Our Resources

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? 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 Q: What if my certificate will not arrive before the 60-day deadline? Upload a letter of explanation and proof that you applied for the certificate, such as a receipt, in the correct field before the deadline. Do not leave the field blank. My police certificate is more than 6 months old. Can I still use it? It depends on where you live now. From the country you currently live in, no, it must be issued within 6 months of your submission. From a country you no longer live in, yes, as long as it was issued after your last stay of six months or more there. 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. Q: Can I reuse an old certificate if I only went back for short visits? Yes. If those later visits were each less than six months in a row, the certificate issued after your last qualifying stay remains valid. Do certificates from several countries all expire after 6 months? Only the certificate from the country you currently live in must be under 6 months old at submission. Certificates from countries you no longer live in follow the "after your last qualifying stay" rule. 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. Details like these are where applications come apart. Our consultants have handled these documents for over a decade, and we can check yours before you file.Start Your Free Initial Eligibility Assessment Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice. Related Articles RCMP Criminal Record Check Certified Translations Immigration Medical Exam Family Sponsorship Service IRCC Secure Account

If IRCC has asked you for a Canadian criminal record check, you need a fingerprint based check processed by the RCMP. Not the quick name based check your employer runs. Not a vulnerable sector check. This page explains exactly which one, how to get it, what it costs (less than you think, and possibly nothing), and the mistakes that get applications rejected. In this guide Two kinds of check, and only one of them counts Police certificates from outside Canada Three clarifications that save people a great deal of unnecessary work: Validity How to get the RCMP check, step by step What it costs How long it takes Common mistakes Questions people actually ask Two kinds of check, and only one of them counts A name based criminal record check compares your name and date of birth against the Canadian Police Information Centre. It is fast, and for most everyday purposes it is enough. A certified criminal record check, which the RCMP also calls a fingerprint based check, uses your actual fingerprints. In the RCMP's words, fingerprints are "the most accurate way to confirm a person's identity. They ensure that individuals cannot evade their criminal past, and protect individuals from being falsely associated with a criminal record that is not theirs." For immigration, the fingerprint route is the one that matters. IRCC's instruction is unambiguous: fingerprints must be submitted electronically to Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). Paper submissions will not be processed and will be sent back to you. Being asked for fingerprints does not mean anyone suspects you of anything. The RCMP says so directly, and adds that the prints are used only for the record check and are destroyed afterwards. When IRCC actually asks for it Here is something most people do not realise. You do not need to supply a Canadian criminal record check when you first apply for permanent residence. IRCC's own words: "You don't need to provide a police certificate when you apply for permanent residence in Canada. We'll tell you if you need a Canadian criminal record check while your application is being processed." So wait to be asked, then move quickly. Police certificates from other countries are a different story entirely. Those you do need upfront. Police certificates from outside Canada For Express Entry, IRCC's system will ask for a police certificate for you and every family member aged 18 or older, from every country you stayed in during the last 10 years for six months in a row or longer. Three clarifications that save people a great deal of unnecessary work: Time before you turned 18 does not count. A stay of eight months in the United States at age 16 does not trigger a certificate. Time more than 10 years ago does not count. Seven months in Turkey twenty years ago does not trigger one. Several short stays do not add up. Four month study periods in Spain, repeated, are not "six months in a row." The system will not ask, though an officer still might later. If that is you, consider getting the certificate anyway. And you never need a police certificate for time spent in Canada as part of that list. Validity For the country where you currently live, the certificate must be issued no more than six months before you submit your application. For any other country, it must be issued after the last time you lived there for six consecutive months or longer since you turned 18. An expiry date printed on it does not automatically disqualify it, provided it meets that test and is not for your current country. IRCC can ask for updated documents at any point during processing. Upload scanned colour copies of the originals. Certified true copies and unauthorised copies are not accepted and will get your application rejected. How to get the RCMP check, step by step If you are inside Canada Go to either your local police service or an RCMP accredited fingerprinting company. Both can take your prints and submit a certified criminal record check. Some police services will simply point you to an accredited company. Fine. Use the RCMP's list of accredited companies, which is updated at the start of every month. Your prints are submitted electronically to CCRTIS and checked against the National Repository of Criminal Records. The result is mailed to the address you provide. If you are outside Canada This is where people get stuck, because electronic submission is not available from outside Canada. There is a two step route. Step one. Get a paper copy of your fingerprints from an authorised agency where you are: a police service, a foreign government embassy or consulate (not a Canadian one), a government department, a notary public, or a foreign fingerprinting company that has an arrangement with an accredited Canadian company or a Canadian police service. The paper copy must show all ten fingers in black ink, the name and address of the agency, and the signature and name of the official who took them. Step two. Contact an accredited fingerprinting company in Canada. They digitise your paper prints and submit them to CCRTIS electronically on your behalf. Do not mail your fingerprints or your application directly to the RCMP. The RCMP says plainly that it will not be accepted. One exception worth knowing: if you are applying for citizenship, your fingerprints must be collected inside Canada. What it costs Fee Amount RCMP federal processing fee CAD $25 per check Local police or accredited company fee Set by them. The RCMP publishes no figure, no range and no cap Now the part