Why do fingerprints get rejected?

Common causes include dry or worn skin (from labor or washing), skin conditions like eczema, or excessive moisture/sweat.

How do you prevent fingerprint rejection?

We use LiveScan digital technology which gives an instant quality score, allowing us to rescan immediately. We also use specialized enhancers for dry skin.

Fingerprint Rejection: Causes and How to Avoid It

Receiving a rejection letter from the RCMP or FBI is frustrating. It means delays in your application and often requires you to redo the process. Here is why rejections happen and how to prevent them.

Common Causes of Poor Quality Prints

Dry or Worn Skin: Frequent hand washing, manual labor, or age can smooth out ridges.
Skin Conditions: Eczema or peeling skin can obscure ridge detail.
Sweat/Moisture: Excess moisture can cause prints to appear "muddy" or dark.

How We Avoid Rejections

At Surrey Fingerprint Company, we use advanced LiveScan Digital Technology. Unlike traditional ink, which is messy and permanent once on paper, digital scanners allow us to:

See Instant Quality Scores

The computer tells us immediately if a print is too light or dark, allowing us to rescan it instantly until it passes.

Use Enhancement Techniques

We carry specialized ridge-enhancing lotions that bring out detail in dry or worn fingers.

What If I Have "Hard to Capture" Hands?

If you know you have difficult prints, let our technician know! We have years of experience dealing with elderly applicants, construction workers, and healthcare professionals who often have faint fingerprints. We will take the extra time needed to get the best possible capture.