What Do Countries Do With Criminal Record Info Disclosed During A Visa Application?

[jecholmes]

If you disclose a criminal record when applying for a visa to another country, what happens to that information? Does it get added to that country's equivalent of the Police National Computer, or would it simply be used to determine if the applicant is eligible for a visa?

Also, would the details be shared with other countries or is there any kind of privacy act in place that prevents that from happening?

[TonyV]

Depends on what country you want to visit and what country you travelling from

[Buenchico]

There are remarkably few countries which actually ask any questions about criminal convictions. Assuming that you hold a British (or other EU) passport you can travel visa-free throughout the whole of the EU. Most other countries popular with tourists either don't require a visa or don't ask about criminal convictions when you apply for one.

The principal exceptions are the USA (which shares its criminal intelligence system with Canada and, I believe, Mexico) and Australia (which, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't share information directly with any other countries).

However, as TonyV indicates, on the rare indications that travellers are required to disclose criminal convictions, it's a matter for the individual country to decide what to do with the information. In many countries though, immigration staff are actually specialist police officers, so information gathered for immigration purposes might well be added to a local database of criminal convictions.

[TonyV]

Just to add to my previous answer best bet is to have a look at the country you wish to visit embassy's website it will hold all info on visa requirements

[Buenchico]

You can check the entry requirements for any country in the world (for British passport holders) here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

[CrapAtCryptics]

I`m inclined to think that, as you offer the information voluntarily, that they are entitled to keep it and, if necessary, share it with any appropriately authorised agency. Its probably in the small print.

[dzug2]

Well true - but raises the question of what/who appropriately authorised is