For Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) might ask you to give your fingerprints to the RCMP to check your criminal record. If you’re older than 18 and have lived in Canada for more than 6 months, IRCC may request your fingerprints. You need to do this as part of your background check.
For Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) might ask you to give your fingerprints to the RCMP to check your criminal record. If you’re older than 18 and have lived in Canada for more than 6 months, IRCC may request your fingerprints. You need to do this as part of your background check.
For Canadian Permanent Residency, you need a criminal record
IRCC sends a letter telling you to give your fingerprints to the RCMP for a criminal record. If you want your fingerprints processed, you have to bring them with you or show them to a fingerprinting officer. You’ll also need two valid IDs. If IRCC doesn’t send you a letter asking for a criminal record check, don’t request one.
For Canadian citizenship, submit your fingerprints to the RCMP
RCMP fingerprints are required for criminal record checks during Canadian citizenship applications. Clearly, this needs to be done inside Canada. Please bring the following documents to the fingerprinting office:
- The landing paper or confirmation that you’re a permanent resident
- Permanent resident card
- We need two valid IDs, like a driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, etc.
Your fingerprints will be sent to RCMP, and RCMP will send the criminal record results to the address on the IRCC letter. When the officer takes your fingerprints, make sure they enter your application number and UCI.
For details on getting a police certificate from other countries (besides Canada), check out “How to get a police certificate” on the IRCC website.
You can also get your fingerprints printed on an official form with our electronic fingerprinting service. You can apply for a police certificate back home by mailing the fingerprint form.