I can be annoying out of curiosity. I still remember the time when I keep asking my friends about the application for police certificate in Canada.
It was one of the requirements in applying for permanent residency for caregivers.
In this post I’m paying it forward. Let’s lessen the possibility of annoying a friend.
You’ll learn the tips that my kind and undeniably patient friends shared with me in times of confusion.
What is a Police Certificate?
Police certificate is a proof that you don’t have a criminal record.
The term may vary in other countries. For example, in the Philippines, the police certificate in Canada is equivalent to the NBI Clearance.
I submitted two certificates along with the other requirements for the application of permanent residency (and here’s my experience of an interview for PR).
Two certificates are not a lot, you may say. Not quite if you live in different countries.
So after the definition here comes confusion. Pay attention.
Who Needs to Apply?
Anyone who is coming to Canada who are 18 or older has to apply for a police clearance certificate.
The applicants will fall to any of the following categories:
- Live-in caregiver
- Tourist
- Student
- Temporary worker
Applicants of permanent residency and Canadian citizenship also has to get a police certificate in Canada and other countries.
Here’s a guide to find out how many certificates you will need to apply for:
- Police certificate in Canada – must be issued six months before you submitted the application for permanent residency
- Police certificate in other countries where you have live for six months or more
If the certificate is not in English or French, a certified translator should translate the document. The original copy and translation are submitted together.
I only submitted two police certificates in Canada. But for some you’ll need a lot of help from a trusted, reliable person. (My top tips for newcomers come into play for this trick.)
Related Post: Do I Need a Police Clearance for Canadian Citizenship Application?
How to Get a Police Certificate
As mentioned before you’ll likely need to get two or more police certificates based on your residency.
1. You can get a police certificate in Canada in three ways:
- Police services
- Company that perform name-based checks
- Accredited fingerprint companies
Personally, I found it easier to have a police check through an RCMP accredited fingerprint agency.
Related Post: Accredited Fingerprinting Agency in Calgary
Through the agency, the fingerprints are electronically taken. No more messy ink.
Tip: You can also go through the accredited fingerprint agency if you have a form (requirement for the application of police certificate to another country) that requires ink and roll fingerprinting.
Requirements:
- Two pieces of valid government issued identifications; one must be a photo ID
- The following are acceptable identifications:
- Passport
- Citizenship Card or Document
- Immigration Document ( Record of Landing)
- Birth Certificate
- Drivers License
- Permanent Resident card or Record of Landing for Citizenship Applicants
- Government ID
- Work Permits
- Student Permit
- BC Care Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Military Family ID card (MFID)
- Nexus Card
- Files and/or letters requesting the criminal record check
Fee: Digital fingerprinting cost + $25.00 RCMP fee if applicable (cash, credit card, cheque, or money order)
Processing time:
- No criminal record – 3 business days or less
- With record – 120 days or more
Check this page for the updated RCMP processing time.
2. The methods of getting a police clearance certificate overseas will vary from one country to another.
The CIC has an online tool to guide you through a list of countries along with the relevant information.
The challenging aspect of applying for a police certificate outside Canada is that you have to ask a favour to a family member, relative, or a friend to do it for you.
That’s exactly what I did.
First, I had an ink and roll fingerprinting in an accredited fingerprinting agency in Calgary, then I sent the form through a relative who is going back to the Philippines. My relative gave the form to my sister who did all the work.
This process takes time but I saved a lot by asking help to the right people, especially my sister who didn’t waste time.
For more information, you can read the post on how I get an NBI Clearance in the Philippines without leaving Canada.
Plan Ahead
Consider how long is the processing time for the application of police clearance certificate in Canada and other countries.
I’ve heard stories of delayed submission of immigration application (permanent residency, citizenship, etc.) because they were still waiting for the police certificate from overseas.
I’ll say this again . . . and again. Submit your application on time.
So these are my tips about police certificate in general.
Keep an eye on post regarding police checks in the succeeding days because this post is not enough to cover all the tips.
