Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector checks
Attention:
The potential strike announced by Canada Post may impact the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services' service level agreements with respect to civil products. Please refer back to this website regularly for updated information.
Attention:
A small number of criminal record checks were mistakenly sent out without the RCMP embossment, which is a key and required security feature. Only those individuals whose check indicates they are not associated to a criminal record are impacted by this error. If you recently received a criminal record verification and it does not have the RCMP embossment, please contact us immediately to have it re-issued as the document is considered invalid without this key security feature. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
You may need a criminal record check for various purposes, including: employment, adoption, international travel, volunteer work, citizenship, name change, student placement or to obtain a record suspension (formerly pardon).
You will find below information and links on:
- The types of record checks
- The steps to obtain a criminal record check and verify its status
- The fingerprinting process
- Other useful forms and releases
- Processing fees
- Processing time
- Accredited companies offering electronic fingerprint submission
Attention:
Effective July 1, 2014, the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services will only accept electronic fingerprint submissions for civil purposes. This new process aims at improving the service levels and accuracy of your screening.
If you reside in Canada, you simply have to contact one of these accredited companies or your local police service to make arrangements to submit your fingerprints electronically and avoid delays.
Note: Although most police services are able to submit fingerprints electronically, they could also refer you to an accredited third party or only offer this service in specific circumstances. It is therefore recommended that you confirm with them before you show up to have your fingerprints taken.
An electronic fingerprint submission to the RCMP is not currently available outside of Canada. You may contact accredited companies within Canada who will digitize ink fingerprints and submit them electronically to the RCMP.
Types of record checks
A criminal record file consists of an individual's criminal charges, convictions and discharges, as well as fingerprint information. It includes fingerprints if the individual was charged or convicted.
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Criminal Record check: This process verifies whether an individual has a criminal record and provides the applicant with the detailed information that can be legally disclosed.
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Vulnerable Sector (VS) check: This process verifies whether an individual has a criminal record, as well as any record suspensions (formerly pardons) for sexual offences and local police records for information relevant to the VS check. The information that can be legally disclosed is provided to the applicant. Read frequently asked questions about vulnerable sector checks.
More information on the fingerprinting process.
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