Criminal Record Check from Outside Canada

Lived in Canada, now living abroad? Get your fingerprints taken where you live, post the cards to our RCMP accredited office in Surrey, BC, and we submit them to the RCMP for your fingerprint-based certified criminal record check.

  • RCMP accredited agency
  • No trip to Canada needed
  • Receipt when we submit
Start your request Or email info@surreyfingerprint.com

On the booking form, choose “PCC from Outside Canada”.

Who is this service for?

This service is for people who previously lived in Canada, now live in another country, and need an RCMP fingerprint-based certified criminal record check. You may also hear it called a Canadian police certificate, a police clearance certificate (PCC) or a good conduct certificate.

Because the check is fingerprint-based, your fingerprints have to be taken on paper, in ink, where you live. We are an RCMP accredited agency in Surrey, BC. We check your package and submit it to the RCMP for you, so you never have to travel to Canada.

Living in Metro Vancouver instead? See our police clearance certificates page for in-person fingerprinting.

Why you might need a Canadian criminal record check from abroad

Immigration and travel

Canadian permanent residence or citizenship, visas, border crossing, foreign travel or work, and the FAST program. Other countries’ immigration and work-visa offices may also ask for a Canadian certificate from anyone who lived here.

Employment and volunteering

Employers, regulated professions and volunteer organizations that ask for a Canadian certified criminal record check as part of screening.

Personal and other purposes

Legal name change, adoption, a record suspension application, or checking your own record.

The organization asking for your check decides which type it accepts, so confirm this with them first. If you are applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), follow the instructions in the letter they sent you.

How this check differs from a name-based check

Fingerprint-based or name-based?

A name-based check searches records using your name and date of birth. A fingerprint-based certified check confirms who you are from your fingerprints, which is why many immigration authorities, regulators and employers ask for one. Ask the organization requesting your check which type it accepts.

Why your fingerprints go through us

For applicants outside Canada, the RCMP requires you to get a paper copy of your fingerprints from an authorized agency in your country. An accredited fingerprinting company in Canada then converts it to digital format and submits your application electronically to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).

Do not mail your fingerprints straight to the RCMP. The RCMP states that fingerprints or applications sent directly to CCRTIS will not be accepted. Read the RCMP’s guidance.

How it works

  1. Contact us

    Email us, call us, or use our booking form and choose "PCC from Outside Canada". Tell us the country you live in and what the criminal record check is for.

  2. Get your fingerprints taken where you live

    Visit your local police service or an approved fingerprint provider in your country and have your fingerprints taken in black ink. We do not partner with any agency outside Canada, so you choose the provider.

  3. Receive your consent form

    Once you have found a provider, tell us. We email the RCMP consent form that matches your purpose, along with a third-party authorization form if your results are going to someone else.

  4. Post your package to our Surrey office

    Send the original fingerprint cards (two sets), attested colour copies of two photo IDs, your signed consent form, your signed delivery authorization, and a page with your contact details and the purpose of the check.

  5. We review your documents and submit to the RCMP

    When your package arrives we check it, send you a payment link, and submit your fingerprints to the RCMP. You receive a receipt for the submission.

  6. The RCMP mails your results

    The RCMP sends your certified criminal record check by regular post to the address you authorized. Use the receipt from us if you need to email the RCMP for a status update.

Where to get fingerprinted where you live

According to the RCMP, examples of authorized agencies outside Canada include:

  • Police services
  • Embassies or consulates of foreign governments (not Canadian ones) and government departments
  • Notaries public
  • Foreign private fingerprinting companies that have a memorandum of understanding with an accredited Canadian fingerprinting company, a local police service or a government department

The paper copy must show

  • Prints of all ten fingers, taken in black ink
  • The name and address of the agency you visited
  • The name and signature of the official who took your fingerprints

We also ask for the extra details listed under “What to prepare” below.

We do not partner with any agency outside Canada, so the choice of provider is yours. If you are unsure whether a provider is suitable, ask us before you visit.

What to prepare

Your fingerprints must include

  • Rolled and flat impressions of all ten fingers, in black ink
  • Two separate sets, so we have a backup if one is poor quality
  • Your full name, date of birth and sex
  • The name and address of the police or fingerprint agency, with its stamp or seal
  • The signature of the official who took your fingerprints

Your package to us must contain

  • The original fingerprint cards taken by your provider
  • Attested colour photocopies of two photo identification documents
  • Your signed RCMP consent form
  • A signed authorization saying where the results should be delivered, including a relative’s or friend’s address in Canada if you choose that option
  • A page showing your email, phone number, current address, and the purpose of the check

What the certified check shows

The information the RCMP releases depends on the purpose you select. This summary comes from the RCMP consent forms.

Purpose on the consent form Information the RCMP releases
Permanent resident status Convictions, outstanding charges, active (non-expired) absolute or conditional discharges, non-conviction information, immigration information
Canadian citizenship The same as permanent resident status, plus youth information
Visa, border crossing, foreign travel or work Conviction information
Employment (private industry) or volunteer Conviction information and active (non-expired) absolute or conditional discharges
Record suspension application Convictions, outstanding charges, active (non-expired) absolute or conditional discharges, non-conviction information
Name change If a criminal record exists, your new name is added to it

The RCMP decides what is released. Each consent form lists the details for its purpose.

