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 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.
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 ink and roll
- 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 3rd 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 approximately 48 business hours 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 3rd 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 days after 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.
Need Help with RCMP Fingerprints from Outside Canada?
📧 international@f1fingerprint.ca
📞 +1 (905) 703-6810
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.
– ONTARIO: (𝟗𝟎𝟓) 𝟐𝟒𝟕-𝟑𝟖𝟔𝟖
– ALBERTA: (𝟒𝟎𝟑) 𝟕𝟑𝟏-𝟑𝟓𝟑𝟓
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