HomeCountries not members of INTERPOL are states that do not participate in the international police cooperation network of 195 member nations. In 2026, virtually all recognised sovereign states are INTERPOL members. The exceptions include Kosovo (due to disputed recognition status) and Taiwan (excluded due to China’s objection). North Korea and Iran are nominal members with very limited cooperation.
What INTERPOL Membership Actually Means for Law Enforcement
INTERPOL membership gives a country access to the I-24/7 secure communications network, which contains Red Notices, Diffusions, and other notice types. In practice, membership means that a country’s border police and national law enforcement can:
- Query the INTERPOL database in real time during passport checks
- Receive automatic alerts when a wanted person is identified
- Submit their own notice requests for internationally wanted suspects
- Participate in coordinated operations like Project Lionfish or Operation Storm
Non-member territories like Kosovo and Taiwan are not connected to I-24/7, meaning a Red Notice does not automatically trigger an alert there. However, this does not make such territories legally “safe” — many have their own bilateral law enforcement cooperation agreements with other states, and can still detain persons of interest under domestic law.
Moreover, INTERPOL membership is just one layer of international law enforcement cooperation. Countries also use bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs), Europol for EU-level cooperation, and direct police-to-police channels that operate entirely outside of INTERPOL’s framework.
The Myth of “Safe Countries” — What Fugitives Get Wrong
A common misconception is that travelling to a non-INTERPOL member country, or a country with no extradition treaty, guarantees safety from arrest. This is not accurate for several reasons:
- Bilateral agreements still apply — even without an INTERPOL link, many states cooperate directly on criminal matters under bilateral treaties or ad hoc arrangements
- Enforcement of INTERPOL notices varies by country policy — some member countries (like Germany and the UK) rigorously enforce Red Notices; others (like some Latin American states) apply them selectively
- Countries can change policy — a country that historically did not arrest on Red Notices may begin doing so following diplomatic pressure
- Diffusions bypass INTERPOL — a national police force can send a Diffusion (a direct police-to-police alert) to specific countries without publishing a formal Red Notice
The only reliable solution to an INTERPOL Red Notice is to have it removed or suspended through the CCF. Our lawyers have removed over 100 Red Notices from INTERPOL’s system. Learn more about Red Notice removal or call for a free consultation: +357 96 447475
Related Services
- Interpol Red Notice Removal — Challenge and remove your Red Notice through the CCF
- Extradition Defence — Fight extradition requests and protect your freedom
- Preventive Request — Stop a Red Notice before it is issued
- OFAC Sanctions Defence — Challenge U.S. Treasury sanctions listings
- International Sanctions Lawyers — Removal from EU, UN, and national sanctions lists
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