Let’s learn one day at a time.
Leave your thoughts in the comment. How did you get your police certificate in Canada? What about the police clearance from overseas?
Resource: CIC – Police Certificates (Police Checks), RCMP – Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks
Hi, Carolyn thank you for making this blog. But I’m still confused with this. So I have been living in Canada for almost 2 years. And I’m just about to apply for PR with a spouse or common law partner in Canada class. My question is do I still need to get the police clearance from my country of origin or just provide one from here ( Canada)? And meanwhile in that 2 years I never go back to my origin country or travel out from this country. I’m Indonesian btw. If I looked at the website; they want 2 police clearance but some of my friend tell me just get one. And it makes me more confused. Thank you, hope you can help.
Hi Nova. I would suggest you to call the immigration to be sure. I submitted two police clearance (from Philippines and Canada) and also called so I wouldn’t submit an incomplete application which could prolong the processing. I do ask around for tips but as always, I rely on first-hand information from the immigration.
Hello,
My fiance is applying a student visa in Canada and he was asked to get a RCMP Clearance. He is in the Philippines right now and having troubles how and where to get it. We badly need your help. Do you have any idea how to acquire it in the Philippines?
Are you referring to NBI Clearance because it is the counterpart of the police certificate in Canada? Applicants in the Philippines are required to submit an NBI Clearance.
Hi I’m sponsoring my husband to come in Canada and I was wondering because later on in the processing of his application immigration will require his police clearance check; he worked here in Canada for 2 years so we will need to secure his police clearance in Canada right? Does he need to notarize the application form for his police clearance in the Philippines?
I think you are referring to NBI Clearance (Philippines) and Police Certificate (Canada). The NBI Clearance doesn’t require notarization. I hope that clears up the confusion.
Hi Carolyn, hope all is well with you. I am applying for PR as well. I went to RCMP and told them that I need to get police certificate/criminal background check for my PR application. The clerk told me that i don’t need it since i dont have status here yet, but i get a feeling she is not familiar with this reqt coz she made a call to somebody to clarify about this. Also, i have a friend who underwent PR application. She initially submitted NBI clearance only. and then she receives a letter from cic that states she needs to get fingerprint.
Im just confused if i should i just follow what my friend did? wont it delay my application if i just submit my nbi only?
Hi Nikki. You may want to go to a fingerprinting agency just like what I did. The agency forwarded the police certificate to the CIC so I didn’t have a copy of it. To give you an idea on what to do you read the post Fingerprinting Agency in Calgary. I hope that helps. Keep us posted!
Hi Carolyn! Its been a long time since we last exchanged emails. How are you? I would just like to ask regarding police certificate requirement in Canada for pr application. Is the fingerprint request letter same with request for police certificate? I am confused as which one to get, the police certificate or just fingerprint. Do i need police certificate or just a criminal background check? I came across this (see below) on their cic website under the questions.
How to get a police certificate – Canada
Do I need to provide a Police Certificate with my Application for Permanent Residence? No
Name of document(s) to get: Criminal Record Check
If you are not a citizen of Canada:
If you live in Canada:
The Canadian visa office will tell you if you need a Canadian criminal record check while your application is being processed. If the visa office asks you to complete a criminal record check, visit the RCMP website for instructions. You must bring:
A full electronic set of fingerprints on form C-216C taken by one of these accredited companies or police services
A complete application form (available on the RCMP website)
Reason for your request (eg. For immigration)
Your full name
Date of birth
Sex
Mailing address
Phone number (and/or fax number and/or e-mail address)
Applicable fees
Hi Nikki. To accurately answer your question, could you tell the purpose of why are you applying for a police certificate. In my case, I needed the police certificate as part of the permanent residency application under the Live-in caregiver Program (LCP). I had digital fingerprinting and received the certificate within a week. Later when I worked no longer a caregiver, I had a criminal background check online in compliance to the company’s policy. I hope the two scenarios can help you know the difference so you can decide which suits your need.