CCF Portal User Guide for Applicants
Submission of Requests to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF)

Launched in March 2026, the Portal is the CCF’s secure online platform used by Applicants or their authorized representatives to create and manage user accounts, submit requests and supporting documents, and communicate with the CCF.

All communications and supporting documents exchanged between Submitters and the CCF are securely stored and exclusively accessible through the Portal. Therefore, and unless otherwise requested by the CCF in exceptional circumstances, no original paper versions of the documents are required. Indeed, the CCF will not take into consideration any information or documents sent by e-mail or postal mail, unless the CCF has found exceptional circumstances requiring the use of other means, as provided for in Rule 25(2) of the CCF Operating Rules.

Submitters can also see the status of their request(s) in their Portal account.

Where possible, the Portal can display pages in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. When submitting a new request, Submitters can select their preferred language from the menu at the top right-hand side of the screen.

All requests and supporting documents should be in Arabic, English, French or Spanish, the working languages of INTERPOL, in accordance with Article 18(1) of the CCF’s Statute and Rule 14 of the CCF Operating Rules. Submitters shall therefore only use one of these four languages when entering information in the Portal. Furthermore, appendices in an additional language must be translated into one of these languages.

When entering the ‘New Request’ section of the Portal, Submitters are first asked which type of request they would like to submit. They can choose between:

• Access: a request for access to information possibly held in the INTERPOL Information System.
• Correction/Deletion: a request for correction/deletion of information possibly held in the INTERPOL Information System.
• Revision: an application for revision of a Decision of the CCF, according to Article 42 of the CCF Statute.

Only one option can be selected: should Submitters wish to submit more than one type of request (Access + Correction/Deletion, or Access + Revision), they would need to submit a separate request for each one. It is possible during the submission of a request to indicate any linked requests (see the ‘Link’ section).

Should the Applicant wish to submit a subsequent request, a full new request would need to be submitted.

This section invites Submitters to clarify who is submitting the request on behalf of the Applicant. Applicants may submit requests on their own behalf, or through an authorized legal representative. Legal representatives are anyone designated by Applicants, via a power of attorney; they do not have to be a lawyer. For example, they can be a family member, a friend or an NGO/association.

This section also invites Submitters to clarify whether their request relates to data concerning an individual or an entity.

Should a Submitter wish to submit linked requests concerning more than one individual (same criminal case, parent/child, etc.), a separate request will have to be submitted for each individual. During the access and deletion/correction request process, there is a section ‘Link’ in which details concerning linked requests can be provided.

Note: in the case of a parent representing their child over 18 years of age, ‘I am the legal representative’ should be selected and not ‘I am the parent or the guardian of the Applicant’.

Based on the options selected in the sections ‘Request’ and ‘By Whom’, the Portal will determine which further sections need to be completed by the Submitter. For example, the section ‘Representative’ will disappear when Submitters indicate that they, themselves, are the Applicant.

The sections detailed hereafter in this Guide will therefore only be visible to Submitters if they are applicable to the request.

This section is only for minor children, under 18 years of age. As mentioned above, if the child is an adult, ‘I am the legal representative’ should be selected in the ‘By Whom’ section.

A legally appointed guardian can submit a request on behalf of an adult, or a minor under 18 years of age.

Power of attorney template: using this template, Applicants may designate a main legal representative. In addition, this template allows them to designate up to two further contacts working for a particular Representative Body, such as a law firm or NGO. This enables the CCF to send messages concerning the request to up to three members of the same firm/body. Applicants may use either this template power of attorney, or their own template. The power of attorney shall be signed by the Applicant (a power of attorney signed by one lawyer, designating another, is not accepted by the CCF).

Power of attorney, expiry date: should there not be an expiry date indicated on the power of attorney, then the CCF will deem it to be valid for two years after the date that it was signed by the Applicant.

Your reference: should the representative have a file reference number for the request, it can be entered in this field. It will be quoted on all correspondence sent by the CCF.

Should an Applicant wish to change representative during the course of the study of a request, the new representative must submit a new request via the Portal, providing a new power of attorney, signed by the Applicant. Assuming the admissibility conditions are met, the new representative will automatically become the sole point of contact with the CCF concerning the request.

The new representative should clearly state whether the CCF should consider the submission of the former representative(s), or whether their request should be considered as new submissions rescinding and replacing the former ones. Furthermore, and assuming that the admissibility criteria are met, the new representative may request that the study of the existing request be suspended, whilst the new representative prepares the full new submissions.

Should an Applicant, with an ongoing request submitted by a representative, submit a request directly to the CCF, the CCF would assume this to be an instruction that the Applicant is the sole point of contact going forward and it would duly inform the previous representative of this.

