Hire smarter with global background checks

An international background check reviews a person's identity, work history, education, criminal records, and other key details across the countries where they have lived or worked. It gives you a clearer picture than a domestic check because each country keeps records in its own way. Columbus runs this through one simple process that covers 185+ countries.

A global sanctions background check looks for a person's name on official international lists that flag people with legal or security issues. These checks help you avoid hiring someone who is restricted from certain work or connected to high-risk activity.

Not always and not to the same extent. Each country sets its own limits on what you can check and what the candidate must approve. Some allow full checks, and others restrict certain parts like credit or criminal records.

Columbus follows local privacy rules in every country and only runs checks that are allowed and relevant.

A criminal record check looks for past convictions or pending charges tied to the places where a person has lived or worked. Some countries share this information for most jobs, and others only allow these checks when the positions truly needs it, like roles that handle sensitive information.

The goal is to check the person's history and potentially catch anything that could affect safety or trust once they join your team.

Companies run international background checks to confirm a candidate's identity, experience, education, and record across the countries where they've lived or worked.

These checks help prevent fraud, reduce hiring risks, and keep teams safe. They also support compliance with local laws and protect businesses from costly hiring mistakes and legal issues.

No. Countries store and share personal records differently.

Some countries keep information at a national level, and others split it across regions or limit access based on the role you're hiring for.

Rules around privacy, consent, and what employers can review also vary, which is why the same check can look different from one country to another.