If you previously lived in Canada for more than six month and are now living overseas, you may be required to obtain an RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check for immigration, employment, citizenship, licensing, or visa purposes.

A lot of people think they need to fly back to Canada to complete the fingerprinting process, but in most cases, that’s not necessary. Even if you are currently outside Canada, you can still apply for an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check through an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency like Frontier One Inc..

We regularly help clients from around the world submit their fingerprints to the RCMP from outside Canada.

What Is an RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check?

An RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check is a fingerprint-based background check issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Unlike a basic name-based police check, this process uses fingerprints to verify whether someone has a criminal record in Canada. Fingerprints are processed through the RCMP’s national database called CCRTIS (Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services).

This type of background check is commonly required for:

• Canadian permanent residence applications
• Canadian citizenship applications
• US immigration/visa applications
• Immigration/visa applications outside Canada/US
• Professional licensing (e.g., CPSO, OCT)
• Work permits or study permits
• Employment screening
• Canadian pardon application
• International adoption

How Can I Apply from Outside Canada?

If you are living outside Canada, you can still complete the process remotely.

In most cases, your fingerprints will first be taken in your current country of residence, either in ink format or through a digital fingerprinting system that provides a printed fingerprint card. The fingerprint card is then mailed to Canada, where an accredited fingerprint agency converts the fingerprints into a digital format and submits them electronically to the RCMP.

How the Process Works

Step 1: Submit Your Request Online

To get started, visit our website at F1Fingerprint International Fingerprinting Services.

Select the country you are applying from. If your country is not listed, you can choose “Other” and submit your request through the online form.

Once your request has been submitted, our system will automatically email you instructions and forms to download, including:

• Fingerprinting instructions
• Required application forms
• Mailing instructions
• A checklist of required documents

If you have any questions during the process, please do not hesitate to reply to this email. Our team will be happy to assist you.

Start Your Application Now!

Step 2: Get Your Fingerprints Taken Locally

You can usually have your fingerprints taken at:

• A local police station
• A professional fingerprinting agency

Your fingerprints should:

• Include all ten fingerprints
• Be taken in black ink
• Be clear and fully rolled
• Fill out all the boxes marked with a red asterisk (*)
• Include the signature of the officer or the fingerprint technician
• Include the stamp from the police station or the fingerprinting agency

Step 3: Email Your Documents for Preliminary Review

Before mailing anything to Canada, email scanned copies of all completed documents to: international@f1fingerprint.ca

Please include:

• Scanned fingerprint cards
• Two pieces of valid government-issued identification
• A digital passport-sized photo
• A 3^rd party waiver consent form (if applicable)
• A request letter (if applicable)

For best results, fingerprint cards should be scanned at the highest quality possible.

Our team will review your documents within 1-2 business days to help confirm that the fingerprints and paperwork appear complete and acceptable before you send the originals by mail.

This step helps reduce delays caused by unclear fingerprints, missing information, or incomplete forms.

Please note that some police departments may send fingerprint cards directly to our office. If the fingerprint quality does not meet RCMP standards, new fingerprints may still be required.

Step 4: Mail the Original Documents to Canada

Once our team confirms that your documents are ready, mail the original fingerprint cards, and the 3^rd party consent form (if applicable) to our International Department using registered mail or preferably a courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

Frontier One Inc. – International Department
Unit 126 – 1454 Dundas Street East
Mississauga, ON L4X 1L4
Canada

Step 5: Fingerprint Digitization and RCMP Submission

We will create your application in our system and send you the required documents and invoice by email.

Once the completed documents are signed, returned, and payment has been received, our accredited fingerprint technicians will digitize your fingerprints and electronically submit them to the RCMP.

Most submissions are processed within 1-2 business daysafter receiving the original documents.

Payment can be made by:

• Credit card through our secure online invoice system
• E-transfer using an eligible Canadian bank account
• In-person payment during business hours

Step 6: Receive Your RCMP Criminal Record Check

After submission, the RCMP will process your application and mail the Certified Criminal Record Check.

Because the RCMP sends results using Canada Post regular mail without tracking, many international clients choose to have the results mailed to the International Department at our Mississauga (Dundas) office first to help reduce the risk of lost or delayed mail.

Once we receive the results on your behalf, we can securely forward them to your overseas address using a courier service such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL.

If preferred, you may also choose to have the RCMP mail the results directly to a family member or trusted contact in Canada or the United States.