Meta description (155 chars): Learn exactly who needs a police certificate for Express Entry, which countries, how to get one, and how to avoid the mistakes that delay PR applications.
In this guide
- How to Get a Police Certificate for Canada Immigration (Express Entry)
- The Express Entry rule: who needs a police certificate?
- When to start and how long certificates stay valid
- Format and translation requirements
- Country by country instructions
- What if a country will not issue a certificate?
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Questions people actually ask
- Ready to get your documents right the first time?
Category: Document Checklists
How to Get a Police Certificate for Canada Immigration (Express Entry)
If you are applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry, providing the correct police certificates is one of the most critical steps in your application. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses these documents to ensure applicants are not inadmissible due to criminality or security concerns.
Understanding exactly who needs a certificate, from which countries, and how to get them can be confusing. A mistake here, like providing the wrong type of document or missing a deadline, can cause your application to be rejected as incomplete. This guide covers the exact rules for Express Entry, the country-specific instructions, and what to do if you run into delays.
The Express Entry rule: who needs a police certificate?
For Express Entry applications the rules are specific and differ from other permanent residence programs. You must provide a police certificate for yourself, the principal applicant, and for each family member aged 18 or older. You need a certificate from each country or territory where you spent six months or more in a row within the last 10 years, or since turning 18, whichever is shorter.
Three nuances matter enormously. First, "six months in a row" means a single continuous stay of at least six months. You do not add up several short trips to reach six months. Second, the requirement covers the 10 years immediately before you submit your permanent residence application. Third, you do not need a certificate for any period before you turned 18, and you do not need one upfront for time spent in Canada. Even so, an IRCC officer can still request a certificate for any period since you turned 18, even if the online system did not prompt you for one.
Important Notice: if you are applying for a non-Express Entry permanent residence program, the checklist may simply say "since age 18" instead of the 10-year rule. Always check your specific program instructions on canada.ca.
Official IRCC guidance: Who needs a police certificate (source) | How to get one by country (source)
When to start and how long certificates stay valid
After you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have exactly 60 days to submit your complete permanent residence application, including all required police certificates. Because some countries take months to process these requests, IRCC strongly advises starting as soon as your profile enters the Express Entry pool.
| Your situation | Validity requirement |
|---|---|
| Country you currently live in | Must be issued no more than 6 months before you submit your PR application |
| Country you no longer live in | Must be issued after the last time you stayed there for six months in a row. IRCC may accept it even if the printed expiry date has passed |
IRCC can always request an updated certificate at any point, so do not assume a certificate that meets these rules is permanently sufficient. Official IRCC guidance: When to get a police certificate (source)
Format and translation requirements
For Express Entry you must upload a colour scan of the original document. Do not upload a certified true copy, a black-and-white copy, or an unauthorized copy. Any of those can lead to your application being rejected as incomplete. If your certificate is not in English or French, submit the colour scan of the original along with a translation completed by a certified translator. Family members are not permitted to translate your documents. Official IRCC guidance: Police certificate format (source)
Country by country instructions
The name of the document and the process vary widely, so follow IRCC's country-specific instructions rather than asking for a generic "police check."
1Canada (RCMP)
Do not submit a Canadian police certificate upfront. You only need one if IRCC sends you a request letter. When requested, you need a fingerprint-based certified criminal record check from the RCMP Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). Inside Canada, get electronic fingerprints taken at an RCMP-accredited company or police service, which submits them electronically. Outside Canada, get ink fingerprints taken locally and mail them to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, which digitizes and submits them for you. Paper prints mailed directly to the RCMP are returned unprocessed. There is currently high demand for these checks, and if the delay affects your deadline IRCC will automatically extend it by 30 days. Official IRCC guidance: How to get a Canadian police certificate (source) | RCMP criminal record checks (source)
2India (PCC)
The correct document is a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued through the Ministry of External Affairs. IRCC will not accept a Character Certificate, and certificates with jurisdictional or time limits may be refused. Inside India, apply through the Passport Seva portal: register, pay the fee (officially INR 750, recheck at publish), book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra, and bring your original passport and required documents. Police verification may follow. Outside India, apply through the Indian embassy, consulate, or BLS International where contracted; fees vary. Official IRCC guidance: How to get an Indian police certificate (source) | Passport Seva PCC portal (source)
3Philippines (NBI)
