Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector checks
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:
Please be advised that, due to implementation of an upgrade to the Real Time Identification System on April 23, 2017, all civil products issued between April 23, 2017 and May 2, 2017 contained an error in the signature block of our issued form. Notably, the signature block indicated that Chief Supt. Serge Cote was Director General (DG) of the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) while the actual signature imprint was that of our former DG, Brendan Heffernan. The error has been addressed and all products issued as of May 3, 2017 correctly reflect both the signature and name of our current Director General.
The products released between April 23 and May 2 2017 remain valid. However, should your organization require the product to be re-issued, please contact CCRTIS at the following address and we will distribute a new product: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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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