📬 Canada Post Security Screening

Canada Post Employee and Contractor Fingerprinting in Surrey BC — Everything You Need to Know

📅 July 1, 2025 ✍️ Surrey Fingerprint Company ⏱️ 7 min read 📍 Surrey, BC

If you have been hired by Canada Post — or have won a Canada Post contract — you will need to complete a mandatory RCMP fingerprint-based security screening before you can begin work. Security screening is a contract requirement for those who handle mail or have access to Canada Post facilities and systems. Compliance is mandatory. This guide explains exactly what the process involves, what ORI number and form is used, what documents you need to bring, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company helps hundreds of Canada Post applicants in the Surrey area get their fingerprinting done quickly and correctly.

✅ Surrey Fingerprint Company Processes Canada Post Fingerprinting

Surrey Fingerprint Company is RCMP accredited and processes Canada Post security screening fingerprints with same-day RCMP submission. We correctly enter the Canada Post ORI number from your official form, provide your DCN receipt immediately, and keep things moving so your start date is not delayed. Walk-ins welcome Monday to Saturday 9 AM–8 PM. (604) 825-8882 · 112-8232 120 Street, Surrey BC

Why Canada Post Requires Fingerprinting

Canada Post is a federal Crown corporation that operates Canada's national postal system. Every day it handles millions of pieces of mail — including financial documents, government correspondence, parcels containing high-value goods, and sensitive personal communications. Employees and contractors with access to mail or Canada Post facilities handle this material on behalf of every Canadian. That trust demands a rigorous background check.

Three reasons security screening matters: 1. The Government of Canada Security Policy requires not just employees but contractors to undergo security screening. 2. Canada Post has a legal obligation to protect the confidentiality of mail. 3. Security screening protects the public, Canada Post, and the contractors themselves.

The screening Canada Post uses is Reliability Status — the standard baseline government security clearance for positions with access to protected information and assets. Reliability Status requires a mandatory RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check. Without it, you cannot access Canada Post facilities, handle mail, or begin work under the contract.

Canada Post's ORI Number for Fingerprinting

Canada Post Fingerprint ORI Number

ON80223

Transaction Type: Federal Government Employment
Results routed to: Canada Post Security and Investigation Services
This number must be entered by your fingerprinting provider when submitting to the RCMP.
It comes pre-printed on the Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form — always bring the form.

The ORI number ON80223 is the Federal Government Employment identifier used by Canada Post. Your fingerprinting provider must select this ORI number when submitting your fingerprints electronically to the RCMP. When this number is correctly entered, the RCMP sends your criminal record check results directly to Canada Post's Security and Investigation Services — not to you, not to the fingerprinting provider.

🚫 Wrong ORI Number = Major Delay

If your fingerprinting provider enters the wrong ORI number — for example, using the generic PSPC PQ80800 instead of Canada Post's ON80223 — your results will be sent to the wrong department. Canada Post will not receive them. You will have to be re-fingerprinted from scratch, delaying your start date by weeks. Surrey Fingerprint Company always uses the ORI number from the official form you bring — never from memory.

Who Needs Canada Post Fingerprinting?

📮 Mail Carriers and Letter Carriers

Employees and contracted carriers who deliver mail and parcels on residential and commercial routes. Direct access to mail at sorting facilities and delivery vehicles requires Reliability Status.

🏭 Sorting Facility Workers

Staff who sort, process, and route mail at Canada Post processing and distribution centres across the Lower Mainland. These facilities handle millions of pieces of mail daily.

📦 Parcel Delivery Contractors

Independent contractors and owner-operators delivering Canada Post parcels under contract. Access to parcels, vehicles, and facilities requires completed security screening before the contract can begin.

🔧 Facility Maintenance Contractors

Trades and maintenance contractors working inside Canada Post processing facilities — electricians, HVAC technicians, cleaners, and general maintenance workers who access secured areas.

💻 IT and Technology Contractors

Software developers, IT support staff, and system administrators contracted to work on Canada Post technology systems. Access to Canada Post networks and data systems requires Reliability Status.

📋 Administrative and Office Staff

Contractors placed in Canada Post administrative, human resources, finance, or customer service roles with access to Canada Post systems, customer data, or facility access.

🚛 Transportation and Logistics Contractors

Truck drivers and logistics contractors transporting mail between Canada Post facilities. Bulk mail transport vehicles require security-screened drivers under the Government of Canada policy.

🏪 Authorized Dealers and Retail Contractors

Businesses operating as Canada Post Authorized Dealers who sell postal services, accept packages, and access Canada Post systems may require screening for key staff handling postal transactions.

