Individuals who are applying to become Play! Pokémon Professors and store owners who are applying for a Play! Pokémon Store are required to pass a background check when background checks are required in their country/region.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS
The background check MUST be completed by the individual who is the owner of the Pokémon Trainer Central account. Failure to follow all instructions may result in a temporary suspension from applying to become a Pokémon Professor or a Play! Pokémon Store Owner.
Before beginning your background check, make sure the information on your Pokémon Trainer Central account is true and accurate, per Pokémon’s Terms of Use. If the information does not match, please contact customer support.
When filling out a background check with First Advantage, all applicants must provide:
- Complete first, middle, and all last names for verification purposes.
- Date of birth
- Address history
- The Consent/Authorization form. This is a global form used for all applicants; however, you are only providing consent to what is minimally required to complete a background check in your specific country/region. Not all items listed on the consent form will be required for your country/region.
When providing a copy of your ID, please note the following:
- Your national or government-issued ID must be valid and cannot be expired.
- Copies of your national or government-issued ID must be clear, legible, and uncut. Copies must include both sides of the ID.
- The ID will not be accepted if any portion of the copy is cropped or cut off.
After initiating the background check with First Advantage, be aware that they may reach out to you via email regarding additional actions or documentation.
- First Advantage will reach out through the email address registered to your Pokémon Trainer Central account.
- We recommend responding to First Advantage as quickly as possible to help avoid delays.
- Incomplete background checks will not be accepted.
- Reach out to First Advantage if you need additional assistance completing your background check.
Country-Specific Requirements
Please carefully review these country-specific requirements. Failure to fulfill the requirements for your country/region will result in a denial of your application and a temporary suspension from applying to become a Pokémon Professor or a Play! Pokémon Store Owner.
Australia/New Zealand
- For Australia only: Please complete the AFP form (AU-Criminal Natl AFP Form) provided by First Advantage.
- One primary document must be provided; e.g., birth/citizenship certificate or passport.
- One or more documents that contain either a photo or current address must be provided, as described in the requirements in the PDF file; e.g., driver’s license, student ID & bank statement.
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If you do not have a valid driver’s license, you must follow these steps to proceed past the driver's license request:
- Select the option to add another type of ID.
- Select driver’s license (you will be offered an option to add a passport later).
- Select the option “I don’t have a government ID.”
- Now you will be able to proceed to the next section.
Belgium
- Your participation is required to retrieve a criminal check certificate. You will be contacted by First Advantage via email regarding how to obtain the Belgium Criminal Certificate.
Bulgaria
- Power of Attorney form (Bulgaria Criminal Consent Form) will be provided by First Advantage via email and must be signed with an electronic signature.
Brazil
- Complete name including maiden and all alias names
- Date of birth
- Signed Authorization Form
- Copy of ID card
- Citizens: National ID
- Non-Citizens: Passport
- Fiscal declaration number
- Mother’s first name and mother’s maiden name
- Father’s first name and father’s last name
- Current address
Canada
- If verification cannot be completed through electronic identification, the Canadian Informed Consent Form (CPIC) form MUST be completed through a notary.
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Section B of the CPIC form should be prefilled. If it is not, please use the below information:
- Reason for request: Organized Play Role
- Organization Requesting the Search: The Pokémon Company International
- Contact name: Amy Smythe
- Contact Phone Number: 800.888.5773
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Section D of the CPIC form:
- The Pokémon Company International DOES NOT process or verify any type of documentation.
- A notary must sign and complete the “Witnessing Agent” section for purposes of this background check. The notary must verify 2 forms of ID for the Canadian Criminal Search. This cannot be signed by a friend, roommate, neighbor, etc.
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Section B of the CPIC form should be prefilled. If it is not, please use the below information:
Chile
- A Criminal Authorization Form must be notarized and mailed with tracking information to First Advantage. Your background check will not be processed without this information.
- Your signature on the document must be provided in blue ink. Electronic signatures are not accepted.
- BEFORE mailing the original documents, scan and upload the notarized form to your First Advantage profile.
- The original documents and copy of government ID MUST be mailed to a First Advantage vendor:
- Mrs. Any Bettsimar Romero Chacón
Santa Clara 349, Apartment 1102, La Cisterna
Metropolitan Region, Chile
- Mrs. Any Bettsimar Romero Chacón
- First Advantage REQUIRES the shipping company and tracking number of the mailed documents.
Italy
- You will be contacted by First Advantage via email to complete a Specific Authorization Form.
Netherlands
- You may be required to apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct and submit that official record to First Advantage.
- If you need additional documentation to support your application, please contact customer support.
- The Certificate of Good Conduct may take longer than 30 days to receive. If your background check link expires before you receive the document, contact First Advantage.
- Filling out Section 2 of Certificate of Conduct:
- Skip Section 2.1: Details of organization/body.
- Section 2.2: Purpose of the application. Select Other.
- Description box text: Play! Pokémon Role
- Section 2.3: Special circumstances. Select Yes, explanation
- Description box text: May interact and guide children through community Pokémon events. Please see Pokémon’s information on the Professor Program here.
- Section 2.4: Screening profile. Select No, continue with question 2.4b
- Skip 2.4a: Specific screening profile.
- Section 2.4b: General screening profile. Check the boxes for: 11, 12, 37, 41.
- Section 2.5: Signature on behalf of the organization/body. Skip per section 2 explanation.
- Resources
Spain
- You will be contacted by First Advantage to submit the Spain Letter of Authorization form.
- Complete the Spain Letter of Authorization Form with black or blue ink.
- BEFORE mailing the original documents, scan and upload the form to your First Advantage profile.
- The original documents and scanned copy of ID MUST be mailed to a First Advantage vendor:
- iCOVER Screening
c/o CRyL Asesoramiento y Gestión, S.L.
Calle Silva, 2 – piso 1° - puerta 4
28013 MADRID, España, Spain
Contact: Alejandro Pelaez Rodriguez, Tel: +34 623 191 421
- iCOVER Screening
- First Advantage REQUIRES the shipping company and tracking number of the mailed documents.
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland)
- Please be prepared to provide your Digital ID through Post Office Easy ID. If you do not have a Digital ID, First Advantage will verify your identity through Yoti.