Police Certificates for Canadian Immigration: Complete Guide

Police certificates, also known as police clearance certificates or criminal background checks, are a mandatory requirement for most Canadian immigration applications. IRCC uses police certificates to determine whether an applicant has a criminal history that could make them inadmissible to Canada.

This guide covers which countries you need certificates from, how to obtain them, processing times for common countries, and what happens if your certificate reveals a criminal record.

Official information is available from IRCC at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates.html.

Who Needs Police Certificates?

Police certificates are required for:

All permanent residence applicants aged 18 and older
All accompanying family members aged 18 and older, even if they are not immigrating to Canada
Some temporary residence applicants, depending on the program and the countries where they have lived
Citizenship applicants, who must provide police certificates for time spent outside Canada during the relevant period

You are exempt from providing a police certificate only if it is physically impossible to obtain one from a particular country (for example, due to an ongoing conflict or the dissolution of a government). In such cases, you must explain the situation in your application.

Which Countries Require a Police Certificate?

You must provide a police certificate from:

Your country of nationality (citizenship), regardless of whether you have lived there recently
Every country where you have lived for six months or more since you turned 18 years old
Canada, if you are currently living in Canada or have lived in Canada and are applying from abroad

The six-month threshold applies to cumulative time, not necessarily consecutive. For example, if you lived in a country for four months, left, and returned for three months, the total of seven months means you need a certificate from that country.

How to Obtain Police Certificates by Country

The process for obtaining a police certificate varies significantly by country. Below are instructions for several of the most common countries of origin for Canadian immigration applicants.

Canada

If you have lived in Canada, you may need a Canadian police certificate. There are two types:

RCMP Criminal Record Check:

Apply through the RCMP Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services
Requires fingerprints submitted through an accredited fingerprinting agency
Apply online at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/criminal-record-checks
Processing time: approximately 3 to 10 business days for electronic submissions
Cost: approximately $25

Local Police Check:

Some applicants may also need a police check from their local police service
Contact your local police for instructions and fees

United States

If you have lived in the US for six months or more:

FBI Identity History Summary Check:

Submit fingerprints on a standard FBI fingerprint card (FD-258)
Mail to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, or use an approved FBI-channeling agency for faster processing
Apply through https://www.fbi.gov/how-can-we-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks
Processing time: 12 to 14 weeks by mail; 1 to 2 weeks through a channeling agency
Cost: $18 by mail; channeling agencies charge additional fees (typically $40 to $60 total)

State-Level Checks:

Some states may require a separate state-level check. IRCC generally accepts the FBI check as sufficient, but check your specific application instructions.

India

Apply to the Passport Seva Kendra or the Regional Passport Office
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) can be requested through the Passport Seva Online Portal
If outside India, apply through the nearest Indian consulate or embassy
Processing time: 1 to 4 weeks within India; 4 to 12 weeks through consulates
Cost: approximately INR 500 within India

China

Apply through the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) in the city where you were registered
If outside China, apply through the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate
The certificate is called a "No Criminal Record Certificate"
Processing time: 1 to 4 weeks within China; 2 to 8 weeks through consulates
Some consulates require an appointment and notarized documents

Philippines

Apply to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for an NBI Clearance
Can be applied for online through the NBI Clearance Online system
If outside the Philippines, apply through the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate
Processing time: 1 to 2 weeks within the Philippines; 4 to 8 weeks through consulates
Cost: approximately PHP 155 within the Philippines

United Kingdom

Apply for an ACRO Police Certificate through the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office
Apply online at https://www.acro.police.uk/police-certificates
Processing time: approximately 10 business days for standard processing
Cost: approximately GBP 55

Nigeria

Apply through the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
If outside Nigeria, apply through the nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate
Processing time: 2 to 6 weeks
Cost: varies

Pakistan

Apply through the local police station or the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)
If outside Pakistan, apply through the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate
Processing time: 2 to 8 weeks

Other Countries

IRCC provides country-specific instructions for police certificates at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how.html. This page lists specific instructions for over 200 countries and territories.

Validity of Police Certificates

Police certificates are generally valid for 12 months from the date of issue. However:

Some countries issue certificates without an expiry date — IRCC generally accepts these if issued within 12 months of your application submission
If your police certificate expires before IRCC finishes processing your application, you may be asked to provide a new one
For Express Entry applicants with a 60-day deadline after receiving an ITA, it is critical to obtain police certificates in advance if possible

What If You Cannot Obtain a Police Certificate?

In some cases, it may be impossible to obtain a police certificate from a particular country due to:

War or civil conflict
Government dissolution or instability
The country refusing to issue certificates to non-residents
Bureaucratic delays beyond your control

If you cannot obtain a certificate, you must:

Provide a written explanation of why the certificate is unavailable
Include any documentation supporting your explanation (for example, correspondence with the issuing authority)
IRCC will assess your situation on a case-by-case basis

What Happens If You Have a Criminal Record

A criminal record does not automatically prevent you from immigrating to Canada, but it can make you criminally inadmissible depending on the nature and severity of the offence.

Criminal Inadmissibility

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a person may be inadmissible to Canada if they have been convicted of:

An offence in Canada
An offence outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would be equivalent to a Canadian criminal offence

The assessment depends on whether the foreign offence has an equivalent under the Canadian Criminal Code and the severity of the Canadian equivalent.

Overcoming Criminal Inadmissibility

There are several ways to overcome criminal inadmissibility:

Criminal Rehabilitation:

If at least five years have passed since the completion of your sentence (including fines, probation, and imprisonment), you can apply for criminal rehabilitation
If approved, you are deemed rehabilitated and the conviction no longer makes you inadmissible
Apply through IRCC with a processing fee

Deemed Rehabilitation:

If at least ten years have passed since the completion of your sentence and the offence is equivalent to a Canadian summary offence (less serious), you may be deemed rehabilitated automatically
This applies only to a single conviction

Temporary Resident Permit (TRP):

If you need to enter Canada urgently but are inadmissible, you can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit
The TRP is discretionary and is granted only when the need to enter Canada outweighs the risk

Record Suspension (Pardon):

For Canadian convictions, a record suspension through the Parole Board of Canada can help
For foreign convictions, the foreign equivalent of a pardon may be relevant

Minor Offences

Minor offences such as traffic violations that are not criminal in nature generally do not affect your immigration application. Only offences that have a criminal equivalent under Canadian law are relevant.

Tips for Managing Police Certificates

Start early — Some countries take months to issue police certificates. Begin the process as soon as you decide to apply for immigration to Canada.
Keep copies — Make copies of all certificates and the envelopes they arrive in. Some certificates arrive sealed and should not be opened by the applicant.
Check if sealed certificates are required — Some countries issue sealed certificates that must be submitted unopened to IRCC. Check your application instructions.
Get multiple copies if needed — If you are applying to multiple programs simultaneously, obtain extra copies.
Translate certificates — If the certificate is not in English or French, you must provide a certified translation.
Monitor validity — Track the 12-month validity period and plan your application timeline accordingly.

Useful Resources

IRCC Police Certificates: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates.html
Country-Specific Instructions: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how.html
Criminal Inadmissibility: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/reasons/criminal-convictions.html
Criminal Rehabilitation: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/overcome-criminal-convictions.html

Police Certificates for Canadian Immigration: Which Countries, How to Obtain, and Processing Times