The Three Documents You Need

📋 Bring All of These to Your Fingerprinting Appointment

✅
Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form — the official form provided by Canada Post HR or your security contact. Contains the ORI number ON80223 pre-printed. Do not come without this form — we cannot process without it. Those who have forgotten their form will not be able to get their fingerprints taken and will need to return with the form at another time.
✅
Two pieces of valid Canadian government-issued identification — at least one must include your photo. Documents with information on both sides must be copied front and back. One piece of ID must show a photo. Acceptable: passport, driver's licence, PR card. Not accepted: provincial health cards.
✅
Personnel Screening, Consent and Authorization Form — provided by Canada Post. This form authorizes Canada Post to conduct the security screening and documents your personal history. Complete it before your appointment. Once completed, applicant must return form to CSO or ACSO for review and submission.
📌
FBI Identity History Summary (FD-1164) — conditional. Applicants who have not lived in Canada for five full years and have resided in the US must provide Canada Post with an Identity History Summary from the FBI as part of the security screening process. Surrey Fingerprint Company provides FD-1164 ink fingerprinting for FBI submissions.
📌
Police clearances from other countries — conditional. If you have lived outside of Canada for 6 months or more in the past 5 years (other than the US), you may need police clearance certificates from those countries. The Canada Post security team will advise you specifically.

Step-by-Step Process — Canada Post Security Screening Fingerprinting

1

Receive your Canada Post fingerprint package from HR

Canada Post HR or your contracting authority sends you the Fingerprints Request Form, the Personnel Screening Consent and Authorization Form, and the Security Screening Instruction Guide. Read the instruction guide carefully. Print the Fingerprints Request Form — you must bring the physical printed form to your appointment.

2

Complete your Personal History section on the consent form

Fill in your residential history, employment history, and personal history on the Personnel Screening Consent and Authorization Form. If you know you have a conviction for a criminal offence, it is in your best interest to be honest when you fill out the form. A conviction may not disqualify you from being cleared. List all criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been granted — including DUI.

3

Walk in to Surrey Fingerprint Company — 20 minutes

Bring your Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form and two pieces of government-issued photo ID. Walk-ins welcome Monday–Saturday 9 AM–8 PM. Our technician enters ORI number ON80223 from your form, captures your ten digital fingerprints electronically, and completes Section B of your Fingerprints Request Form including your 20-digit DCN.

4

You receive your DCN receipt and completed form

We provide you with a receipt showing your 20-digit Document Control Number (DCN) and the RCMP SRE transaction record confirming your fingerprints were submitted with ORI ON80223. The applicant is required to include the document control number (DCN) with their Personnel Security Screening application form. This will allow Canada Post to match the criminal record check results from the RCMP with their application.

5

Submit your complete security screening package to Canada Post

Submit the following documents to Canada Post Security and Investigation Services: the Fingerprints Form with Sections A and B completed, your completed Personnel Screening Consent and Authorization form, and a copy of the original fingerprinting receipt. Send by regular mail or courier to Canada Post's Security and Investigations Services using the address on your instruction guide.

6

Canada Post processes your Reliability Status screening

Canada Post Security and Investigation Services reviews your application. If no criminal record is found, the RCMP results return within 3 business days and Canada Post processes your Reliability Status. Total screening time is typically 2 to 8 weeks. Those who have indicated a criminal record will be subject to a more involved screening that could take up to 120 days. These applicants may be given an opportunity to explain the offence to an officer.

Understanding the DCN — Your Most Important Number

The Document Control Number (DCN) is the 20-digit number generated the moment your fingerprints are submitted to the RCMP. It is the unique identifier that links your fingerprint criminal record check results to your Canada Post security screening application. Without it, Canada Post cannot process your application.

The results of the criminal record check and the associated document control number (DCN) sent to Canada Post will both be valid for 1 year from the date the fingerprints were taken. The RCMP does not retain copies of civil fingerprints in their system. Once the criminal record check results are produced and shared with Canada Post, these results are deleted from the RCMP system.

💡 Keep Your DCN Receipt Safe

Your DCN receipt is proof that fingerprinting was completed correctly. Canada Post may contact you about it if there is a matching issue. Make a photocopy and keep both the original and the copy. The DCN is valid for 12 months — if your Canada Post start date is delayed and more than 12 months pass from your fingerprint date, you may need to be re-fingerprinted.

What Happens If You Have a Criminal Record?

Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you will be denied Reliability Status for Canada Post. A conviction may not disqualify you from being cleared. Security and Investigation Services weigh your age at the time of the offence, the nature and severity of the offence and its relevance to your services.

The types of offences most likely to cause concern for Canada Post screening are those directly related to the job — theft of mail, fraud, identity-related crimes, or offences involving breach of trust or dishonesty. Older offences, minor offences, and offences unrelated to postal work are assessed more leniently.

