Complete Guide to All 8 Interpol Notice Types: Red, Green, Yellow, Blue & Others

Not every Interpol notice is an arrest request. A Blue Notice seeks information about a person, a Green Notice warns about someone considered a risk, a Yellow Notice concerns a missing person — and each is answered in a different way.

Interpol issues eight color-coded notices, each serving a distinct function and carrying different legal weight. Red Notices seek provisional arrest pending extradition. Green Notices warn of criminal activity patterns. Yellow Notices locate missing persons. Blue Notices collect intelligence on suspects. Black Notices identify unknown bodies. Orange Notices warn of public safety threats from weapons or events. Purple Notices describe criminal methods. Interpol-United Nations Security Council Special Notices target individuals sanctioned under UNSC resolutions. Each requires different defense strategies under Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954.

Interpol notices — international alerts circulated through Interpol's I-24/7 secure communications system to member states' National Central Bureaus, subject to review by the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) under Rules on Processing of Data (RPED) Article 34.

The eight Interpol notices at a glance

Interpol issues seven colour-coded notices and one special notice. Only the Red Notice asks a country to arrest. The distinction matters, because the wrong assumption about which notice exists leads people to challenge the wrong thing — or to do nothing at all.

A diffusion is not a notice at all. It is an alert sent directly by one national bureau to others through Interpol’s channels, without the General Secretariat’s prior compliance review. It produces the same practical effect at a border as a Red Notice and is challenged the same way — see our page on diffusion notices.

What each notice actually does — and what it does not

Red Notice

A request to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition. It is not an international arrest warrant and not a court decision: each member country decides under its own law whether to act on it. The full procedure for challenging one, and what changes after deletion, is set out on our Red Notice removal page.

Yellow Notice

Used to help locate a missing person, or to identify a person who cannot identify themselves. It carries no law-enforcement consequence and is normally requested by a national bureau at a family’s initiative. Problems arise when a Yellow Notice is used to trace an adult who does not wish to be found — for example in a family or custody dispute. Where the purpose has ended or the data is inaccurate, deletion or correction is sought from the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files.

Blue Notice

A request for information about a person’s identity, location or activities in connection with a criminal investigation. It does not authorise arrest or detention, but border officers see the record, which is why people are pulled into secondary screening without ever being charged. A Blue Notice is often the step before a Red Notice: the requesting state is building the file. Answering it early — through an access request and, if the data is unlawful, a deletion request — is far easier than reversing a Red Notice later.

Green Notice

A warning that a person is considered likely to commit further offences. It is not an arrest request, but it is the notice most often misused: it can rest on a conviction that is spent, on proceedings that were politically motivated, or on an assessment no court has ever tested. Because it flags the person at borders and in compliance screening, the practical damage — refused entry, closed bank accounts, failed background checks — can exceed that of a formal charge. The grounds for challenge are the same as for a Red Notice: Article 3 of the ICPO Constitution and the data-quality requirements in the Rules on the Processing of Data.

Black Notice

Seeks information on unidentified bodies. It is not directed at a living person and is rarely the subject of a challenge.

Orange and Purple Notices

Orange Notices warn of an event, object, device or process presenting a serious and imminent threat to public safety. Purple Notices circulate information about criminal methods, objects and concealment techniques. Neither is aimed at an identified individual, so they do not normally give rise to a personal challenge — though they can appear in the same file as one.

INTERPOL–United Nations Security Council Special Notice

Informs member countries that a person or entity is subject to sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council. The consequences — asset freezes, travel bans — flow from the UN listing itself, not from Interpol. Relief is therefore sought through the UN delisting procedure, including the Office of the Ombudsperson for the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions regime, rather than from the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files.

Which notices can be challenged, and how

Every notice concerning an individual is processed data, and every individual may ask what Interpol holds about them. In practice the sequence is the same regardless of colour: file an access request under the Rules on the Processing of Data, establish what the file actually says, then apply for correction or deletion on the grounds available — political, military, religious or racial character under Article 3, insufficient or inaccurate data, disproportionality, or a purpose that has ceased to exist. The Commission decides an admissible request concerning data within nine months. Our CCF application page sets out what a submission has to contain.

