Japan
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Japan,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Japan Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Japan police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Consulate-General of Japan (fingerprint sheet designated for the National Police Agency / NPA) currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Japan PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Japan for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Japan as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Japan.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Japan.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Japan may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Japan, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Consulate-General of Japan (fingerprint sheet designated for the National Police Agency / NPA) accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Japan’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Consulate-General of Japan (fingerprint sheet designated for the National Police Agency / NPA) — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Japan PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Japan
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Consulate-General of Japan (fingerprint sheet designated for the National Police Agency / NPA). Use a tracked courier for original documents.
First obtain the ink-type NPA-designated fingerprint sheet and application form from your nearest Japanese Consulate (in person or by mail with a request memo and return envelope). Then go to a fingerprint collection service (such as Surrey Fingerprint Company) or the Canadian police station with jurisdiction over your residence and have your fingerprints taken on that sheet — the fingerprint form must be the original ink-type sheet provided by the Consulate, not a substitute. The completed package must then be submitted by the applicant in person at the Consulate (mail-in or proxy submission is not accepted for the application itself, though the certificate can later be mailed back via Xpresspost). Certificates are free of charge and typically take 2-3 months to arrive from Japan's National Police Agency. Note: which consulate has jurisdiction depends on the applicant's province — confirm the correct consulate (e.g. Vancouver for BC).
Mailing address:
Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver — 604-684-5868, consul@vc.mofa.go.jp (confirm the correct consulate for the applicant's province)
Receive your Japan PCC
Processing time is Approximately 2-3 months once the completed application is submitted at the Consulate. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Japan. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Consulate-General of Japan (fingerprint sheet designated for the National Police Agency / NPA) before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Japan PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Japan applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Japan while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Approximately 2-3 months once the completed application is submitted at the Consulate. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Japan's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Japan for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Japan PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Japan.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com