Short answer: FAP (Fingerprint Acquisition Profile) levels describe how big a fingerprint scanner's capture area is and what it can capture at once. FAP 10, 20, and 30 are single-finger readers. FAP 45 captures two fingers and supports rolls. FAP 50 and FAP 60 are the full ten-print livescan class: FAP 60 captures four-finger slaps and rolled prints on a platen about 3.2 by 3.0 inches, which is what background check, applicant, and booking workflows use. If you are submitting fingerprints to the FBI or a state agency, you almost always want a FAP 45, 50, or 60 scanner certified to FBI Appendix F.
What is a FAP level?
FAP stands for Fingerprint Acquisition Profile. The levels come from the FBI's Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS) and its Mobile ID best practice work, and they give buyers a shorthand for two things: the physical size of the capture area, and how many fingers the device can image in one placement. Higher numbers mean bigger platens and more simultaneous fingers.
A FAP level is not the same thing as a certification. The FBI certifies devices to image quality specifications (Appendix F for livescan-class work, PIV for single-finger verification) and publishes the results on its Certified Products List. A scanner is listed there as, for example, "Appendix F, FAP 60." The FAP number tells you the capture geometry; the program name tells you the image quality bar it passed. We cover the programs in detail in our Appendix F vs PIV vs Mobile ID guide.
FAP levels and capture areas
These are the nominal capture dimensions per level. All levels capture at 500 pixels per inch. Dimensions follow the FBI EBTS specification as summarized in Integrated Biometrics' "Sizing Up the Standards" whitepaper.
| FAP level | Capture area (W x H) | Fingers per capture | Rolled prints | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAP 10 | 0.5 x 0.65 in (12.7 x 16.5 mm) | 1 | No | Mobile identification, logical access |
| FAP 20 | 0.6 x 0.8 in (15.2 x 20.3 mm) | 1 | No | PIV credentialing, enrollment, verification |
| FAP 30 | 0.8 x 1.0 in (20.3 x 25.4 mm) | 1 | Device dependent | Mobile ID programs needing larger single-finger images |
| FAP 45 | 1.6 x 1.5 in (40.6 x 38.1 mm) | 2 | Yes | Mobile booking, applicant work in the field |
| FAP 50 | 3.2 x 2.0 in (81.3 x 50.8 mm) | 4 | Device dependent | High-volume civil enrollment (slaps and thumbs) |
| FAP 60 | 3.2 x 3.0 in (81.3 x 76.2 mm) | 4 | Yes | Full ten-print livescan: background checks, booking |
The jump that matters most in practice is FAP 45 to FAP 60. Below that line you are capturing one or two fingers at a time; at FAP 50 and 60 you can lay four fingers down together, which is what makes a full ten-print sequence fast enough for a real customer workflow.
Single vs slap vs roll capture
Three capture types show up in specs, and the difference drives which FAP you need.
- Single (flat) capture: one finger pressed flat on the platen. This is what FAP 10 through 30 readers do. It is fine for verifying an identity against an existing record or enrolling into an access control system.
- Slap capture: four fingers of one hand pressed flat at once, then the other hand, then both thumbs. This is the "4-4-2" sequence civil applicant systems use. It needs the wide platen of a FAP 50 or 60 device.
- Roll capture: a finger rolled nail edge to nail edge, capturing the full pattern area. Criminal booking and many applicant submissions require rolls in addition to slaps. Rolls need a scanner and firmware built for them: FAP 45 two-finger scanners and FAP 60 ten-print scanners typically support rolls, while slap-only FAP 50 devices like the Thales CS500f do not.
A useful rule: if any agency you submit to requires rolled prints, buy a roll-capable FAP 60 scanner and never think about it again. A slap-only device that meets today's requirement can become a paperweight when a new agency contract asks for rolls.
Which FAP level do you need?
Background checks, applicant fingerprinting, livescan submissions: FAP 60
If you are opening a fingerprinting business, serving employment and licensing applicants, or submitting to a state identification bureau or the FBI, a FAP 60 Appendix F scanner is the standard answer. It captures slaps and rolls, satisfies ten-print submission formats, and is what state programs expect to see in a livescan system. This is the class our own operations run: units like the Integrated Biometrics Kojak, Thales DactyScan84c, and Xperix RealScan G10.
High-volume civil enrollment without rolls: FAP 50
Large enrollment projects (civil ID, benefits programs) that only need flat slaps can save money and desk space with a FAP 50 slap scanner such as the Thales CS500f. Confirm rolls are truly out of scope before choosing this class.
Mobile and two-finger work: FAP 45
Field booking, mobile applicant capture, and backup stations run well on FAP 45 devices like the Watson Mini. You get rolls and two-finger flats in a pocket-sized unit, at the cost of a slower ten-print sequence since fingers go down two at a time.
Verification and enrollment against existing records: FAP 10 to 30
Time and attendance, logical access, PIV credential checks, and SDK-driven applications need only a single-finger reader such as the SecuGen Hamster Pro 20 (FAP 20) or the DigitalPersona U.are.U 4500. These are not livescan submission devices, and no amount of software turns them into one.
Common scanners by FAP level
These are models we stock, run, or have graded through our own operations. Disclosure: we sell every scanner linked below, new, used, or both.
| Model | FAP level | Certification | Capture |
|---|---|---|---|
| SecuGen Hamster Pro 20 | FAP 20 | FBI PIV | Single flat finger |
| Integrated Biometrics Five-0 | FAP 30 | FBI Appendix F | Single finger, flats and rolls |
| Integrated Biometrics Watson Mini | FAP 45 | FBI Appendix F | Two flats, single rolls |
| Xperix RealScan D | FAP 45 | FBI Appendix F | Two flats, single rolls |
| Thales CS500f | FAP 50 | FBI Appendix F | Four-finger slaps and thumbs |
| Integrated Biometrics Kojak | FAP 60 | FBI Appendix F | Ten-print flats and rolls |
| Thales DactyScan84c | FAP 60 | FBI Appendix F | Ten-print flats and rolls |
| Xperix RealScan G10 | FAP 60 | FBI Appendix F | Ten-print flats and rolls |
Browse the classes directly: single-finger readers, two-finger and roll scanners, and ten-print livescan scanners. Budget buyers should also check our graded used units: a used FAP 60 scanner tested by operators often costs less than a new FAP 45.