Utah Certificate of Eligibility: How to Apply (BCI)
Short answer: If your case doesn't qualify for automatic Clean Slate expungement, the first step toward expunging it is applying to Utah's Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) for a Certificate of Eligibility. BCI reviews your record and, if you qualify, issues a certificate you then use to file your court petition.
Who this guide is for
Anyone whose Utah case requires the petition-based expungement path (see How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Utah for how to tell which track applies to you).
What the Certificate of Eligibility actually does
It's BCI's official confirmation that, based on your record, you meet the requirements to petition the court for expungement. The court generally requires this certificate as part of your petition — you can't skip straight to filing with the court on the petition-based track.
How to apply
- Get the BCI Expungement Application — available as a PDF directly from BCI.
- Complete it accurately. BCI is checking your record against the case-type and waiting-period rules that apply to it.
- Submit it with the application fee.
- Wait for BCI's determination. If approved, BCI issues the certificate; if not, you'll be notified of the denial.
There's also a separate Expungement Verification Application — used to confirm a prior expungement, not to request a new one. Don't confuse the two forms.
How long the certificate is valid
Once issued, a Certificate of Eligibility is valid for 180 days. You need to file your court petition within that window — if it lapses, you'd need to reapply.
What if BCI denies my application?
A denial means BCI has determined you don't currently meet the eligibility requirements — often because the waiting period hasn't run yet, or another disqualifying factor applies. This is a good point to get a clear read on why from BCI's denial notice, and to consider a consultation if the reason isn't clear or if you believe it was made in error.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay even if BCI denies my application? Yes — BCI's application fee is non-refundable even if you're found ineligible.
Is the certificate the same as the actual expungement? No. The certificate is a prerequisite to filing your court petition — the court, not BCI, issues the final expungement order.
Can I apply for multiple cases at once? BCI's process generally evaluates cases individually — check BCI's current application for how it handles applicants with more than one case.