How To Apply For PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) From Canada?

This blog talks about getting your Canadian PCC from outside of Canada. Also includes a detailed guide for getting fingerprinted in your current country and sending over the forms to Globeia's office for processing.
Globeia
4 mins
Oct 23, 2023

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) maintains Canada’s criminal records directory and is the main police clearance issuing authority of the country. Since almost all PR, immigration, and permit applications require a police clearance certificate, you will need to produce one from Canada if you have spent more than 6 months in the country.

The RCMP will run your fingerprints in its directory to check for a possible match and issue a certificate of clearance upon completing of the process.

Types of Police Checks

There are two main types of Canadian criminalrecord checks: The Name-based Check and the Certified Criminal Record Check.
 

Name-based Check

This type of check uses your name and date of birth to look for a possible hit in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system. The RCMP might also search for your details in other criminal record databases before issuing a PCC.  

Certified Criminal Record Check

Name-based checks are prone to fasle positives and negatives, as the name and date of birth could be same for more than one person. A certified criminal record check, on the other hand, uses fingerprint identification. This is considered a more reliable form of conducting criminal background checks.   
 

Hire An Accredited Company For Police Clearance From Canada

You may or may not be asked to submit a PCC for Canadian PR, employment, immigration, or other similar processes. However, you will need a fingerprint-based police check if you are asked for one at any step during your application.


You will need to use the services of an accredited fingerprinting company to submit your online application for police clearance from Canada. This is because the RCMP does not directly accept fingerprint submissions from outside Canada.


Accredited companies have been verified and allowed by the RCMP to receive fingerprints from anywhere around the world. These companies then digitize the received fingerprints and submit them to the RCMP for verification.    
 

Get Fingerprinted in Your Country of Residence

Depending on the accredited company that you choose to work with, you will either be sent a fingerprinting form or need to download it from the RCMP’s website. You can then take this form to a police station, notary public, or any other fingerprinting authority to have your ink fingerprints transferred onto the form. The fingerprints from this card will be digitized by your accredited company after you mail it to them.


Over here at Globeia, we offer both online and manual submission options. We are here to help if you are confused about the process and need help navigating its list of requirements. You can request a manual submission package from us and we will mail it to your address, anywhere around the world.  
 

Complete Your Application

After getting your fingerprints transferred to the form, you will need to complete your application, and attach the required documents, before the fingerprints can be submitted to the RCMP. This involves your basic details, a digital photo, and copies of two government-issued photo IDs. We can help you complete this process by offering assistance whenever you get stuck on something. 
 

Use Globeia’s Services To Expedite Your Canadian PCC Application

Globeia offers an expedited Canadian PCC service at the lowest rate all over Canada, helping you cut down the police clearance certificate processing time. We have developed a robust application portal to ensure your ease of access. Globeia’s Canadian criminal record check team is also available over the phone and by email to help you navigate the process easier. 


You can start today by getting in touch with one of our Canadian PCC specialists through our contact form or by booking a free consultation. We will take care of the whole process so that you can save time.