Is there confession in Islam?

Repentance goes straight to Allah

Islam has no priests and no confession booth. When you sin, you turn to Allah yourself, in any language, at any time. His door is always open:

The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah stretches out His hand at night to forgive those who sinned in the day, and in the day to forgive those who sinned at night, until the sun rises from the west (Sahih Muslim 2759).

How tawbah works

• Stop the sin.
• Feel genuine regret for what you did.
• Intend sincerely not to go back to it.
• Make it right with people if someone else was harmed: return what you took, or apologise where that's wise.

You can say "Astaghfirullah" (I ask Allah's forgiveness) and pray two rak'ahs of repentance. If you slip again, repent again. See Will Allah forgive me if I keep committing the same sin?

Keep your sins covered

Islam actually discourages telling people about private sins. The Prophet ﷺ said all of his community will be forgiven except those who expose themselves, like someone who sins at night while Allah has covered it, then tells others in the morning what he did (Sahih al-Bukhari 6069). So you don't need to confess past sins to an imam, a new spouse or your community. See Do I have to tell my future spouse about my past?

When talking to someone helps

Asking an imam or counsellor for advice without naming details is fine, for example "How do I repent from something I keep struggling with?" If a sin involves a crime or someone's rights, there may be practical steps to take. If guilt is overwhelming you, speaking to a professional counsellor is also a good step.

For converts, there's extra good news: becoming Muslim wipes the slate clean. See Are all my sins forgiven when I become Muslim?