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Do I Need A Police Clearance For Canadian Citizenship Application?

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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.

No Police Clearance for Canadian Citizenship

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).

Related Post:

  1. Free Canadian Citizenship Practice Tests
  2. How to Apply for Dual Citizenship (Filipino-Canadian) in Canada, Philippines, and in Calgary
  3. Why You Should Check Online Your Canadian Citizenship Application

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  1. Hello Carolyn, could you please help me with the police certificate. I have to provide that certificate and I’m processing it in my native country because I had spent more than 180 days outside of Canada and they ask “To whom the certificate received”. Then I told them that the the Government of Canada and I was rejected. They said I have to be more specific for which office is it for. I was wondering if you can tell me what is the organization or full name of office?

  2. Hello Carolyn? My question is because of this: “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.” I landed here in August 2015 and after that I didn’t leave Canada. So before that I was in Pakistan; so do I still need police certificate?

  3. Hi. In the last 4 years, I’ve spent more than 183 days outside Canada. And again, I am going to the Philipines at the end of this November 2018. I am eligible to apply now for citizenship, but I don’t have my police clearance yet. Can I still submit my documents without the police clearance? Because my plan is I will send documents before I leave the country (Canada) and just put an explanation in the comment box that I am going to the Philippines to get the police clearance then once they ask my police clearance, that is the time I will send it.

    • Applicants are requested to submit a complete application. Otherwise, the incomplete documents (even with a missing signature or check) will be returned.

  4. Hello, I’ve been in Canada since June 2015 and became a PR when I landed. I’m filling out the form for citizenship. My question is because of this: “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.”

    Before June 2015, I was in the Philippines for more than 183 days if I count back 4 years from today. Do you think I need a police clearance? I don’t think it should count, but I just want to be sure. Thank you. 🙂

    • First, fill up the physical presence calculator to make sure you qualify for the required time of residency in Canada. (June 2015 to June 2019 = 4 years). If you will apply beyond June 2019 then you wouldn’t have to get an NBI Clearance (equivalent to police clearance). Then again check your timeline carefully to make sure there’s no error in the application.

      • Hi Carolyn, just a follow-up question on his question as I also have the same: If he applies for the citizenship this year (let’s say August 2018), the 183 days would be outside Canada. Can they use the police clearance they have on that year (2015) from the Philippines or they need to apply for a new one (2018), which does not make sense because they are not living in the Philippines currently? I hope it’s not so confusing. Thank you in advance!

        • The police clearance for applicant in the Philippines is equivalent to NBI Clearance which expires within a year. Within 4 yours that a person lives for 183 days outside Canada, a valid police clearance is required from that country even though the current residency is in Canada.

  5. Hi Carolyn, I have been in Canada since May 2013, but landed and got my PR last Feb 2016. Do I needed to provide a police clearance from my country, and I am also married to a different nationality and have lived in my husband’s country for a couple of years, do I need to provide a police clearance from my country, and from my husband’s country? Thanks! ( I only left Canada for a 1 month vacation after getting my PR.) Thank you and more power to your website 🙂 Tina

    • Thanks! Here’s a tip Tina: regardless of nationality, within the last 4 years “you must provide a police certificate for each country where you spent 183 days or more.” Does this apply to you and your husband?

  6. Thank you for clearing this out. I had been hounding the World Wide Web (of confusion) because the explanation given on the CIT 0007 form can be a bit confusing. THANK YOU!

    • Good luck with your application Hessie and don’t forget to check the free online citizenship practice test.