No additional information is required for an Access request; therefore, cover letters are not required for access requests. However further information may be indicated in the structured fields provided.

In particular, prior to submitting the request, Submitters are invited to check whether any publicly available red or yellow notices are available on the INTERPOL website concerning the Applicant, and to indicate it in this section if so. It should be noted that the majority of Red Notices are restricted to law enforcement use only and are therefore not published on the INTERPOL website.

From which country/countries/entity: Submitters are invited to provide any information or documentation, that they may have, which expressly indicates that data could be registered in INTERPOL’s Information System. This may facilitate the processing of the request. In accordance with Article 35 (2) of the CCF’s Statute, the CCF shall consult any country/entity potentially concerned by the request, prior to disclosing any data that could be registered in INTERPOL’s Information System.

In this section, it is mandatory to outline one or more of the INTERPOL Rules allegedly violated that form(s) the legal basis of the request for correction/deletion of data.

If the Applicant has not previously made an access request, Submitters are invited to check whether any publicly available red or yellow notices are available on the INTERPOL website concerning the Applicant, and to indicate if so. It should be noted that the majority of Red Notices are restricted to law enforcement use only and are therefore not published on the INTERPOL website.

Protective status: this should be ticked if the Applicant has a status protecting him/her against refoulement to his/her country of origin (refugee or asylum seeker), as this could impact the study of the request, as per the INTERPOL Refugee Resolution available on the INTERPOL website. Should the Applicant hold an immigration status or residency permit not protecting against refoulement, this section should not be completed, as it is reserved specifically for individuals who have applied for international protection.

Arguments: Submitters shall provide a summary of arguments, not exceeding 10 pages in length, in accordance with Rule 30(8) of the CCF’s Operating Rules. Respecting this limit is essential, in order that the CCF can efficiently process requests.

This document shall include the following:

(i) A factual outline of the request.

(ii) Legal arguments, presented in an organised way and reflecting the Interpol Rules allegedly violated.

(iii) A clear summary of the request’s purpose at either the beginning or the end of the document.

Submitters may also include the following:

(i) Any additional information concerning the Applicant that might be relevant for the examination of the request, such as previous and current functions, pending legal actions, etc.

(ii) References to all appendices (where applicable, see further note below).

(iii) Further information on any linked requests before the CCF.

(iv) Restrictions: as per Article 33 of the CCF Statute, the information contained in all requests is made available to INTERPOL’s General Secretariat. Consequently, Applicants cannot request any restrictions vis-à-vis the General Secretariat. Should Applicants wish to indicate any restrictions vis-à-vis any data source, these must be clearly outlined in a dedicated section of the arguments document.

(v) Any other information relating to the request, or the submission of the request, that was not possible to communicate elsewhere in the application process.

Appendices: Submitters may upload a maximum of 20 appendices, and they shall be clearly listed and referenced in the summary of arguments document, in accordance with Rule 30(8) of the CCF’s Operating Rules. The dropdown menu in the ‘Type of document’ field can provide guidance as to the type of document that can be submitted, although this is not an exhaustive list and any document strictly relevant to the request can be attached.

Should a request reference information published on a freely accessible website, the link(s) (URLs) to the webpage(s) concerned should be provided in this document (indicating any pertinent information) in order that the CCF can access the content, but the PDF version should not be included with the Appendices. However, if the webpages/articles are behind a paywall – or require the user to be connected with an account (free or otherwise) – they should be submitted as PDF documents in the appendices (highlighting any pertinent information).

The CCF requests that the appendices – and their file names – be clearly labelled, as per the following example:

Video and audio submissions are not considered during the study of a request. The procedure before the CCF is a written one, therefore only transcripts of pertinent extracts may be taken into consideration.

In this section, it is mandatory to communicate to the CCF at least one newly discovered fact which could have led the CCF Requests Chamber – the Chamber which examines and decides on requests for correction and/or deletion of data processed in the INTERPOL Information System – to a different conclusion, if known at the time at which the original correction/deletion request was being considered.

At this stage of the process, it is only possible for Submitters to attach one document: a two-page summary succinctly describing the newly discovered fact(s).

Once the CCF has undertaken an initial review of the newly discovered fact(s) provided, it may request further documents from the Submitter. At this point, but not before, Submitters can provide a summary of arguments, not exceeding 10 pages in length, in accordance with Rule 30(8) of the CCF’s Operating Rules. Respecting this limit is essential, in order that the CCF can efficiently process requests.

According to Article 42(2) of the CCF Statute, applications for revision must be made within six months after the discovery of the fact.