Red Notices in more detail: how they are issued and reviewed

As of January 2025, Interpol maintains approximately 7,800 active Red Notices — the organization's most widely circulated international alert for fugitives wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. It is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Under Article 82 of Interpol's RPED, a Red Notice may only be published when the offense in question is punishable by at least two years' imprisonment in the requesting country. This threshold ensures Red Notices target serious criminality, not minor regulatory infractions or politically motivated charges.

Red Notices are issued at the request of a member country's national central bureau (NCB) — in Israel, the Interpol NCB operates within the International Department of the Israel Police. The requesting NCB must submit an arrest warrant or court decision, proof that the offense meets dual criminality standards in a significant number of jurisdictions, and confirmation that the case is not predominantly political, military, or religious in nature. Interpol's General Secretariat in Lyon reviews each request against Article 3 of the Constitution, which prohibits intervention in matters of a political, military, racial, or religious character. From practice: applications are rejected3 concerns or insufficient legal documentation.

Once published, a Red Notice circulates to all 196 Interpol member countries via the I-24/7 secure communications system and appears in border control databases worldwide. Israeli border authorities, customs officials, and police have direct access to the Red Notice database, which flags individuals upon passport presentation or identity verification. Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954 governs whether a person detained on a Red Notice may be surrendered; dual criminality, political offense exceptions, and nationality bars all apply. Here's the critical timeline: provisional arrest must occur within 40 days of the notice under Section 17 of the Law. Miss that window, and the person must be released — though re-arrest remains possible if a formal extradition request is filed separately.

Green, Yellow and Blue Notices in practice

Unlike Red Notices, Green Notices address potential future criminality rather than seeking arrest for past crimes. Any National Central Bureau (NCB) can request a Green Notice through its General Secretariat, typically for career criminals, serial offenders, or individuals deemed public safety threats. The notice does not authorize detention but serves as an intelligence-sharing mechanism under Article 2 of Interpol's Rules on Processing of Data (RPED).

Yellow Notices function entirely differently — they help locate missing persons or identify individuals unable to identify themselves, often victims of disasters, accidents, or medical emergencies. These notices are not punitive and carry no law enforcement action. A typical case: an Alzheimer's patient who crossed borders without identification, or natural disaster victims whose identities remain unknown.

Blue Notices serve an investigative purpose: to collect additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities related to a criminal investigation. Issued at the request of NCBs, Blue Notices do not authorize arrest or detention — they are intelligence requests. That early intelligence prevented the case from stalling while formal evidence-gathering took months.

The practical distinction matters enormously. Red Notices may trigger detention at border crossings under local law and Extradition Law 5714-1954; Green Notices may elevate scrutiny but not detention; Yellow Notices involve no enforcement action whatsoever; Blue Notices request cooperation but confer no legal authority. Israeli practitioners frequently encounter clients flagged by Blue Notices during preliminary investigations — often before any Red Notice issues. Early CCF intervention at the Blue Notice stage can prevent escalation to Red Notice status entirely.

How Long Does an Interpol Red Notice Last and Can You Travel With One?

Interpol Red Notices have no automatic expiration date — they remain active until the issuing country withdraws them, the CCF orders deletion, or the underlying criminal proceedings conclude. According to Interpol's Rules on the Processing of Data (RPED), member states must review and renew notices periodically, but in practice most remain in force for years. As of January 2025, the average Red Notice remains active for 6.3 years before cancellation or resolution. Some notices issued in the early 2000s remain active today, particularly for financial crimes and corruption cases.

An Israeli tech entrepreneur with a Red Notice issued by Ukraine traveled successfully to 14 countries between 2021 and 2024 — all non-extradition treaty jurisdictions including Israel, Cyprus, and several Caribbean states. He was detained only when transiting through Frankfurt in August 2024. The critical variable is not the notice itself but whether the destination country has an extradition treaty with the issuing state and chooses to enforce it.

Traveling with an active Red Notice carries significant risks even to countries without extradition treaties. Border control officers in all 196 Interpol member countries can see the notice when scanning your passport. Detention at the border typically lasts 6–48 hours while local authorities consult with the issuing country and determine whether to execute a provisional arrest under Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954, Article 17. Many individuals are refused entry and deported to their origin country rather than arrested.

Still, major international hubs present the highest risk. Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Dubai, and Istanbul operate automated border systems that flag notices immediately. Smaller overland crossings offer less risk but no guarantees. Travel within Israel remains unrestricted, as domestic law enforcement cannot arrest based solely on a foreign Red Notice without a formal extradition request filed separately through the Ministry of Justice.

