FD 258 vs FD 1164: The Two Main Types of Ink Fingerprint Cards
Fingerprint cards look simple until the wrong one gets used. Both cards may have the same black rolled prints, the same flat impressions, and similar personal information fields. Yet one small form choice can slow down a background check, delay a license, or force a new set of prints.
The two main types of traditional FBI ink fingerprint cards are the FD-258 and the FD-1164. They serve different purposes, even though they look similar at first glance. The easiest way to remember the difference is this:
FD-258 is generally used when an agency, employer, licensing board, or other authorized requester needs fingerprints for a background check. FD-1164 is generally used when a person is requesting their own FBI Identity History Summary.
That distinction matters because fingerprint cards are not just pieces of paper. They are routing documents. They tell the receiving agency why the prints were taken, who requested them, and how the results should be handled.
The two main fingerprint card types are used for different reasons
The FD-258 and FD-1164 are both paper fingerprint cards used to capture a full set of fingerprints. Each card can include:
Rolled fingerprints for each finger
Plain, or flat, impressions
Name and identifying details
Signature fields
Information about the reason for fingerprinting
That shared format is why people often confuse them. At a glance, they both seem to do the same job. In practice, they answer two different questions.
The FD-258 answers a requester’s question: “Can this person be cleared for this license, job, permit, or other official purpose?”
The FD-1164 answers an individual’s question: “What information does the FBI have in my Identity History Summary?”
That is the main difference between FD 258, FD 1164 cards. One is usually tied to a third-party official request. The other is usually tied to a personal record request.
This is also why choosing the correct form before the prints are taken is so important. The ink impressions may be usable, but the wrong card can still create an administrative problem.
What the FD-258 fingerprint card is used for
The FD-258 is often called the Applicant Fingerprint Card. It is the card most people see when fingerprinting is required for a job, license, certification, permit, or other official background check.
Common FD-258 uses include:
Professional licensing
Certain employment background checks
Security-related applications
Volunteer screening for regulated roles
Firearm-related checks where paper cards are accepted
Adoption or foster care processes
State or federal agency submissions that request this card type
The exact use depends on the agency asking for the fingerprints. Some agencies accept paper cards. Others require live scan electronic submission. Some may allow either option, depending on the applicant’s location or situation.
The FD-258 often includes fields that help route the submission to the right place. One of the most important is the ORI, or Originating Agency Identifier. This field tells the system which agency is requesting the fingerprint-based check.
If the ORI is missing, wrong, or not required for the specific submission, the process may fail or get delayed. That is why the requester’s instructions matter more than guesswork.
What information appears on an FD-258
An FD-258 generally includes a mix of fingerprint blocks and personal information fields. These may include:
Full name
Aliases or other names used
Date of birth
Sex
Race
Height
Weight
Eye color
Hair color
Place of birth
Citizenship
Social Security number, when applicable
Reason fingerprinted
Employer and address, when applicable
ORI or agency information
Signature of the person fingerprinted
Signature of the official taking the prints
Not every field applies to every situation. The requesting agency should provide instructions on which fields must be completed and how.
A common mistake is assuming that a fingerprint technician decides the reason for fingerprinting. In most cases, the technician captures the prints and fills out basic identity fields. The applicant or requesting agency must provide the correct reason, agency code, and submission instructions.
What the FD-1164 fingerprint card is used for
The FD-1164 is commonly associated with an FBI Identity History Summary request. This is the process a person uses to request a copy of their own FBI criminal history record, if one exists.
People may request their own Identity History Summary for several reasons, such as:
Personal record review
Checking for errors
Preparing for immigration or travel-related paperwork
Reviewing information before applying for a license or position
Challenging or correcting a record
Meeting a requirement from a foreign government or private organization
The FD-1164 is not usually the card an employer, licensing board, or agency asks for when they are ordering a background check for their own decision-making process. It is mainly for the individual’s own request to the FBI or through an approved channel, when permitted.
The key point is control of the result. With an FD-1164, the request is generally about giving the person access to their own FBI Identity History Summary. With an FD-258, the result is usually tied to the purpose and agency listed in the submission instructions.
What information appears on an FD-1164
An FD-1164 also captures a full set of fingerprints and identifying information. It may ask for details similar to the FD-258, such as:
Full legal name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Physical descriptors
Contact or mailing information
Signature
Rolled and flat fingerprint impressions
The fields may be arranged differently from the FD-258, and the purpose of the card is different. The FD-1164 is built around the individual’s request for their own FBI record, not a general agency-directed applicant submission.
Because the FD-1164 is tied to an Identity History Summary request, the submission instructions can be very specific. If a form must be mailed, uploaded, or paired with an online request, follow the current instructions from the receiving organization.
The main difference between FD-258 and FD-1164
The simplest way to separate the two cards is to look at who needs the result and why the fingerprints are being submitted.
