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The Real Cost of Visiting in Arizona: Breaking Down the $25 Background Check Fee

Before you can visit anyone in Arizona's prison system, you'll need to pay a $25 background check fee. Depending on how you pay, a separate vendor transaction fee might get tacked on too. Here's what the $25 actually covers, who pays it, and how to avoid extra charges.

• 2 min read • corrections.az.gov
The Real Cost of Visiting in Arizona: Breaking Down the $25 Background Check Fee

Arizona requires adult visitors to pay a one-time $25 background check fee before being approved for in-person visits, phone visits, or video visits. It's non-refundable, so make sure you're ready to complete the full application before you pay. The good news? You only pay it once - not every visit.

You'll need to pay electronically - cash and money orders aren't accepted. Have your Application Visitor ID number ready before you start. Paying without the correct ID can cause delays, so track it down first if you don't have it handy.

The Real Cost of Visiting in Arizona: Breaking Down the $25 Background Check Fee

Arizona uses three approved vendors for the background check payment. Each offers multiple ways to pay: storefront/walk-up, phone, mobile app, or online. The real difference isn't whether you can pay - it's how much extra you'll spend in vendor fees depending on which method you pick.

  • ✓ Internet (online) payment: Keefe - No vendor fee; JPay - $0.95; GTL - $1.00
  • ✓ Storefront/walk-up payment: Keefe - No vendor fee; JPay - $0.95; GTL (CheckFreePay) - $2.50; GTL (Western Union) - $4.50

Best cost-saver: Pay online through Keefe - there's no vendor fee on the $25 background check transaction.

  1. Pay online with Keefe if you can - it’s the only listed internet option with no vendor fee added to the $25 transaction.
  2. Grab your Application Visitor ID before you pay - you’re required to enter it when submitting your electronic payment.
  3. Choose the channel based on total cost, not convenience alone - storefront/walk-up payments can cost more in vendor fees than internet payments, depending on which vendor you use.

Watch storefront fees: Walk-up charges vary widely by vendor. GTL's storefront options run higher than their online rates, so check the fee before you pay.

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