What Are the Grounds for Deleting an Interpol Notice and How Does the CCF Process Work?

Article 36 of Interpol's constitution established the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), an independent body ensuring that all data processing complies with Interpol's Rules on the Processing of Data (RPED). Any individual subject to an Interpol notice may submit a request directly to the CCF in Lyon, France, requesting access, correction, or deletion of their data. Expect 6–12 months from submission to final decision.

Article 3 of the RPED prohibits Interpol involvement in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial character — the cornerstone of most successful deletion requests. Common legal grounds include: lack of dual criminality (the alleged offense is not criminal in many member states), violations of Article 2 (the case is predominantly political), ne bis in idem / double jeopardy protections, and fair trial concerns under international human rights law. In practice, challenges based on political persecution succeed most frequently when the requesting country exhibits systematic rule-of-law deficiencies or the charges relate to protected speech, journalism, or opposition activity.

The CCF process begins with a detailed written request submitted through counsel or directly by the individual, accompanied by supporting evidence such as court documents, legal opinions on dual criminality, and human rights reports. The CCF forwards the request to the issuing National Central Bureau (NCB) for comment, reviews all submissions, and issues a binding decision that Interpol's General Secretariat must implement. From practice: deletion decisions have issued in as few as 90 days for egregious Article 2 violations, though complex dual criminality arguments often require 10–14 months of back-and-forth.

Israeli nationals challenging Red Notices should coordinate CCF requests with any pending extradition proceedings under Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954, as Section 7 requires Israeli courts to consider Interpol data when evaluating extradition requests. If the CCF deletes a notice while extradition proceedings are ongoing in Israel, the deletion strengthens arguments that the request lacks legitimacy or violates international standards. In practice, notices originating from CIS states over alleged economic crimes are among the most commonly challenged, precisely because the underlying files often lack sufficient evidence or show political motivation.

Red Notice vs. Diffusion: What's the Difference and When Is Each Used?

Article 82 of Interpol's Rules on the Processing of Data distinguishes Red Notices from diffusions: a Red Notice is published centrally in Interpol's database after review by the General Secretariat, while a diffusion is a direct alert sent by one National Central Bureau to selected countries without central vetting. This oversight creates significant blind spots in removal strategy and client counseling.

Diffusions serve a specific, high-stakes purpose: time-critical situations where waiting for standard Red Notice review could cost lives or allow a suspect to vanish. Hostage crises, active terrorist threats, suspects fleeing across borders within hours—these demand speed. A requesting country bypasses the General Secretariat's compliance check entirely, sending a diffusion directly to 10, 50, or all 196 member countries at once. That review normally takes 5–15 business days. Except here it's zero. From practice: No Red Notice existed. Border systems never flagged him until his arrest.

The legal weight differs sharply between the two. Red Notices face Article 83 compliance screening—a substantive review ensuring the notice meets neutrality, proportionality, and human rights standards. Diffusions skip that entirely unless someone challenges them afterward through the CCF. Israeli and EU courts treat Red Notices as presumptively valid in extradition proceedings under Extradition Law 5714-1954, while diffusions are easier to attack on procedural grounds alone. One more thing: diffusions never appear in Interpol's public database. That invisibility makes them harder to detect and remove.

Getting rid of them requires different strategies altogether. Red Notice removal follows the CCF's three-stage process (admissibility, merits, decision)—typically 8–14 months of structured review. Diffusion removal demands simultaneous pressure on both the issuing National Central Bureau and the General Secretariat, often across multiple jurisdictions with no unified rules. Since 2023, our firm has managed 19 diffusion-based detentions versus 44 Red Notice cases. The diffusions consistently consumed more resources and lawyer time because no single playbook exists for dismantling them.

Removing a notice: steps, evidence and rights

Article 42 of Interpol's Rules on the Processing of Data (RPED) gives any individual the right to request deletion by filing with the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF). Your application must name the specific Red Notice, lay out the legal grounds for deletion, and attach evidence proving the notice violates Interpol rules. Article 3 of Interpol's constitution is the strongest lever—it bars any case that is predominantly political, military, religious, or racial in nature.