Card | Main purpose | Typical requester | Common use |
FD-258 | Applicant or agency-directed background check | Employer, licensing board, government agency, or authorized requester | Licensing, employment, permits, regulated screening |
FD-1164 | Personal FBI Identity History Summary request | The individual being fingerprinted | Personal record review, correction, or proof of record status |
Both cards can hold usable fingerprints. The difference is not mainly about the ink, the rolling method, or the physical act of fingerprinting. The difference is the purpose and routing of the submission.
Think of it like two envelopes. The paper inside may be similar, but the address and reason for sending it are different. If the fingerprints go in the wrong “envelope,” the receiving agency may not process them the way the person expects.
FD-258 is for applicant processing
The FD-258 is the better-known card because it shows up in many official background check processes. The requester often gives detailed instructions, including the correct agency information and reason for fingerprinting.
For example, a state licensing board may ask an applicant to submit fingerprints on an FD-258 because the board needs a fingerprint-based background check before issuing a license. In that case, the card supports the licensing decision.
FD-1164 is for personal record access
The FD-1164 is narrower. It supports a person’s request to see their own FBI Identity History Summary. That summary may show arrest-related information reported to the FBI, or it may show that no record exists.
For example, a person who wants to check whether an old arrest still appears in federal records may submit fingerprints for an Identity History Summary request. In that case, the card supports personal review, not an employer’s hiring decision.
How to choose the right fingerprint card
The best way to choose between these two cards is not to rely on the card’s appearance. Start with the instruction sheet from the agency, employer, board, or organization that requested the fingerprints.
Use the FD-258 when the request says something like:
Submit an applicant fingerprint card
Use FBI form FD-258
Provide fingerprints for licensing
Provide fingerprints for employment or agency screening
Include an ORI or agency code
Mail the card to a state or federal agency, board, or authorized processor
Use the FD-1164 when the request says something like:
Request your own FBI Identity History Summary
Submit fingerprints for personal record review
Use the Identity History Summary fingerprint card
Send fingerprints as part of an FBI personal record request
Review or challenge your own FBI record
When the instructions do not name a card, ask the requester before getting printed. This small step can prevent reprints, extra fees, and missed deadlines.
Do not assume another card will be accepted
Some receivers are strict about card type. Others may focus more on fingerprint quality and required data fields. The problem is that the person taking the prints may not know what the receiving agency will accept.
That means the safest approach is simple: bring the exact card or instructions provided by the requester.
If the requester says FD-258, use FD-258. If the request is for an FBI Identity History Summary and the instructions call for FD-1164, use FD-1164.
Check whether paper cards are allowed
Many fingerprint checks now use electronic live scan systems. Even so, paper cards still matter. They are often used when:
The applicant is outside the state where live scan is required
The agency accepts out-of-state applicants by mail
A federal or international process asks for ink fingerprints
A personal FBI record request allows a mailed fingerprint card
A live scan site is not available nearby
Paper cards remain useful because they are portable and widely understood. Still, electronic submission may be required for some processes. Always check before using paper.
Common mistakes that cause delays
Most fingerprint card problems fall into two groups: wrong form and poor print quality.
Wrong form problems include:
Using FD-1164 when the agency asked for FD-258
Using FD-258 for a personal record request that asks for FD-1164
Leaving agency fields blank when they are required
Entering the wrong reason for fingerprinting
Mailing the card to the wrong recipient
Print quality problems include:
Smudged rolled impressions
Fingers rolled too far or not far enough
Prints placed in the wrong boxes
Too much ink
Too little ink
Flat impressions that do not show enough ridge detail
Good fingerprinting is controlled and deliberate. The person being fingerprinted should keep the hand relaxed while the technician rolls each finger from nail edge to nail edge. Pressing too hard often creates dark, blurred prints. Pressing too lightly may leave missing ridge detail.
The card should also stay clean. Stray ink marks, torn corners, folded cards, and overwritten fields can create avoidable problems.
What stays the same across both cards
Although the FD-258 and FD-1164 serve different purposes, the fingerprinting basics are the same.
Both cards need clear ridge detail. Both should match the person’s identity information. Both should be completed with readable text. Both may be rejected if the prints are too smudged, too light, or incomplete.
The person taking the prints should also verify the order of the fingers. Fingerprint cards usually separate rolled impressions from flat impressions. Each finger has a specific box. If the right index finger goes in the wrong place, the card may not be usable.
The best fingerprint cards are boring in a good way. The information is readable. The prints are clean. The fields match the instructions. Nothing is crossed out unless the receiving agency allows corrections.
The bottom line on FD-258 vs FD-1164
The FD-258 and FD-1164 are the two main paper cards people encounter when dealing with ink fingerprint cards. They look similar because both collect the same basic biometric information, but they are used for different purposes.
Use the FD-258 when fingerprints are being submitted for an agency-directed applicant background check, such as licensing, employment, permits, or official screening.
Use the FD-1164 when fingerprints are being submitted so an individual can request their own FBI Identity History Summary.
If there is any doubt, do not choose based on appearance. Follow the written instructions from the requesting agency or the FBI record request process. The right card helps the fingerprints reach the right place, for the right reason, the first time.
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