How Long Does It Take for a Background Check to Come Back?

Cindy Ellis - July 12, 2024

Background checks are typically conducted as the final step in the hiring process following the final interview. However, they are also requested for purposes beyond employment. Common scenarios where you might undergo a background check include renting an apartment, purchasing a firearm, and adopting a child.

While the primary objective of a background check is to verify information and assess someone’s history, the length of this process varies depending on several factors.

Our article will answer how long it takes for a background check to come back from the moment you give your formal consent. Read on to gain insights into what to expect regarding the timing of your background check.

Understanding Background Check Timing

Each background check is unique based on the information that needs to be verified. Considering that background checks can have several components, from verifying identity to checking references, no background check takes the same duration to come back. Also, how far back the background check goes also matters.

Nonetheless, most background checks are completed in one to four business days. If the background check service provider has an extensive list of details to verify, it can take longer, but it shouldn’t take more than two weeks.

How Long Different Components of a Background Check Take to Complete

While the above gives a general timeframe for how long a background check might take to come back, understanding the average duration of each component that goes into your background check will enable you to build realistic expectations.

Below, you’ll discover how long different components of a background check take to come back.

Identity Verification

Background checks usually start with verifying identity. To verify the identity of the individual undergoing a background check, the service provider may partner with identity providers or use official documents such as their driver’s license.

A basic identity verification typically takes under 24 hours. However, most background check service providers are able to verify an individual’s identity in hours.

Employment History Verification

Employment history verification is essential if the background check is being conducted for a job. This component of a background check verifies the individual’s work history, ensuring that they aren’t lying about their professional experience.

Background check service providers verify past employment in various ways. Even if you’ve provided pay stubs or W-2s to prove your work experience, the service provider may contact previous employers to verify that you’ve worked there.

During this process, they may also inquire about your workplace performance, duration of your employment, and reason for leaving. Depending on the feedback from your previous employers, the service provider may flag specific details like quitting without giving notice or termination due to misconduct.

As for how long this entire process takes, the average duration is between one and five days. If the service provider contacts the employer but can’t reach them, it may take longer.

Criminal History

All background checks include details about an individual’s criminal history. The service provider searches federal, state, and county criminal databases to verify if the person has a criminal history or pending charges. Some checks may also include global watchlists.

As most of the information regarding someone’s criminal history is in public records, this process takes only a few days – sometimes hours. However, if the individual has a lengthy criminal history, it may take longer for the service provider to verify all the charges.

Education Verification

An education verification check involves making a verification request to the institution or contacting them directly to verify the individual’s academic credentials. This is particularly important for fields that require formal education, such as healthcare and finances.

While some educational institutions are quick to respond, others may take several days to verify. Depending on how long it takes the educational institution to confirm, this step of a background check can take up to five business days to complete.

Reference Checks

Reference checks are conducted similarly to employment verification but only by actually contacting the references provided by the candidate. The aim is to not only verify references but also build a report around what they say about the person undergoing a background check.

Since the only way to check the references is by contacting them, this part of a background check can take more than a few days, possibly up to a week.

Credit History

Credit history is generally included in a background check if the position requires managing money—think accountant and financial analyst jobs. The check shows the individual’s credit history, including credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and whether or not the individual has filed for bankruptcy in the past.

While it is significant for such roles, checking credit history takes little time. Most background check service providers can obtain an individual’s credit history in a day, sometimes in just a few hours.

Driving Records

Similar to the above, driving records are included in a background check if the position requires operating a vehicle. This component of a background check searches motor vehicle records to see if the individual has committed traffic violations and, if so, the details of it, including accidents, DWI/DUI convictions, tickets, and citations.

Since driving records are public information, it won’t take much time for the service provider to include everything in the background check report. It is another component that has very little impact on how long it takes for a background check to come back.

Social Media Presence

Social media accounts have recently become a part of many background checks. Employers generally want to include this in the candidate’s background check to ensure that they don’t engage in unprofessional acts outside of work. Naturally, employers want the best people to represent their company.

However, due to privacy features on social media platforms, the background check service provider may not be able to get much information about the individual’s social media presence. They can only gather information if the individual’s social media accounts are set to public.

When it comes to the time frame, social media checks are quick to complete. They can be finalized within a few hours to two days. Therefore, they don’t have a significant impact on the time it takes for a background check to come back.

Address History

Although not as common as others, an address verification may be a part of the background check. This is usually done to further verify the individual’s information. For instance, the background check company may verify their address to ensure that the individual was living in the same location as the company they worked at in the past.

Background check companies verify past and current addresses through various sources, including credit reports and change of address forms filed with the post office. In most cases, address history verification is concluded within a day or two and doesn’t lengthen the duration it takes for a background check to come back.

How Long Is Too Long for a Background Check to Come Back?

Now that you have an answer to how long does it take for a background check to come back, you will have realistic expectations. While a background check may take a long time for several reasons, most are usually complete in a few days.

If your background check is taking an unnecessarily long time, say more than two weeks, consider contacting the company to get updates. If you’re undergoing a background check for employment, contacting HR and requesting updates is more than appropriate.

Conduct a Quick Background Check Online

A background check can take time, depending on the scope of it and the availability of the people the service provider is contacting. As you wait for your background check to come back, consider conducting a quick background check on yourself.

You can get started simply by entering your name, last name, city, and state on our online background check tool. Knowing the results will give you time to prepare in case something comes up on the background check your prospective employer conducts.