Police Clearance Certificates for Canadian Immigration

What Is a Police Clearance Certificate?

A police clearance certificate (PCC), also called a police certificate or criminal record check, is an official document issued by a government authority confirming whether an individual has a criminal record in that country or jurisdiction. For Canadian immigration purposes, police certificates are used to assess whether an applicant is criminally inadmissible to Canada.

Under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a person is criminally inadmissible if they have been convicted of or committed an offence that would constitute a crime in Canada. Police certificates are the primary tool IRCC uses to verify an applicant's criminal history. Providing false information or failing to disclose a criminal record is considered misrepresentation and can result in a ban from Canada for five years or more.

Who Needs to Submit Police Certificates?

Generally, police certificates are required for most permanent residence applications and for temporary residence applications from nationals of certain countries. The specific requirement depends on your application type and your history of residence. IRCC typically requires a police certificate from every country where you have lived for 6 or more months since the age of 18. This includes Canada itself if you have previously lived here as a temporary resident.

See also: How to Apply for Canadian Permanent Residence

If you have lived in multiple countries, you may need to obtain several police certificates. For example, if you lived in the United Kingdom for 2 years, then South Korea for 3 years, and are now applying from India, you may need certificates from all three countries plus Canada if you previously lived there. Tracking your residence history carefully and obtaining all required certificates simultaneously can save significant time.

Obtaining a Canadian Police Certificate (RCMP)

If IRCC requires a Canadian police certificate, you must obtain it from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). This is done through a fingerprint-based criminal record check. The process involves the following steps:

1. Get fingerprinted: You must be fingerprinted by an accredited fingerprint agency. In Canada, many police services, private fingerprinting agencies, and some RCMP detachments offer this service. Fingerprints are taken on RCMP Form C-216C.
2. Submit to the RCMP: Your fingerprint form is sent to the RCMP Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) in Ottawa. You can also submit through an accredited agency that handles the mailing. The mailing address is: RCMP CCRTIS, 1200 Vanier Parkway, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R2.
3. Pay the fee: The RCMP charges $25 CAD for a fingerprint-based criminal record check. Additional fees may apply if you use a private fingerprinting agency.
4. Receive your certificate: Results are mailed to the address you provided. Processing times are typically 3 to 4 weeks once fingerprints are received, though delays can occur during high-volume periods.

For more information, visit the official RCMP criminal record check page at rcmp-grc.gc.ca/criminal-record-checks.

Obtaining Police Certificates from Other Countries

Obtaining police certificates from foreign countries is often the most challenging part of the immigration document-gathering process. The process varies significantly by country. Here are some general tips:

• Contact the country's embassy or consulate in Canada: Many countries allow their citizens abroad to request police certificates through the embassy. This can be faster than applying from within Canada.
• Apply directly to the country's national police authority: In many countries, the national police, ministry of justice, or similar body issues PCCs. Check IRCC's country-specific instructions at canada.ca/police-certificates-how for guidance specific to each country.
• Use an authorized third-party service: Some countries permit authorized agencies to obtain PCCs on behalf of applicants. This is common for countries with complex bureaucratic processes.
• Check if fingerprints are required: Some countries require fingerprints for their PCCs, similar to the Canadian RCMP process. Others use only name-based checks.

Validity Period of Police Certificates

Police certificates for Canadian immigration are generally valid for the duration of the application process once submitted, but many certificates are considered current only if they are less than 3 months old at the time of submission to IRCC. However, this can vary. IRCC's instructions for your specific application will specify the required validity period. If processing times are long, you may need to obtain updated police certificates, particularly if your first set expires before a decision is made. Always check the most current IRCC instructions rather than relying on older guides.

Criminal Inadmissibility and What It Means

Being found criminally inadmissible does not necessarily mean you are permanently barred from Canada. The severity of the inadmissibility depends on the nature of the offence. Minor offences may not create inadmissibility at all, especially if equivalent conduct is not a crime in Canada. More serious offences can result in temporary or permanent inadmissibility.

If you have a criminal record, you have options. These include:

• Criminal Rehabilitation: If 5 or more years have passed since you completed your sentence (including probation, fines, and all conditions), you may apply for criminal rehabilitation. A successful rehabilitation application permanently removes the inadmissibility. Use Form IMM 1444 and pay the applicable fee ($200 for non-serious criminality, $1,000 for serious criminality).
• Deemed Rehabilitation: If more than 10 years have passed since you completed your sentence for a single non-serious offence that carries a maximum sentence of less than 10 years in Canada, you may be deemed rehabilitated automatically without a formal application.
• Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): If rehabilitation is not yet available to you, a TRP can allow you to enter Canada temporarily for compelling reasons despite inadmissibility. Use Form IMM 1444 for TRP applications as well.

Common Mistakes Newcomers Make with Police Certificates

• Forgetting to obtain certificates from all countries where they lived for 6 months or more since age 18
• Submitting expired police certificates that no longer meet IRCC's validity requirements
• Failing to disclose a criminal record, even for minor offences or offences from many years ago
• Using a non-accredited fingerprinting agency for the RCMP check, resulting in rejected fingerprints
• Not accounting for processing time when planning their overall application timeline
• Assuming a pardon or expungement in another country eliminates the need to disclose the original offence

Once you have gathered your police certificates, you will also need to complete your biometrics if required. Read our detailed guide on Biometrics Requirements for IRCC Applications to understand the full process.

See also: How to Get Your SIN Number in Canada

Costs and Financial Planning

The costs of obtaining police certificates vary significantly by country. The Canadian RCMP certificate costs $25 CAD for the government fee, plus any fingerprinting agency fees (typically $25 to $75 CAD). Foreign police certificates can range from free to several hundred dollars, depending on the country. Translation and authentication costs must also be factored in, as any document not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation. Budget for these expenses early in your immigration planning, and consider that you may need to renew expired certificates if processing times extend beyond the validity period, effectively doubling the cost for those countries.

Practical Next Step

Start by creating a complete list of every country where you have lived for 6 or more months since your 18th birthday. For each country, visit canada.ca/police-certificates-how and follow the country-specific instructions. Submit your requests simultaneously in all countries to avoid sequential delays. For the Canadian RCMP check, find an accredited fingerprinting agency near you by calling RCMP CCRTIS at 1-888-827-1087 (within Canada).