If you’re applying for Canadian permanent residence (PR) from outside Canada, IRCC may ask you to complete an RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check as part of the background verification process, even if you no longer live there.

This requirement is especially common for applicants who previously lived, worked, or studied in Canada before moving overseas. Many people assume that a police certificate from their current country of residence is enough. However, depending on your immigration history and time spent in Canada, IRCC may also request a separate RCMP check.

In this article, we explain when RCMP fingerprints may be required for your PR application, how the process works, and how it differs from a standard police certificate.

What Are RCMP Fingerprints?

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

Unlike a standard name-based police certificate, RCMP fingerprints are used to search Canadian criminal record databases through the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).

RCMP fingerprints may be requested for:

Does Everyone Applying for Canada PR Need RCMP Fingerprints?

Not every permanent residence applicant is automatically required to complete RCMP fingerprints.

In many cases, applicants only need to provide police certificates from countries where they previously lived for six months or longer after the age of 18.

That said, RCMP fingerprints are commonly requested for applicants who:

  • Previously studied in Canada
  • Previously worked in Canada
  • Previously held a Canadian visa or permit
  • Previously lived in Canada for an extended period of time
  • Have received a specific fingerprint request from IRCC during processing

Every application is assessed individually. If IRCC requires it, they will notify you directly during processing.

What Is the Difference Between RCMP Fingerprints and a Police Certificate?

One of the most common misunderstandings is assuming that a police certificate from another country can replace RCMP fingerprints for Canada PR.

These are two different types of background checks.

Police CertificateRCMP Fingerprints
Issued by local authorities in another countryIssued by the RCMP in Canada
Usually name-basedFingerprint-based
Checks criminal records in that countryChecks criminal records in Canada
Used for foreign residence historyUsed for Canadian residence history

Applicants who previously lived in both Canada and another country may sometimes be required to provide both documents.

How Do You Complete RCMP Fingerprints From Outside Canada?

If you are currently living outside Canada, you generally do not need to travel back to Canada to complete the process.

This process is commonly used by applicants living in countries such as USA, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and many others.

If you are currently outside Canada and require RCMP fingerprints for Canada PR, you will usually need to have your fingerprints taken locally in your country of residence and send your documents to an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency in Canada for processing.

Fingerprints can typically be taken at:

  • Local police stations
  • Fingerprinting agencies
  • Forensic laboratories

Once completed, the fingerprint card is mailed to Canada, where the fingerprints are digitized and electronically submitted to the RCMP.

You can learn more about the process here:
How to Get an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Outside Canada

Common Mistakes Applicants Make

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is waiting until the last minute after receiving a fingerprint request from IRCC. Processing and international shipping take time, and delays here can slow down your entire PR application.

Other common issues include:

  • Poor fingerprint quality
  • Incomplete forms
  • Mailing documents before review
  • Assuming foreign police certificates replace RCMP fingerprints
  • Delays caused by international shipping

If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to us early in the process. We’re an RCMP-accredited agency and can help ensure everything is completed correctly and on time.

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𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 – 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘  

Frontier One proudly offers a wide range of fingerprinting services for obtaining a Criminal Record Check from Canada (RCMP), the US (FBI FD-258/FD-1164), and other countries (C-216C).

These checks could be required for various applications, including but not limited to Permanent Residency (in Canada and other countries), Canadian Citizenship, US Immigration, Employment, Pardon, Visa/Border Crossing. 

Visit us at: www.f1fingerprint.ca or call us now for assistance.  

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– ALBERTA: (𝟒𝟎𝟑) 𝟕𝟑𝟏-𝟑𝟓𝟑𝟓 

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