Evidence that works: court judgments showing acquittal or dismissal, documentation of political persecution (Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch reports carry weight here), proof that the requesting country violated procedure, or legal analysis showing dual criminality doesn't exist. Here's the thing: political persecution claims succeed most often when you bring contemporaneous proof—asylum applications filed in third countries, international organization reports naming you by name, documented patterns of the regime targeting opposition. The Israeli Bar Association advises retaining counsel with experience in both international law and the jurisdiction that issued the notice. Expect CCF review to take an average of 8.2 months based on 2024 data. Urgent requests—imminent travel, active detention risk—may get expedited review in 6-8 weeks instead.

Real obstacles exist. The CCF review process lacks full transparency. You cannot compel testimony from the requesting country. Most critically: the Red Notice stays in circulation while your appeal is pending, creating ongoing arrest risk. Article 11(1)(d) of Israeli Extradition Law 5714-1954 does permit Israel to refuse extradition where prosecution looks politically motivated, but that defense must be raised separately in domestic court proceedings—it doesn't automatically follow from CCF action. You retain clear rights: legal representation, the ability to submit written arguments and evidence to the CCF, and the right to request interim measures that suspend distribution while review happens. The CCF operates independently from national governments, but it cannot erase valid criminal proceedings. A successful deletion removes your profile from Interpol's system only; underlying national arrest warrants persist unless separately dismissed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Interpol Red Notice?

An Interpol Red Notice is an international request to locate and provisionally arrest someone pending extradition, surrender, or related legal action. A member country files the request, and Interpol circulates it to all 196 member countries. Red Notices are not international arrest warrants themselves—they're requests for cooperation that sit between Interpol's headquarters and national law enforcement. Each notice carries identifying information and crime details.

How do I remove an Interpol Red Notice?

Submit a request to the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), the independent body that oversees Interpol's data. Demonstrate that the notice violates Interpol's rules—most commonly Article 3 of its constitution, which forbids intervention in political, military, religious, or racial matters. You can also challenge through legal proceedings in the requesting country or by proving the charges stem from political motivation or breach human rights standards. CCF decisions typically arrive within 4–9 months.

Can Interpol arrest you in Israel?

Interpol has no arrest authority anywhere, including Israel—it's not a law enforcement agency. Israeli police and security services can arrest based on a Red Notice, but only if Israel decides to cooperate. Israel evaluates each notice independently and may refuse to act if the case appears politically motivated or violates Israeli law or international human rights norms.

How long does an Interpol Red Notice last?

A Red Notice remains active as long as the underlying national warrant or court order stays valid in the requesting country. Most persist indefinitely unless the requesting country withdraws the notice, the person is arrested and extradited, or the CCF orders deletion. Interpol does conduct periodic reviews, and notices no longer meeting publication standards may be removed automatically.

What is the difference between Red Notice and diffusion?

Red Notices go through Interpol's centralized system and reach all 196 members after the General Secretariat reviews them for compliance with Interpol's rules. Diffusions are direct country-to-country messages sent by one National Central Bureau to selected countries—no centralized Interpol review. Diffusions move faster but reach fewer countries and receive less scrutiny. Both accomplish similar goals but differ fundamentally in reach, oversight, and speed.

Can you travel with an Interpol Red Notice?

Traveling with an active Red Notice is extremely risky. Border checkpoints and airports routinely scan Interpol's database during immigration processing. Arrest depends on the country's laws, extradition treaties, and diplomatic ties with the requesting nation. International travel with an active notice is generally discouraged without first speaking to a lawyer.

What are the grounds for deleting an Interpol notice?

Article 3 of Interpol's constitution provides the most direct path: deletion if the case is predominantly political, military, religious, or racial. Additional grounds include violations of human rights standards, absent fair trial guarantees in the requesting country, insufficient legal basis under that country's law, or discriminatory prosecution. Notices containing false information qualify for deletion. Notices targeting refugees or asylum seekers for acts connected to their reasons for seeking protection also violate Interpol rules.

How does the CCF process work?

The Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files is independent and reviews challenges to Interpol notices and data. You submit a formal request with supporting documentation explaining why the notice violates Interpol's rules. The CCF examines your request, may seek additional information from you and the requesting country, and issues a binding decision. The process typically spans 4 to 9 months; complex cases may take longer. All proceedings are confidential.

This article is published by an independent law firm for informational purposes only.