You need a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Multi-purpose Clearance Certificate. It must be the NBI clearance specifically, not a barangay or local police clearance, and it must contain your thumbprint and a dry seal. It is issued in English. Apply online at the NBI portal, book an appointment, pay the fee (recheck on the live portal at publish), and attend in person for biometrics. Outside the Philippines, apply via a Philippine embassy or by mail to the NBI. One edge case: if your certificate includes a remark such as "no pending case," IRCC requires an NBI explanation document, the full court decision, and your own written explanation. Official IRCC guidance: How to get a Philippine police certificate (source) | NBI clearance portal (source)
4United Kingdom (ACRO)
You must provide a Police Certificate from the ACRO Criminal Records Office. Do not use a DBS check or an International Child Protection Certificate. Apply online through ACRO, provide your address history and ID, and pay the fee (recheck on the live ACRO page at publish). Standard service takes up to 20 working days. If your certificate says "No Live Trace," it means you have a stepped-down record, and IRCC requires details of the offence, sentence, and dates, which you request from ACRO directly. Official IRCC guidance: How to get a UK police certificate (source) | ACRO Police Certificate service (source)
5United States (FBI)
You need an FBI Identity History Summary issued by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. A state, local, or commercial background check is not an acceptable substitute. Apply electronically or by mail using form FD-1164 with your fingerprints, or use an FBI-approved channeler (eligibility for channelers can differ for non-US citizens). The direct FBI fee is USD 18 (recheck at publish). Official IRCC guidance: How to get a US police certificate (source) | FBI Identity History Summary FAQs (source)
6United Arab Emirates
IRCC accepts a Police Clearance Certificate from an emirate, a national Criminal Clearance Certificate, or a Good Conduct Certificate. You only need one certificate from any emirate. Apply in person at the emirate police, online via the Ministry of Interior website or the MOI UAE app using UAE Pass, through a UAE embassy, or by authorizing someone with a power of attorney. Former residents may need additional documents. Fees vary; recheck on MOI UAE at publish. Official IRCC guidance: How to get a UAE police certificate (source) | UAE Ministry of Interior e-services (source)
What if a country will not issue a certificate?
If you cannot obtain a certificate from a required country, you must show IRCC that you made every reasonable effort. Upload a letter of explanation and proof of your best efforts in that country's upload field. Acceptable proof includes receipts, payment confirmations, tracking numbers, or a written explanation from the issuing authority. An officer will review your evidence, but acceptance is not guaranteed. If a country requires an official request letter from IRCC before issuing a certificate, do not leave the field blank. Instead upload a document stating: "I am applying from a country that requires an official request letter from IRCC to get a police certificate." IRCC will then provide further instructions. Official IRCC guidance: What to do if you cannot get a police certificate (source)
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Using the "since age 18" rule for Express Entry | Apply the 10-year lookback for Express Entry |
| Adding short trips together to reach 6 months | Count only a single continuous stay of 6 months or more |
| Ordering a Canadian RCMP check upfront | Wait for IRCC to request it by letter |
| Confusing police-certificate fingerprints with IRCC biometrics | They are two separate requirements |
| Submitting the wrong document type (India Character Certificate, Philippine barangay clearance, UK DBS, US state check) | Use only the document IRCC specifies for each country |
| Missing the NBI thumbprint and dry seal | Verify your NBI clearance has both before uploading |
| Getting a current-country certificate too early | Submit it within 6 months of your application date |
| Getting a former-country certificate before your last qualifying stay ended | It must be issued after your last 6-month stay |
| Uploading a black-and-white scan or certified copy | Upload a colour scan of the original only |
| Skipping a certified translation | Any non-English or French certificate needs one |
| Waiting until the ITA to start | Start gathering certificates as soon as you enter the pool |
| Leaving the upload field blank when delayed | Upload a letter of explanation and proof of your efforts |
| Assuming "best efforts" guarantees a waiver | IRCC decides, it is not automatic |
| Not disclosing details behind a "No Live Trace" (UK) or NBI remark (Philippines) | Disclose fully and provide the required supporting documents |
Questions people actually ask
I left my home country years ago and the certificate's expiry date has passed. Is it still valid? For countries you no longer live in, IRCC generally accepts certificates issued after your last continuous stay of six months, even if the printed expiry has passed.
Do I need a Canadian police certificate if I have lived in Canada more than 6 months? Not upfront. You only need an RCMP check if IRCC sends you a letter requesting one after you submit.
Ready to get your documents right the first time?
Police certificates are one of the most common places an Express Entry application stalls, because the rules differ by country and a small error can mean a rejected, incomplete application. KGraph helps you work out exactly which certificates you need, from which countries, and in what order, so nothing is missing when your clock starts. Rated 4.9 on Google, 98% success rate, 10,000+ clients served.
Not sure which pathway is right for you? Our RCIC-licensed consultants can advise you on the best strategy based on your immigration goals. Check Your Eligibility
Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.