In February 2024, an Israeli tech entrepreneur landed at Vienna International Airport for a routine business meeting. He was detained within minutes of presenting his passport. An Interpol Red Notice — issued by a CIS country — had flagged him. He spent 18 hours in airport detention before our emergency team secured his release. The Red Notice was deleted through the CCF six months later. He now travels freely.
What Is an Interpol Red Notice?
An Interpol Red Notice is an international request, circulated by Interpol on behalf of one of its 196 member countries, to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal proceedings. It is the most serious of Interpol's seven notice types.
Critical point: a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. Interpol itself has no powers of arrest. Each country decides independently whether to act on a Red Notice under its own domestic law. However, in practice, the consequences are severe.
What Does a Red Notice Actually Do?
When a Red Notice is issued against you, the following happens:
- Border control in 196 countries is alerted. Your passport is flagged in Interpol's I-24/7 database, accessible by border police in all member states.
- Provisional arrest may be ordered at any border crossing, airport or port of entry.
- Travel becomes dangerous. You cannot safely enter any Interpol member country without risk of detention.
- Banking and business may be affected — compliance departments run Interpol checks on individuals.
- Reputational damage — in some cases, Red Notices are publicly accessible on the Interpol website.
Who Issues Red Notices?
Red Notices are requested by the National Central Bureau (NCB) of an Interpol member country and circulated by Interpol General Secretariat after review. Israel's NCB is hosted within the Israel Police.
Countries that frequently issue Red Notices affecting Israeli nationals include:
- United States — DOJ/FBI financial crime, cybercrime and narcotics cases
- Russia — frequently cited by the CCF for politically motivated notices
- Germany, France, Poland — accompanying European Arrest Warrants
- CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus) — high rate of politically motivated notices
- Turkey, China — significant increase since 2020
Red Notice vs Arrest Warrant: Key Differences
| Feature | Red Notice | Arrest Warrant |
|---|---|---|
| Legal force | No automatic legal force | Legally binding in issuing jurisdiction |
| Who issues | Interpol on behalf of member state | Court in the relevant jurisdiction |
| Arrest obligation | Each country decides independently | Mandatory in issuing country |
| Geographic reach | 196 Interpol member states | Issuing country only (or treaty partners) |
| Challenge mechanism | CCF application to Interpol | Appeal to issuing court |
How to Find Out if You Have a Red Notice
Red Notices are not always publicly visible. Interpol publishes some notices on its website, but the majority are circulated only to law enforcement. Ways to check include:
- Interpol website search — only covers publicly listed notices (a minority)
- CCF personal data request — submit a request to the CCF asking Interpol to confirm whether data is held on you
- Travel test — experiencing unexplained difficulties at borders is a strong indicator
- Legal intelligence — our firm can conduct discreet enquiries through established channels
If you suspect a Red Notice exists, do not travel internationally until you have obtained legal advice. Contact us for a confidential check.
How Is a Red Notice Removed?
There are two main routes to removing an Interpol Red Notice:
1. CCF Application
The Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) is an independent body that reviews challenges to Interpol data. A CCF application can result in deletion, correction or restriction of the notice. Grounds include:
- Article 3 — political, military, religious or racial motivation
- RPED violations — data processing standards not met
- Human rights concerns
- Notice no longer proportionate or necessary
CCF proceedings typically take 3 to 9 months. Our deletion rate through CCF proceedings is 94%.
2. Resolution of Underlying Matter
If the criminal proceedings that led to the Red Notice are resolved — through acquittal, dropped charges, settlement or sentence completion — the requesting country should withdraw the notice. We coordinate with authorities in the requesting state to secure formal withdrawal.
Red Notices and Israeli Law
Under Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954, a Red Notice does not automatically trigger extradition proceedings. Israeli law requires a formal extradition request, followed by full judicial review. This means:
- Even if arrested in Israel on a Red Notice, you are entitled to a full extradition hearing
- Israeli courts independently assess all extradition requests, regardless of any Red Notice
- Dual citizenship, dual criminality and human rights grounds can all be raised
- A CCF challenge can proceed simultaneously with Israeli court proceedings