Best Background Check Tools for Hiring International Contractors and Full-time Employees in 2026

As teams become more distributed and hiring crosses more borders, background checks have become a core element of managing risk, protecting data, and staying compliant. The right partner should help you verify people quickly and accurately while ensuring every step aligns with local laws in the countries where you hire—whether you're bringing on contractors, full-time employees, or both.

This guide breaks down the leading international background check solutions available today and how they compare—highlighting how Deel brings background checks, contracts, payroll, and HR together in one seamless global platform.

Key criteria for choosing international background check tools

Selecting the right background check platform depends on a few core dimensions that determine how reliably and compliantly you can hire across borders.

Global reach and database coverage

A strong international screening tool must access accurate data across multiple jurisdictions and adapt to different record-keeping systems. Look for:

• Broad geographic coverage with consistent access to reliable local data sources
• Ability to verify identity, criminal records, employment, and education for both contractors and employees
• Infrastructure that supports consistent screening quality across countries

Compliance support

Background checks involve sensitive data and must comply with local and international privacy and employment laws. Effective tools typically provide:

• Workflows aligned with regulations such as FCRA and GDPR
• Clear guidance on which checks are permissible for different worker types in each jurisdiction
• Built-in processes for consent, authorization, and candidate rights

Speed and candidate experience

Efficient screening keeps candidates engaged and helps you move quickly in competitive markets. Consider:

• Average turnaround times across the countries where you hire
• Candidate-friendly submission flows and real-time status updates
• Streamlined verification steps that reduce manual back-and-forth for both contractors and employees

Integration and automation

Background checks work best when they’re embedded naturally into your hiring process. Prioritize:

• Integrations with your ATS or HRIS
• Automated triggers and result updates
• Centralized result delivery that reduces manual data handling across worker types

Contractor vs. employee background checks: What’s different?

International hiring adds complexity because contractors and full-time employees often require different levels of screening. Regulations, risk exposure, and data-handling rules vary widely across countries, making it essential to tailor your approach for each worker type.

Background checks for international contractors

Contractor screenings usually focus on verifying identity, legitimacy, and qualifications without overreaching into checks reserved for employees. Typical elements include:

• Identity and right-to-work/right-to-provide-services verification
• Professional credential or license verification
• Narrow, role-specific criminal or sanctions checks where allowed

Background checks for international employees

Employee screenings are often more comprehensive due to deeper access to systems and sensitive data. They commonly include:

• Robust identity validation
• Criminal record checks within legal limits
• Education and employment verification
• Additional screening for regulated or high-risk roles

A strong global solution should automatically adjust screening flows based on worker classification. Deel supports this by integrating classification, onboarding, and background checks in one place.

Overview of top background check solutions

Below is a high-level snapshot of leading employment background screening platforms and

Deel: Global background checks built into your hiring, payroll, and HR stack

Deel is a global HR and payroll platform where background checks flow directly into the same system used to hire, onboard, and pay your workforce. Instead of managing screening in a separate tool, Deel embeds checks directly into contract creation and onboarding—eliminating gaps between hiring, verification, and payroll activation.

Key features

• Background checks available in 200+ countries: Deel provides international screening across a wide network of jurisdictions, allowing teams to verify candidates wherever they live or work and ensuring checks remain aligned with local legal requirements
• Support for hiring in 150+ countries: Deel’s global infrastructure and in-country expertise connect screening directly to compliant onboarding, worker classification, and ongoing employment processes
• Fast turnaround times: Many soft checks are completed within minutes, and most standard verifications return results within about a day, helping teams move quickly on both contractors and employees
• Comprehensive screening options: Deel offers criminal record checks, identity verification, employment and education history checks, sanctions screenings, and media searches, all powered by extensive global data sources
• Unified end-to-end workflow: Background check results sync automatically with hiring stages, compliance steps, and payroll activation, reducing manual work and eliminating the need for multiple disconnected tools

Best for

Deel is best for organizations of all sizes that want one global platform instead of several disconnected tools. For teams hiring both contractors and employees across multiple countries, Deel makes screening, onboarding, and payroll part of one smooth, compliant workflow.

Checkr: API-first platform for scalable, high-volume screening

Checkr is built around automation and integrations, making it efficient for teams that need to run large numbers of background checks quickly.

