People ask for a Canadian criminal record check for many reasons: a visa for another country, a job, an adoption, a record suspension or a request from IRCC. The RCMP says a name-based check may not confirm who you are, so you may be asked for fingerprints, the most accurate way to confirm identity. This guide covers the fingerprint-based check that the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) processes.
Where to get your fingerprints taken in Canada
Inside Canada, the RCMP names two places to go.
- Your local police service, which takes your fingerprints and processes a certified criminal record check or a vulnerable sector check
- A fingerprinting company accredited by the RCMP, which processes a certified criminal record check
Only your local police service does vulnerable sector checks. That check adds a search for record suspensions for sexual offences, the RCMP says. Some police services send people to an accredited company for a regular check.
How to get a Canadian criminal record check from outside Canada
You can apply from abroad in two steps, the RCMP says.
- Get a paper copy of your fingerprints from an authorized agency where you live, such as a police service, a notary, or the embassy or consulate of a foreign government (not a Canadian one)
- Send it to an accredited fingerprinting company in Canada, which turns it into a digital file and submits your application to CCRTIS
The paper form needs the prints of all ten fingers in black ink, the name and address of the agency, and the name and signature of the official who took the prints. Do not mail the fingerprints to the RCMP yourself: CCRTIS will not accept them. IRCC adds that electronic fingerprint submissions are not available from outside Canada.
The rule
From outside Canada, an accredited fingerprinting company in Canada must turn your paper fingerprints into a digital file and submit them. The RCMP does not accept fingerprints mailed to it.
How much it costs and how long it takes
The RCMP’s federal processing fee is $25 per check. The police service or company that takes your fingerprints collects it and adds its own local fee. The RCMP waives the federal fee when you apply for Canadian citizenship, when you apply to immigrate to Canada, and in a few other cases such as volunteer work. It still applies when you need a visa to travel, sponsor a family member or apply for a record suspension.
For electronic submissions, the RCMP estimates 3 business days or less when there is no match to a criminal record. When manual processing is involved or a record may match, it estimates 120 business days. Results come by Canada Post to the address you gave.
Does IRCC need a Canadian criminal record check?
Usually not when you apply. IRCC says you don’t need to provide a police certificate when you apply for permanent residence in Canada. It will tell you if it needs a Canadian criminal record check while it processes your application. If it asks, the fingerprints must reach CCRTIS electronically, and paper submissions are sent back. For a citizenship application, the fingerprints must be collected inside Canada.
Fingerprints for a police certificate are not the same as the biometrics (fingerprints and photo) you give for an IRCC application. When RCMP delays affect you, IRCC says it extends your deadline by 30 days on its own. Police certificates from other countries follow their own rules, covered in our police certificate guide.
If your check shows a record
The RCMP says a certified check shows different information depending on the type of application. A Canadian record suspension, formerly called a pardon, is one reason people request a check. Our guide to record suspensions explains what a suspension does. For a foreign national, entering Canada with a record is a separate question under IRPA s.36.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Canadian criminal record check?
Have your fingerprints taken at your local police service or an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company, which submits them to the RCMP’s CCRTIS. The federal fee is $25, waived for immigration and citizenship applications, and local fees are extra. With no match to a record, the RCMP estimates 3 business days or less. The sections above explain each route, including the one from abroad.
How do I get a Canadian criminal record check from outside Canada?
Get a paper copy of all ten fingerprints in black ink from an authorized agency where you live, such as a police service or a notary. Then send it to an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada, which turns it into a digital file and submits your application. The RCMP will not accept prints mailed to it directly. The outside Canada section lists what the form must show.
How much does an RCMP criminal record check cost?
The federal processing fee is $25 per check. The police service or accredited company that takes your fingerprints collects it and adds its own local fee. The RCMP waives the federal fee for Canadian citizenship and immigration applications, volunteer work and a few other cases. It still applies for travel visas, private-sector jobs, adoption, family sponsorship and record suspensions. The cost section above has the details.
How long does an RCMP criminal record check take?
For electronic fingerprint submissions, the RCMP estimates 3 business days or less when there is no match to a criminal record. When manual processing is involved or a record may match, it estimates 120 business days. Results come by mail, so allow time for Canada Post. The RCMP asks people to contact CCRTIS only when a check takes longer than those times.
Do I need a Canadian police certificate for permanent residence?
Not when you apply. IRCC says you don’t need to provide a police certificate when you apply for permanent residence in Canada, and it will tell you if it needs a Canadian criminal record check during processing. If it asks, your fingerprints must be submitted electronically. For a citizenship application, they must be collected in Canada. Our police certificate guide covers other countries’ certificates.
Is a criminal record check the same as biometrics?
No. IRCC says giving fingerprints for a police certificate is not the same as giving biometrics, the fingerprints and photo collected for an immigration application. Biometrics confirm your identity for IRCC. A certified criminal record check searches RCMP records using your fingerprints. You may need both, and each has its own process. Our biometrics guide explains who gives biometrics and when.
Where can I get a vulnerable sector check?
Only at your local police service. The RCMP says accredited fingerprinting companies do not provide vulnerable sector checks. That check covers a criminal record check plus a search for record suspensions for sexual offences, and it is used for work or volunteering with vulnerable people. The section on getting fingerprints taken in Canada lists where to go for a regular certified check.
Related guides and tools
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.