An INTERPOL Red Notice is an international request asking law-enforcement authorities to locate a wanted person and, where national law permits, provisionally arrest them pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
A Red Notice is based on a national arrest warrant or court order, but it is not itself an international arrest warrant. INTERPOL does not arrest people, and every member country decides under its own law whether detention or another measure is legally available.
The practical consequences may include border questioning, additional police checks, immigration complications, provisional detention, banking reviews, and the beginning of extradition proceedings. However, the effect of a Red Notice differs considerably between countries.
Is a Red Notice an International Arrest Warrant?
No. A Red Notice is an international police alert, not an arrest warrant issued by INTERPOL.
Its legal basis is a national arrest warrant or judicial decision issued by the competent authority in the requesting country. Before publication, INTERPOL reviews the request for compliance with its Constitution and Rules on the Processing of Data.
This review does not determine whether the person is guilty and does not replace a national court hearing. It examines whether the request meets INTERPOL’s legal, data-quality, seriousness, and international-cooperation requirements.
After publication, each member country independently decides whether its domestic law permits provisional arrest or another measure.
Learn more about the difference between a Red Notice and an international arrest warrant.
What Are the Official Criteria for a Red Notice?
A member country normally submits a request through its National Central Bureau. Publication requires compliance with Article 83 of INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data.
The principal conditions include:
- a valid national arrest warrant or judicial decision having the same effect;
- a serious ordinary-law criminal offence;
- a maximum possible sentence of at least two years where the person is wanted for prosecution;
- a sentence and remaining custodial term of at least six months where the person is wanted to serve a sentence;
- sufficient identity information;
- a clear summary of the alleged conduct, including the person’s alleged role, time, and location;
- a genuine purpose connected with international police cooperation.
Red Notices should not ordinarily be used for private, family, commercial, or purely administrative disputes unless the alleged conduct falls within an applicable serious-crime exception.
Is a Red Notice the Only INTERPOL Alert?
No. INTERPOL also uses Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, Orange, Purple, and other Notices for different forms of international police cooperation. Silver Notices are currently used within a pilot framework to trace criminal assets, while INTERPOL–UN Special Notices concern persons and entities subject to UN sanctions.
Member countries may also circulate Diffusions directly to all or selected National Central Bureaus.
Read our complete guide to INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions.
Can a Red Notice Be Misused?
Yes. A requesting country may attempt to use an ordinary criminal allegation against a political opponent, journalist, former official, businessperson, or dissident.
INTERPOL’s Constitution prohibits activities of a predominantly political, military, religious, or racial character. Requests are reviewed before publication, but compliance questions may still arise where the political context is not apparent from the documents initially supplied or where relevant facts emerge later.
A person may ask the CCF to examine whether the data complies with Articles 2 and 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution and the Rules on the Processing of Data.
Relevant factors may include:
- the person’s political status or public activity;
- the general political context of the case;
- the nature of the charges;
- evidence of discrimination or retaliation;
- findings by foreign courts or asylum authorities;
- inconsistencies in the national proceedings;
- whether the alleged offence is genuinely an ordinary-law crime.
Red Notice data may be accessible to authorized national law-enforcement and border authorities where the relevant country has integrated INTERPOL checks into its domestic systems.
Banks, immigration authorities, employers, and compliance providers may also become aware of a public Notice or other related information. However, the practical consequences depend on national law, database access, publication status, and the policies of the institution involved.
What Happens If Authorities Locate a Person Through a Red Notice?
INTERPOL does not carry out arrests. Any action is taken by national authorities under domestic law.
Possible outcomes include:
- no immediate action;
- additional questioning or identity checks;
- referral to immigration or prosecuting authorities;
- provisional detention;
- a request for supporting documents from the requesting country;
- the beginning of extradition or surrender proceedings.
The available procedural rights, detention periods, bail rules, and appeal mechanisms depend on the country concerned.
A person who is detained should promptly obtain advice from a lawyer qualified in the jurisdiction of detention. Where an INTERPOL challenge and extradition proceedings run in parallel, the two strategies should be coordinated but treated as legally separate procedures.
Can a Red Notice Be Challenged?
A person may request access to data held in INTERPOL’s systems and, where appropriate, seek its correction or deletion through the CCF.
Potential grounds may include:
- predominantly political, military, religious, or racial circumstances;
- inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information;
- withdrawal or cancellation of the underlying warrant;
- insufficient judicial or identity data;
- serious human-rights concerns;
- a private, family, commercial, or administrative dispute;
- lack of proportionality or genuine international police interest;
- a concluded case, acquittal, or other relevant procedural development.
A CCF request does not itself cancel the underlying national arrest warrant or determine guilt. Related national criminal, immigration, or extradition proceedings may require separate legal action.
Learn about legal assistance with INTERPOL Red Notice removal through the CCF.
Frequently Asked Questions About Interpol Red Notices
Can you be arrested just from a Red Notice alone?
No. A Red Notice is not an arrest warrant — it is an international alert requesting provisional arrest. Local authorities must follow their own legal procedures. Enforcement depends entirely on whether the arresting country’s extradition laws and treaties permit action. Many jurisdictions require judicial authorisation before executing an arrest based on a Red Notice.
How long does a Red Notice stay active?
INTERPOL data is retained only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was recorded. Initial retention periods depend on the database and the nature of the data and are typically no longer than five years. Retention may be renewed if the requesting authority confirms that the underlying warrant remains valid and the purpose of international police cooperation continues. A Red Notice may also be deleted earlier if the warrant is withdrawn, the purpose ends, or the data is found to be non-compliant.
Can an innocent person challenge a Red Notice?
Yes. A person may submit an access, correction, or deletion request to the CCF. The applicant should provide clear legal arguments and supporting documents. During the review, the CCF may consult the source of the data and the INTERPOL General Secretariat before issuing its decision.
What is the difference between a Red Notice and extradition?
A Red Notice is an international police request designed to locate a wanted person and potentially support provisional arrest. Extradition is a separate formal legal procedure through which one state seeks the person’s surrender.
A Red Notice does not guarantee that an extradition request will be submitted or granted. Extradition depends on the applicable treaty or legal basis, domestic law, judicial review, and the circumstances of the case.
Has Interpol ever rejected a Red Notice request?
Yes. INTERPOL may deny a request before publication if it does not comply with the Organization’s rules. Existing data may also be cancelled by the General Secretariat or deleted following a CCF decision. When a Red Notice is deleted, it is removed from INTERPOL’s databases and member countries are notified so that they can update their national systems.
Can Countries Use Red Notices to Target Political Opponents Abroad?
Attempts to misuse international police cooperation can occur. However, INTERPOL’s Article 3 prohibition is considered during the pre-publication review conducted by the Notices and Diffusions Task Force, as well as during later compliance reviews and CCF proceedings. Where relevant political circumstances were not apparent during the initial review or new evidence becomes available, the person concerned may ask the CCF to examine whether the data complies with INTERPOL’s Constitution and Rules on the Processing of Data.
How can you remove a Red Notice once issued?
Two paths exist. The requesting country withdraws it voluntarily (rare without legal pressure). Or you challenge it through the CCF by demonstrating a violation of Interpol’s rules — a breach of the political-case prohibition, inaccurate data, or a human-rights concern. Local courts in the country where you are detained can also refuse to act if the notice conflicts with their own extradition safeguards.
Facing one yourself? Learn how to remove an Interpol Red Notice through the CCF.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified lawyer.