestic credit report. If the applicant has an ITIN, some screening services can pull a limited report, but it may contain little data if the applicant is new to the U.S.
• No U.S. eviction history. Eviction records are pulled from domestic court systems. An applicant with no U.S. rental history will have no eviction records to report.
• Variable data quality by country. Some countries maintain detailed, accessible records. Others have limited or fragmented record-keeping systems. The depth of a criminal search in the United Kingdom will be very different from one in a developing nation with limited digital infrastructure.

How to Screen International Applicants Legally

The Fair Housing Act protects every person in the United States regardless of citizenship status, visa type, or country of origin. Landlords cannot refuse to rent to someone simply because they are not a U.S. citizen. Doing so violates federal law and can result in penalties starting at over $20,000 for first-time offenses.

Here is the compliant approach to screening international applicants:

1. Use the same application for every applicant. Do not create a separate process for international tenants. Everyone fills out the same form and pays the same fee.
2. Request a government-issued photo ID. A valid passport is acceptable. Compare the information against the application.
3. Order an international background check. VerifyTenant offers international background checks with pricing that varies by nationality. The process requires a special consent form along with a copy of the applicant's passport and national ID.
4. Request alternative financial documentation. If no credit report is available, ask for 12 months of bank statements, proof of employment or income, or a letter from the applicant's employer. Apply this requirement consistently to all applicants who lack a U.S. credit history.
5. Contact previous landlords directly. Even if the landlord is overseas, a phone call or email to verify rental history provides valuable information.
6. Consider requiring a larger security deposit or a co-signer. Where permitted by state law, a larger deposit or a co-signer with a verifiable U.S. credit history can offset the lack of domestic screening data. Apply this requirement consistently.

What VerifyTenant Offers for International Screening

VerifyTenant provides international background checks with coverage that varies by country. Pricing depends on the applicant's nationality and the specific checks requested. In addition to the standard consent form, international screenings require a copy of the applicant's passport and national ID.

VerifyTenant also provides specific consent forms for common international screening scenarios:

• Consent Form for Canadian Criminal Search
• Consent Form for Canadian Credit Report
• South America Criminal Check Authorization (requires passport and national ID)
• Brazil Criminal Check Authorization (requires passport and national ID)

All forms are available for download in the Resources section.

Key Takeaways

• International background checks are necessary when applicants lack a U.S. SSN, ITIN, or domestic rental history.
• Fair Housing law protects all people in the U.S. regardless of citizenship. You cannot refuse to rent based on national origin or immigration status.
• International screening covers criminal records, identity verification, watchlist checks, and sometimes employment or education verification. Coverage varies by country.
• No U.S. credit report or eviction history will be available for applicants without an SSN or ITIN. Use bank statements and employer verification as alternatives.
• VerifyTenant offers international background checks and provides consent forms for Canadian, South American, and Brazilian applicants in the Resources section.
• Apply the same screening process to every applicant. Consistency is your best legal protection.