Do I Need A Police Clearance For Canadian Citizenship Application?

When I wrote on how to apply for Canadian citizenship, I was able to read and learn the process. Then later as I delved more into the details I was confused in one thing. And I wasn’t the only one.

I asked myself if a police clearance for Canadian citizenship application is required.

Is it? As I what I always do when I’m confused, I read more information online and was even more confused than I was.

The next thing I did, is to go to a fingerprinting service in Calgary and told her that I need a police clearance for Canadian citizenship.

Do you have a letter from the immigration? Without it, you wouldn’t have/need a police clearance.

What letter? I ignored the part about letter. All I’m concerned about is that I wouldn’t have to spend because a police clearance in Canada is not a requirement for Canadian citizenship.

Question was answered. Great. But I need to no more or see if I missed something. So I went back to the World Wide Web of confusion.

What Led to Confusion

I decided to trace the pages that causes confusion so when you crossed the same path, you’ll find that it’s not the end of the story. The truth is still out there

My first stop is in the the IRCC website: Immigration and Citizenship > My Application > Medical Exam and Police Checks.

You must get a police certificate if you’re applying for permanent residence or Canadian citizenship.

Or Canadian citizenship. So that’s a contradiction to what I’ve been told at the fingerprinting agency.

Then I found the FAQ about police certificate.

You do not need to provide a police certificate for your time in Canada. If required, a Canadian criminal record check will be conducted. You may be asked to provide fingerprints or additional information later, if we need it to complete the check.

This is the answer that I love to hear myself as a first-hand information. Fortunately, my friend called the customer service of the IRCC and get the same answer.

Finally, my confused soul is at peace. My eyes can also rest from staring at the screen, reading, skimming, and squinting. But I needed to do one more thing.

Why You Don’t Need a Police Clearance for Canadian Citizenship

Let’s go back to the page where the answered is already there to finally reach a conclusion.

The Instruction Guide for the application for Canadian citizenship for adults (18 years and older) explain in details why an applicant don’t need a police clearance for Canadian citizenship.

Within the last 4 years, if you spent 183 days or more in another country (other than Canada), you must provide a police certificate. You must provide a police certificate for each country where you spent 183 days or more.

The keyword there is “other than Canada.”

For those who have spent the specified days outside the country should get a police certificate in that country. Not in Canada.

The guide was updated in October 17 but I wasn’t sure this is the part that was changed. Well, I get the right answers that I want from different sources.

Three NOs. And one YES. I’m on the winning side of the Three Musketeers against a lone bandit (which shouldn’t be Zorro, or else).

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