How long does INTERPOL retain Black Notice data if the remains are never identified?

By Dr. Anatoliy Yarovyi — Senior Partner

Updated: 26 Oct 2026

INTERPOL’s rules do not provide for indefinite retention or automatic expiry: data is held for an initial period, typically not longer than five years, and may then be retained further after review if the identification purpose remains. However, national forensic authorities may retain associated biological samples and records under their own domestic laws, which vary significantly — some jurisdictions destroy samples after a set period, others retain them for longer. Families seeking removal of a Black Notice after concluding their relative is not the deceased must petition through the originating country’s National Central Bureau rather than directly to INTERPOL.