Police clearance certificates for Canada: what you must check

If you need a police clearance certificate for Canada, the certificate itself is not issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is issued by the police or security authorities in each country where you have lived, and IRCC will ask you to submit it as part of your application. You must check the specific requirements on the official IRCC page for your application type, because the rules differ for permanent residence, citizenship, work permits and visitor visas.

What a police clearance certificate is for

A police clearance certificate is a document issued by a police or security authority that confirms whether you have a criminal record. In the Canadian immigration context, IRCC uses it as evidence that you are admissible to Canada. The certificate must cover the country where you currently live and every country where you have lived for a certain period, although the exact period depends on the application type.

The certificate is not a substitute for other admissibility checks. IRCC will also run its own security and criminality screening, and the certificate is one part of that process. You should not assume that a certificate from one country is sufficient; you may need certificates from multiple countries.

Where to get a police clearance certificate in Canada

If you are in Canada and need a Canadian police clearance certificate, the issuing authority is not IRCC. The certificate is typically obtained from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or from a local police service, depending on what the requesting organisation requires. For immigration purposes, IRCC will tell you which type of certificate it accepts.

For certificates from other countries, you must contact the police or security authority in that country. IRCC does not issue these certificates, and it cannot obtain them on your behalf. Each country has its own process, fees and processing times, and some countries require you to apply in person or through an authorised representative.

Police clearance certificates for permanent residence

If you are applying for permanent residence, you will generally need a police clearance certificate from:

• the country where you currently live, if you have lived there for six months or more
• any country where you have lived for six months or more since the age of 18

However, the exact requirement depends on your specific immigration program. For example, some programs may ask for certificates from all countries where you have lived for a certain period, while others may have different thresholds. You must read the document checklist for your specific program on the IRCC website.

The certificate must be valid at the time you submit it. IRCC will tell you how recent the certificate must be, and if it expires before your application is finalised, you may be asked to provide a new one.

Police clearance certificates for citizenship

If you are applying for Canadian citizenship, the police clearance requirement is different from permanent residence. In many cases, you will not need to provide a police clearance certificate if you have been living in Canada during the relevant period. However, if you have lived outside Canada, you may need to provide certificates from those countries.

You should check the citizenship application guide on the IRCC website to confirm whether you need to submit a certificate. The guide will list the documents you must include and the periods of time that the certificates must cover.

Police clearance certificates for work permits and visitor visas

For temporary residence applications, such as work permits and visitor visas, the police clearance requirement is generally less extensive than for permanent residence. However, it can still apply. The officer processing your application may ask for a certificate if they need to verify your criminal history, or the application form may require one.

If you are applying for a work permit, you should check the specific requirements for your country of residence and your occupation. Some occupations, particularly those involving vulnerable people or security-sensitive roles, may have additional requirements.

Validity and expiry of police clearance certificates

A police clearance certificate is not valid indefinitely. IRCC will specify how recent the certificate must be when you submit it. If the certificate is older than the period IRCC accepts, you will need to obtain a new one.

The certificate must also cover the full period you lived in the country. If you lived in a country for several years and the certificate only covers part of that period, it may not be accepted. You should check the requirements for the country in question, because some countries issue certificates that cover the entire period of residence, while others may issue certificates that only cover a specific period.

What to do next

Before you apply for any Canadian immigration program, you should:

1. Read the document checklist for your specific application type on the IRCC website.
2. Confirm whether a police clearance certificate is required and from which countries.
3. Contact the police or security authority in each relevant country to find out how to obtain the certificate.
4. Check the validity period that IRCC requires and make sure your certificate will still be valid when you submit it.

The official IRCC page for your application type is the only reliable source for these requirements. If you are unsure whether you need a certificate, do not guess; check the page or contact IRCC directly.