The most important thing is honesty. Failing to disclose a conviction is a serious problem — not the conviction itself. If your record suspension (pardon) has been granted, you do not need to disclose that specific conviction. But any conviction without a pardon, including DUI, must be listed.

⚠️ Lived in the US? You May Also Need an FBI Check

If you have not lived in Canada continuously for the past 5 years and have resided in the United States, Canada Post requires an FBI Identity History Summary in addition to your RCMP check. This requires FD-1164 ink fingerprinting on a separate card mailed to the FBI in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Surrey Fingerprint Company provides both the RCMP electronic fingerprinting for Canada Post AND the FD-1164 ink fingerprinting for the FBI — both can be done in the same visit.

Ink and Roll Fingerprinting for Canada Post — When Is It Used?

If electronic fingerprinting is not available at a location, ink and roll fingerprints must be completed on Form C-216C and the original copy returned to the individual. The completed ink card must then be processed by a card scan provider or mailed to Canada Post.

Electronic (LiveScan) fingerprinting is strongly preferred by Canada Post because it is faster, cleaner, and produces results in days rather than weeks. Surrey Fingerprint Company uses electronic LiveScan equipment — your fingerprints are submitted to the RCMP digitally the same day, which is significantly faster than ink and roll processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Canada Post require fingerprinting for all employees and contractors?+
Security screening is a contract requirement for those who handle mail or have access to Canada Post facilities and systems. Compliance is mandatory. This applies to permanent employees, temporary staff, and contractors. Anyone with access to mail, parcels, Canada Post facilities, or Canada Post computer systems must complete Reliability Status screening including RCMP fingerprinting.
What ORI number does Canada Post use?+
Canada Post uses ORI number ON80223 for Federal Government Employment fingerprinting. This number routes your RCMP criminal record check results directly to Canada Post's Security and Investigation Services. Always bring the official Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form with you — do not ask your fingerprinting provider to use a different ORI number from memory. The form is the authoritative source of the correct ORI number.
What happens if I have a criminal record and I am applying to Canada Post?+
A conviction may not disqualify you from being cleared. Security and Investigation Services weigh your age at the time of the offence, the nature and severity of the offence and its relevance to your services. Honesty is critical — a minor conviction may not prevent clearance, but failing to disclose it will. DUI is a criminal offence and must be disclosed if a pardon has not been granted.
How long does Canada Post security screening take?+
From fingerprinting to clearance typically takes 2 to 8 weeks for a clean record. The RCMP processes fingerprints and returns results within 3 to 5 business days. Canada Post Security and Investigation Services then processes the full screening. If you have a criminal record that requires review, the screening could take up to 120 days. Getting fingerprinted as quickly as possible after receiving your forms is the single best way to minimize the wait.
I forgot to bring my Canada Post fingerprint form — can I still be fingerprinted?+
No. The official Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form must be present at the appointment. It contains the ORI number, billing instructions, and routing information required for correct submission. Fingerprinting without this form means we cannot guarantee correct ORI routing, and results may not reach Canada Post. You must return with the form — contact Surrey Fingerprint Company at (604) 825-8882 to reschedule as soon as you have it.
I lived in the US before — do I need an FBI check for Canada Post?+
Applicants who have not lived in Canada for five full years and have resided in the US must provide Canada Post with an Identity History Summary from the FBI as part of the security screening process. This requires ink fingerprinting on FBI form FD-1164 and mailing to the FBI CJIS Division. Surrey Fingerprint Company provides FD-1164 ink fingerprinting in the same appointment as your Canada Post RCMP fingerprints — you can complete both in one visit.
What is a DCN and why do I need it?+
The DCN (Document Control Number) is the 20-digit identifier generated when your fingerprints are submitted to the RCMP. The applicant is required to include the DCN with their Personnel Security Screening application form. This allows Canada Post to match the criminal record check results from the RCMP with their application. You receive your DCN from Surrey Fingerprint Company immediately after your appointment. Record it on your consent form and keep your receipt.

Working With Canada Post? Get Your Fingerprinting Done Today

Surrey Fingerprint Company is RCMP accredited and processes Canada Post security screening fingerprints daily. We correctly enter ORI ON80223, submit same day, and give you your DCN receipt immediately. Bring your Canada Post Fingerprints Request Form, consent form, and photo ID. Walk in any time Monday to Saturday.

📅 Book Appointment 📞 (604) 825-8882
📍

Surrey Fingerprint Company — RCMP Accredited

112 - 8232 120 Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3N4 · (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM–8:00 PM · Sunday: By Appointment · Walk-ins Always Welcome
Serving Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Langley, Burnaby, Richmond & all of BC