How to Join Interpol

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Learn the qualifications and requirements for joining Interpol

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 References

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• Applying to Work at Interpol
|
• Meeting Interpol Requirements
|
• Q&A

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Comprised of 192 member countries, Interpol is an international policing agency that works with national law enforcement agencies to bring criminals to justice. Most positions at Interpol require you to be an existing law enforcement officer in a member country. From there, you can apply to different positions online. Once your application is accepted and you pass a background check, you’ll be contacted by an Interpol agent for the rest of the hiring process.

Starting a Career at Interpol

Visit Interpol's website and browse their careers page. Look for a position that you qualify for, and apply on the website. Interpol employees must be adults of participating member countries.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Applying to Work at Interpol

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1. 1
   Visit https://www.interpol.int/Recruitment to see available job openings. Visit the site and click on “Current Vacancies” on the left-hand side of the screen. This will bring up a page that will display a list of current job openings at Interpol.

   • Narrow down your search by location and job type.
2. 2
   Scan the available job listings to narrow down your choices. Look for jobs that match your prior experience and education. Find a position that interests you and make sure to read the entire description of the job. Click on a listing to bring up more details about the position.

   • You can also use the search bar at the top of the page to look for specific positions.
   • You must be an existing law-enforcement officer for "seconded positions."
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3. 3
   Create an account on Interpol’s website. Before you can submit an application for employment, you’ll need to register on Interpol’s website and create an account. Click on “Apply To Job” on the bottom of the page of the listing that you're interested in to navigate to the account creation page. From here, you’ll need to input basic information like your name, address, and phone number. You can also upload and attach a resume and other important documents to your profile.

   • If you already have an account with Interpol recruitment, you can skip this step.
   • Important documents may include your passport or national ID card.
4. 4
   Fill out an application and submit your CV and cover letter. Fill out all the mandatory fields in the application that you want to submit. If you already uploaded a CV or resume when creating your account, you won’t have to do it again.

   • Make sure that you submit an application before the application deadline. Submissions after the deadline date won’t be considered.
   • If you want to apply to more than one position, submit your application and resume to each individual listing.
5. 5
   Wait for a call or email from an Interpol agent. If your application and resume are accepted, an Interpol agent will give you a call to set up an interview in person or over video conference. This process could take anywhere from 2 weeks to an entire month.
6. 6
   Go on the interview and complete the required exam. Once you pass the interview portion, Interpol will contact you again to take a written exam at one of their locations. If you pass the exam, they will send you a job offer with the organization.

   • It may take over 1 full month for Interpol to conduct a thorough background check and finalize your job offer.
   • The exam will cover basic questions regarding your position as well as hypothetical questions on how you'll handle specific situations.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Meeting Interpol Requirements

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1. 1
   Be an adult citizen of one of Interpol’s member countries. In order to work at Interpol, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and a citizen of one of Interpol's 192 member countries. Visit https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World, to check that your country is on the list.

   • Interpol operates in countries like the United States, China, Egypt, and Denmark.
   • Countries that are not in Interpol’s membership list include North Korea, Bhutan, and Taiwan.
2. 2
   Contact your local National Central Bureau to check for eligibility. The National Central Bureau, or NCB, of your country, must send a certified letter to Interpol to validate your eligibility to work there. Once you decide on the job that you want to apply to, ensure that you're eligible by giving the NCB a call.

   • In the United States of America, Interpol agents work for the Department of Justice at the Interpol Washington office.
3. 3
   Become a law enforcement official for seconded positions. Most employees at Interpol are known as seconded officials, meaning that they are an existing law enforcement officer in their member country. As a seconded official, you will work as a liaison between your law enforcement or defense agency and Interpol to help solve international crimes.

   • Most Interpol agents have several years of law enforcement experience before working with Interpol.
   • You can also contract directly with the Interpol agency, but law enforcement experience is often required.
   • Internships are available to those with no law-enforcement experience.
4. 4
   Meet the minimum education and experience requirements for the post. Interpol positions typically require a university degree unless you want to intern. In addition, certain positions require an advanced degree in a certain field related to the job. Before you apply to a position, make sure you read the listing and meet all of the educational and experience requirements for the job.

   • Degrees that may be required for Interpol work include criminal justice, law, criminology, or IT.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can a B. Tech graduate join Interpol?

  

  Community Answer

  It depends on whether you studied the IT area of B. Tech. You would need to be really good at IT.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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• Question

  What are the qualifications to get an Interpol job?

  

  Community Answer

  You must be at least 18 years old with a working knowledge of English. You must live in one of the almost 200 countries in which Interpol operates. You should have at least a bachelor's degree and some law-enforcement experience.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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