Fast Track Fingerprinting in Baltimore: Walk-In Service Without the Wait
Fast Track Fingerprinting is a dedicated fingerprinting service located in downtown Baltimore that handles civil and background-check fingerprints without appointment requirements, processing roughly 30 to 50 people daily through a streamlined intake system. The operation fills a gap between hospital-based services (which batch fingerprints and delay results) and police stations (which prioritize law enforcement needs), making it the fastest option for employment, housing, and professional licensing fingerprints in the city.
What Fast Track Fingerprinting actually is
Fast Track operates as a standalone fingerprinting center staffed by certified operators trained on digital capture equipment. Unlike some competitors that photograph prints on ink cards and mail them to state databases (a process taking 10 to 14 days), Fast Track uses live-scan technology that transmits electronic images directly to Maryland's fingerprint repository. The service is not a medical facility, does not take passport photos, and does not offer notarization. It exists solely to capture fingerprints quickly and send them to the state.
Services and pricing
Fast Track charges a flat rate of $60 for civil fingerprinting (employment, housing, volunteer background checks) and $70 for criminal fingerprints if the client requests an FBI name-check clearance letter printed on-site. Prints are captured digitally and typically appear in the Maryland database within two business days; FBI clearance letters, if purchased, print immediately. For clients who need certified paper copies mailed (required by some employers), Fast Track provides those for $15 per set including postage.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-in service operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the longest waits typically occurring between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays are by appointment only, priced at $85 for civil fingerprints to cover staffing costs. Cash, card, and checks are accepted.
How Fast Track compares to other Baltimore fingerprinting options
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) on Greene Street offers fingerprinting on Tuesdays and Thursdays at $40 per person, undercutting Fast Track's price. However, UMMC batches prints and mails them weekly, delaying results by 7 to 10 days. UMMC also requires advance phone scheduling and charges an additional $10 if you need to pick up results in person rather than waiting for mail delivery. UMMC suits people with flexible timelines who prioritize cost over speed.
The Baltimore Police Department's Records Bureau takes fingerprints but only processes them for people with existing police records or those seeking expungements; they do not serve general employment or housing fingerprinting. Harbor Hospital (South Baltimore) has discontinued routine fingerprinting services.
Fast Track's advantage is two-fold: live-scan results appear in the state database faster than mailed prints, and walk-in availability eliminates scheduling friction. The price premium ($60 versus $40 at UMMC) reflects the speed and convenience trade-off.
Who Fast Track suits and who it does not
Fast Track is ideal for anyone with a firm deadline: people starting a new job in the next two weeks, those submitting housing applications, or professionals renewing licenses. It works well for people who live or work downtown Baltimore and can reach the location easily. Parents fingerprinting for school volunteering often use Fast Track because results arrive before volunteer shifts begin.
Fast Track is not the right choice for people who have unlimited time and want the lowest price; UMMC will save $20 and the wait does not matter. It is also not suitable for international fingerprinting requests (some countries require specific ink-and-card methods, not digital capture) or for people seeking FBI background checks beyond the name-check letter.
What the first visit involves
Bring a government ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). The intake process takes two minutes: staff verify your name, date of birth, and what the fingerprints are for, then scan your index fingers, middle fingers, and thumbs into the capture device. The technician will ask you to press each finger firmly in sequence. If your prints do not scan clearly (common for calloused or very dry skin), the operator will roll your finger again or moisten your fingertip slightly to improve contact. The entire process takes 5 to 10 minutes from check-in to receipt.
You receive a receipt showing your submission date and the state tracking number. Staff will not hand you a printed copy of your fingerprints; results are sent directly to the requesting agency or to your account in the Maryland state database, depending on the employer or institution's process.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Fast Track is located at 5 East Lexington Street, a block from the Charles Center metro station. Street parking is available on Lexington and nearby side streets; there is no dedicated lot. Metered parking costs $2 per hour until 7 p.m. The Charles Center garage, one block away, charges $3 for up to 30 minutes, $8 for up to two hours.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (walk-in); Saturday by appointment at $85. The office is closed on Sundays and major federal holidays. Call 410-783-4080 to schedule Saturday appointments or confirm hours if a holiday falls on a weekday.
Fast Track's combination of live-scan reliability and no-appointment walk-in access has made it the standard choice for Baltimore workers and renters facing time-sensitive fingerprinting needs.