Key features

• Extensive API and pre-built integrations with ATS and HR platforms
• Automated adjudication tools and AI-supported decision flows
• Fast turnaround for many standard checks
• Support for screening in and outside candidates’ home countries

Best for

Checkr is best for organizations running high-volume or automation-heavy hiring, especially when looking to integrate screening with existing systems tightly.

HireRight: Global screening for multinational employers

HireRight is a long-established screening provider with international capabilities and deep enterprise integrations.

Key features

• International background screening across various jurisdictions
• Support for pre-employment checks, rescreening, and workforce monitoring
• Integrations with major ATS and HR systems
• Reporting and insights for global compliance programs

Best for

HireRight is best for multinational organizations seeking a stand-alone, enterprise-ready screening provider.

GoodHire: Employment checks for small and mid-sized businesses

GoodHire serves smaller US-based organizations that need straightforward, compliant background checks.

Key features

• FCRA-aligned consent, disclosure, and authorization flows
• Simple setup designed for small HR teams
• Candidate portal for document entry and status updates
• Primarily US-focused, with some international check options

Best for

GoodHire is best for small and mid-sized US employers wanting practical, employment-focused checks.

First Advantage: Enterprise-grade screening and digital identity

First Advantage provides screening and identity verification solutions for large, complex organizations.

Key features

• Screening and identity services across the hiring lifecycle
• Automation and analytics for risk management
• Configurable programs for different roles and regions
• Scalable infrastructure for distributed teams

Best for

First Advantage is best for enterprises requiring customizable, globally scalable background screening.

Cisive: Rules-based global screening for regulated industries

Cisive focuses on precision, regulatory alignment, and structured workflows for complex hiring environments.

Key features

• Global screening designed around local regulatory requirements
• Rules-based workflows that adapt by country or role
• Support for compliance-sensitive industries
• Strong fit for organizations managing multi-region background check programs

Best for

Cisive is best for organizations in regulated or high-risk industries that require strict screening oversight.

How to choose the right background check tool for your company

Step 1: Map where and how you hire

Document the countries where you hire today, where you’ll hire next, and your mix of contractors vs. employees. Companies with broad international footprints typically benefit most from a unified global platform like Deel.

Step 2: Compare based on your priorities

Focus on aligning your background check solution with your organization's needs. Key priorities include:

• Global coverage and consistency: Screening must be reliable across regions, with predictable data quality and local compliance
• Privacy and compliance alignment: Look for strong data protection practices, including GDPR support and clear guidance on permissible checks
• Support for different worker types: Ensure screening can adapt to contractors and employees, triggering only legally appropriate checks for each
• Automation and scalability: High-volume teams benefit from ATS integrations, workflow automation, and real-time updates
• Flexibility for complex organizations: Screening rules may need to vary across countries, teams, or roles—configurability is critical.
• Unified or integrated workflows: Decide whether you prefer one platform handling hiring, background checks, and payroll, or a screening tool that integrates into a broader tech stack

Step 3: Test the full workflow

Request a demo that includes contractor and employee hiring flows, variations by role, and verification across multiple regions. With Deel, the entire process—from contract to background check to payroll activation—happens in one place.

Simplify global background checks with Deel

Managing international background checks doesn’t need to add complexity to your hiring workflow.

Deel background checks bring global screening, automated processes, and clear reporting together in one platform—so HR teams can verify candidates across borders without juggling separate tools or manual follow-ups.

With background checks available in over 200 countries and connected to extensive global data sources, Deel helps teams run fast, compliant screenings for employees and contractors—all directly within the Deel platform.

Experience a streamlined approach to global verification and see how Deel supports efficient, compliant background checks worldwide.

Request a demo to get started.

FAQ

What key features should I prioritize for international background checks?

Look for global coverage, compliance capabilities, configurable packages, and strong integrations—or a single platform where hiring, payroll, and screening work together.

How do background check services handle international compliance?

Leading tools support consent, data rights, retention limits, and guidance on permissible checks. Deel embeds screening within a broader global compliance framework across employment and payroll.

Can background checks differ for contractors versus employees?

Yes. Contractors generally require more targeted checks, while employees often require more comprehensive screening. Deel supports both paths natively.

What turnaround times should I expect?

Many providers complete basic checks within a day or a few days, while multi-country checks vary based on local record availability.

How do background check tools integrate with hiring systems?

Most integrate with ATS or HR systems or offer APIs. Deel performs screening directly within its global hiring and payroll platform, reducing complexity.