Before you post your package

Check the ink quality

If the RCMP rejects your fingerprints for poor quality or incomplete information, you send new fingerprints and pay our processing fee again. Ask your provider to check the cards before you leave.

Results come by regular post

The RCMP mails results by regular post only. If you have a relative or friend in Canada, you can have the results delivered to them so they can courier the report to you.

Keep your receipt

After we submit your fingerprints we give you a receipt. If you want a status update, you can email the RCMP directly and quote it.

Timing varies

The RCMP states 3 to 120 business days, depending on whether manual review is needed or there is a match to a criminal record. Postal time is extra.

Common mistakes that cause rejection or delay

  • Faint, smudged or partial fingerprints
  • Only one set of fingerprints in the package
  • No agency name, address or stamp, or no name and signature from the official
  • Missing full name, date of birth or sex on the card
  • ID copies that are not attested, or not in colour
  • No signed consent form or delivery authorization
  • Posting the package to the RCMP instead of to us

Forms you will need

These are the RCMP consent forms and our third-party authorization form. Contact us first so we can confirm which one matches your purpose. Print, sign and include the right one in your package.

Guides by country

Step-by-step guides for people living outside Canada: who needs a Canadian police certificate, why, and how to get your fingerprints done locally.

Don’t see your country? Email us and tell us where you live.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an RCMP criminal record check if I live outside Canada?

Yes. If you previously lived in Canada, you can have your fingerprints taken in your country and post them to Surrey Fingerprint Company. We submit them to the RCMP for a fingerprint-based certified criminal record check. You do not need to travel to Canada.

Can I mail my fingerprints straight to the RCMP?

No. The RCMP states that fingerprints or applications mailed directly to its Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) will not be accepted. An accredited fingerprinting company in Canada, such as Surrey Fingerprint Company, has to convert your paper fingerprints to digital format and submit the application for you.

What is the difference between a fingerprint-based and a name-based criminal record check?

A name-based check searches records using your name and date of birth. A fingerprint-based certified check confirms your identity from your fingerprints, which is why many immigration authorities, regulators and employers require it. Ask the organization requesting your check which type it accepts.

Is a Canadian police certificate the same as an RCMP criminal record check?

People use several names for similar documents, including Canadian police certificate, police clearance certificate (PCC) and good conduct certificate. What you apply for is the RCMP certified criminal record check for the purpose named on your consent form. If the organization asking for it uses a different term, confirm with them exactly what they accept.

Which agencies can take my fingerprints outside Canada?

According to the RCMP, examples of authorized agencies include police services, embassies or consulates of foreign governments (not Canadian ones) and government departments, notaries public, and foreign private fingerprinting companies that have a memorandum of understanding with an accredited Canadian company, a local police service or a government department. We do not partner with any agency outside Canada, so you choose your provider. The provider must also attest copies of your two photo identification documents.

What do the fingerprints need to look like?

Rolled and flat impressions of all ten fingers, taken in black ink. The card must show your full name, date of birth and sex, the name and address of the police or fingerprint agency with its stamp or seal, and the signature of the official who took the fingerprints. Some providers use their own cards and some use the RCMP form. If you are unsure, contact us before you visit your provider.

Why do I need to send two sets of fingerprints?

If the first set is not good enough quality, we can use the second one instead of asking you to start again. Send two separate sets in the same package.

What happens if the RCMP rejects my fingerprints?

If the RCMP cannot process your fingerprints because of poor quality or incomplete information, you need to send new fingerprints and pay our processing fee again. Asking your provider to check the ink quality and the details on the card before you post it helps avoid this.

How long does it take to get my results?

The RCMP states that processing takes 3 to 120 business days, depending on whether manual review is needed, whether there is a match to a criminal record, and whether the RCMP has to clarify anything with the submitting agency. Postal time to your address is extra, and your package also needs time to reach us.

How will I receive my results?

The RCMP sends the results by regular post only, to the address you give in your signed authorization. If you have a relative or friend in Canada, you can have the results delivered to them and ask them to courier the report to you. Put their address in the authorization form.

Can the results be sent to another person or organization?

For many employment, immigration and other purposes, yes. You sign a third-party consent form authorizing the RCMP to send the results to a named recipient. If you do this, the RCMP does not send you a copy. Some application types, such as criminal record checks for personal use, are always sent directly to you.

Which RCMP consent form do I need?

It depends on the purpose of your check. The RCMP has separate consent forms for employment, for immigration and travel, and for other purposes such as name change, adoption or personal use. We email you the correct one once you tell us what the check is for.

How much does the service cost?

Our processing fee is confirmed when you contact us. We send you a payment link once your documents arrive. Please check the current fee with us before you post your package.

Where do I send my documents?

Post the original fingerprint cards and supporting documents to Surrey Fingerprint Company, 112 - 8232 120 Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3N4, Canada. The original ink fingerprint cards must be posted; email copies cannot be submitted to the RCMP.

Contact us and where to post your package

Post your documents to:
Surrey Fingerprint Company
112 - 8232 120 Street
Surrey, BC V3W 3N4
Canada
Hours (Pacific Time):
Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday: By appointment only

Ready to start your criminal record check?

Tell us where you live and what the check is for. We will confirm the right consent form and what to send.

Start your request Call (604) 825-8882