almost nobody knows. The $25 federal fee is WAIVED if you are applying to immigrate to Canada, or applying for Canadian citizenship, or applying to do volunteer work in Canada. But it IS charged if you are sponsoring a family member to come to Canada, or if you are travelling and need a visa, a United States entry waiver, or a border crossing document. Read that twice. The immigrant does not pay the federal fee. The sponsor does. You will still pay whatever the police service or accredited company charges to take and submit your prints, and that is separate. The RCMP does not publish those prices, and anyone quoting you a single all in national figure is guessing. Ask your provider directly. How long it takes The RCMP publishes times for electronic submissions only. Outcome RCMP processing time No match to a criminal record 3 business days or less A possible match, or manual processing is involved 120 business days That is a gap of roughly six months between the best and worst case, and you do not get to choose which one applies to you. Add Canada Post delivery on top, because results are mailed. The RCMP's own advice is the right advice: plan ahead. If your Express Entry profile is in the pool, start on your police certificates now rather than after an invitation lands. If the RCMP is running slow, IRCC has your back on this one. Because of high demand, IRCC automatically extends the deadline to provide a criminal record check by 30 days. You do not need to contact IRCC or the RCMP to get that extension. The 60 day problem, and what to do about it An invitation to apply gives you 60 days. A police certificate can take 120 business days. The arithmetic does not work, and IRCC knows it. If you cannot get a certificate in time, submit a letter of explanation plus proof that you made your best effort. Acceptable proof includes a confirmation receipt, a payment receipt, a delivery notice, a tracking number, or a written explanation from the issuing agency about the delay. An officer decides whether your effort was genuine. If they are not satisfied, the application can be rejected as incomplete. So keep every receipt and every tracking number. Some countries only issue a police certificate when IRCC formally requests one. If that is your country, upload a document in the police certificate field that says: "I am applying from a country that requires an official request letter from IRCC to get a police certificate." IRCC will then tell you what to do. The vulnerable sector check is not what you need A vulnerable sector check is a police information check plus a search for record suspensions relating to sexual offences. It exists to protect children and vulnerable people, and it is tied to a specific position of trust or authority. Three things follow from that, and they matter. The organisation must request it. You consent, but you do not request it yourself. It must be done by your local police service. Accredited private fingerprinting companies do not provide them. It is an offence to conduct one when the position does not meet the legal requirements. IRCC names the document it wants: a criminal record check. That is what to ask for. Do not walk into a police station and request a vulnerable sector check for an immigration file. If you have a criminal record If you were convicted in Canada, a record suspension from the Parole Board of Canada removes the record from CPIC. IRCC is explicit: "If you get a Canadian record suspension, you will no longer be inadmissible." Understand its limits, though. A record suspension does not erase the conviction, it sets it aside. It does not guarantee entry to any other country. It is flagged in CPIC for former sexual offenders. And it can be revoked if you are convicted again, are found not to be of good conduct, or made a false statement when you applied for it. If your conviction and pardon are from another country, do not assume it carries over. Check with the visa office serving your region. It will tell you whether that pardon is recognised in Canada. Separately, IRCC has two rehabilitation routes for convictions abroad. Deemed rehabilitation applies when enough time has passed and the equivalent Canadian offence carries a maximum prison term of less than 10 years. Individual rehabilitation requires at least five years since the end of your sentence, including probation, and IRCC warns those applications can take over a year. This is the point in the process where a licensed representative is worth the money. Criminal inadmissibility is not a form filling problem. One more thing that surprises people. For permanent residence and citizenship checks, the RCMP releases not just convictions but outstanding charges and non conviction information. A charge that never led to a conviction can still appear. Common mistakes Mailing prints or the application straight to the RCMP. It will not be accepted. Submitting on paper. IRCC will send it back unprocessed. Assuming you can submit electronically from abroad. You cannot. Ink prints must be digitised by an accredited Canadian company. Uploading a photocopy or a certified true copy of a police certificate. Colour scans of the original only, or your application gets rejected. Confusing these fingerprints with IRCC biometrics. They are two different things for two different purposes. Waiting for the invitation before starting. With 120 business days as a possible outcome, that is how people run out of the 60 day clock. Questions people actually ask Q: Do I need a criminal record check to apply for PR? Not at the outset. IRCC will tell you if it needs one while your application is being processed. Police certificates from other countries are a separate requirement and those you do need upfront. Q: Is a name based check enough? No. IRCC requires fingerprints submitted electronically to CCRTIS. Q: How much does it cost? The RCMP federal fee is $25, and it is waived for people applying to immigrate to Canada. You still pay whatever your local police service or accredited company charges to take the prints. Those prices are not published. Q: I am sponsoring my spouse. Is my check free too? No. The RCMP charges the $25 federal fee for sponsorship. The fee waiver covers the person immigrating, not the sponsor. Q: My check is taking months. Will I miss my deadline? IRCC automatically extends the criminal record check deadline by 30 days because of the current RCMP backlog. You do not need to ask. Q: Are these the same fingerprints as my biometrics? No. IRCC states directly that police certificate fingerprints are not the same as the biometrics you give for an application. Q: Why trust KGraph? With a 98% success rate, over 10,000 clients served, and a 4.9 Google rating, KGraph Immigration provides expert guidance you can rely on. Details like these are where applications come apart. Our consultants have handled these documents for over a decade, and we can check yours before you file.Start Your Free Initial Eligibility Assessment Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice. Related Articles Police Certificate Certified Translations The Citizenship Test Explained Family Sponsorship Service IRCC Secure Account