Legal Clearance

The Peace Corps needs to know your complete legal history in order to make an informed decision regarding an invitation to serve. Learn more about the legal clearance process.

Learn about legal clearance

The Peace Corps is required to complete a background investigation on all applicants to ensure that their service is consistent with the mission and values of the Peace Corps. In addition, because the safety and security of our Volunteers and community partners are priorities, we thoroughly review the legal history of every applicant.

Disclosing all legal information during the application process is important as you will undergo a background investigation upon receiving a conditional invitation to serve in the Peace Corps.

Information revealed by the background investigation, including information that you failed to disclose, may be grounds for disqualification from Peace Corps service.

Legal clearance tasks

Most of the legal clearance process takes place after you’re conditionally invited to serve. You will receive an email with instructions about submitting fingerprints and a background investigation certification form. You can’t depart for your Peace Corps service assignment until we get the results of your background investigation.

Don’t delay completing your background check, which can take several weeks. We’ll reach out by email with additional information and reminders as you work through the required tasks.

You will receive a notification once your legal forms have been processed and another notification with the final outcome of your legal clearance.

Pro tip: Pay close attention to the instructions and be consistent with the information you provide. Small errors, even leaving something blank, can lead to big delays in receiving your legal clearance.

What does the background investigation reveal?

The investigation will reveal all citations, charges, arrests, and convictions, regardless of disposition (i.e., suspended sentence, deferred judgment, dismissal, not guilty, reduced charge, mistaken identity, or expungement).

What if a new legal issue comes up after I’ve been conditionally invited to serve?

If a new legal issue comes up after you have been conditionally invited to serve, please contact legal placement immediately at [email protected].

Appeal process

If your legal clearance is not granted by the Peace Corps, you may be able to appeal the decision and/or reapply at a later date.

You should contact legal placement with your concerns and/or questions by emailing [email protected].