Canada - Apply for a Character Certificate

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Procedure

The RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) maintains the national database of criminal records in Canada. Local police and other authorities across Canada contact CCRTIS to check the fingerprint records of people who have been charged or convicted of a crime. RCMP's  CCRTIS Contact Details

Apply in Person

Inside Canada

1. Visit the nearest local police service to take your fingerprints and to process your application for a certified criminal record check or a vulnerable sector check. Some police services may direct the applicant to a private accredited fingerprint company in Canada.
   • These companies are authorized to take fingerprints for civil purposes and submit them as electronic transactions to RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) for verification against the National Repository of Criminal Records.
2. Applicants will be required to make payment for local and/or federal processing fees as directed by the Authority. Please refer to the “Fees” section for more information.
3. Even if the application for the certificate is submitted electronically, there may still be manual processes involved. Processing times vary depending on different factors such as the number of applications received at different times of the year, the amount of manual processing related to your application and/or the reason for the application.
4. If manual processing is involved and/or if there is a possible match to a criminal record 120 business days. If there is NO match to a criminal record three (03) business days or less
5. The results are mailed to the address provided by the applicant and extra time should be allowed for delivery by Canada Post.

From outside Canada
To submit fingerprints to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) from outside of Canada:
Step 1: Request a paper copy of your fingerprints

1. Contact an authorized agency in the country in which you are situated and request a paper copy of your fingerprints.

   Examples of authorized agencies:

   • police services
   • embassies/consulates
   • government departments
   • notaries of the public
   • foreign private fingerprinting company that is subject to a memorandum of understanding with an accredited Canadian private fingerprinting company
   • foreign private fingerprinting company that is subject to a memorandum of understanding with a local police service or government department
2. Make sure the paper copy of your fingerprints has:
   • prints of all ten fingers taken in black ink
   • name and address of the authorized agency that you visited
   • signature and name of the official who took your fingerprints

Step 2: Convert paper fingerprints to electronic transaction

1. Contact an Private fingerprinting companies accredited by the RCMP within Canada who can convert the paper fingerprint forms taken outside of Canada and submit them to CCRTIS electronically.
   • These companies are authorized to take fingerprints for civil purposes and submit them as electronic transactions to RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) for verification against the National Repository of Criminal Records.
2. Applicants will be required to make payment for local and/or federal processing fees as directed by the Authority. Please refer to the “Fees” section for more information.
3. Even if the application for the certificate is submitted electronically, there may still be manual processes involved. Processing times vary depending on different factors such as the number of applications received at different times of the year, the amount of manual processing related to your application, and/or the reason for the application.
4. If manual processing is involved and/or if there is a possible match to a criminal record 120 business days. If there is NO match to a criminal record three (03) business days or less. Contact CCRTIS only if processing times are longer than indicated.
5. The results are mailed to the address provided by the applicant and extra time should be allowed for delivery by Canada Post.
   

Note:

• Fingerprints have to be submitted electronically to the RCMP's CCRTIS. Paper submissions either in person or by mail will not be considered and will be returned. Electronic fingerprint submissions are not currently available outside of Canada, contact one of the accredited companies, who shall then submit the fingerprint (Fingerprints) electronically to the RCMP's CCRTIS for processing.

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Required Documents

Resident Requests

• A full set of electronic fingerprints on form C-216 taken by a Private accredited company or police service office
• A complete application form (available on the RCMP website).
• The reason for your request.
• Your full name, date of birth, sex, mailing address, and phone number.
• Applicable fees.

Non-Resident Requests

• A full set of fingerprints that have:
• Rolled and flat impressions of all ten fingers taken with black ink
• Full name, date of birth, and sex of the applicant
• The name and address of the police agency
• The signature of the official taking the fingerprints
• A complete application form (available on the RCMP website).
• The reason for the request.
• Your full name, date of birth, sex, mailing address, and phone number.
• Applicable fees.

Office Locations & Contacts

RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS)
Address:
RCMP National Headquarters,
Headquarters Building,
73, Leikin Drive,
Ottawa ON K1A 0R2
Phone

• General Inquiries: 613-993-7267
• TTY: 613-825-1391
• Fax: 613-993-0260
  

Private fingerprinting companies accredited by the RCMP
RCMP's CCRTIS Contact Details
RCMP locator

Eligibility

• In Canada, a certificate of conduct is issued to Canadians residing in the country, Canadian residing in foreign countries, foreign citizens (who are not aliens or refugees in Canada), and foreign citizens (who are aliens and refugees in Canada)
• A person who is above 18 years of age.
• A child or a person below 18 years of age must have an original birth certificate and a clear copy of the birth certificate.

Fees

Local service fees

• Local fees are determined by the local police or accredited fingerprinting agency taking your fingerprints. Contact them directly if you would like more information about fees they charge. The fee charged by your local police is in addition to the federal fee.

Federal processing fees:

• The federal processing fee is CDN$ 25 for each criminal record check; however, the federal fee is waived in some cases (see below). The federal fee is collected by the police service or accredited fingerprint company taking your fingerprints. The federal fee is in addition to fees charged by your local police or accredited company.
• Case where a Federal processing Fees is charged:
  • You are adopting a child in Canada or overseas
  • You are traveling and need a visa, a U.S. Entry Waiver, or a border crossing document
  • You are applying for a job with a private business or a municipal/provincial/territorial government
  • You are applying for a record suspension (formerly pardon)
  • You are applying for student placement
  • You are applying for a name change
  • You are living in a house where everyone requires a vulnerable sector check (e.g. home day care centre)
  • You are sponsoring a family member to come to Canada

• Case where a Federal processing Fees is not charged:
• you are a residential school Survivor or their descendant applying to your province or territory to reclaim your Indigenous name(s)
• You are applying for Canadian citizenship
• You are applying to immigrate to Canada
• You are applying for a job in the federal government (as requested by the departmental security officer)
• You are applying to join a Canadian police force (as requested by the police force)
• You are making a request under the Privacy Act
• You are applying to do volunteer work in Canada

Validity

• There is no fixed period for the validity of the good conduct certificate. The validity itself is dependent on whoever is requesting the certificate and so technically the certificate cannot expire. How recent the certificate is will be determined using the date of issuance that is printed on the certificate.
• Generally speaking, most employers require the certificate to be not more than 1 to 3 years old. There are some cases however where the employer may require shorter periods such as 6 months.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

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e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

• Full name and alias(es),
• Date of birth,
• present address and telephone number
• present employment
• Place(s) of residence,
• Purpose of the request
• Passport number( for foreigners)
• Date of residence in Canada (for foreigners)
• Full address when in Canada (for foreigners)
• Marital status.
• Father's name, address & occupation
• Date(s) of arrival in/departure from Canada (for non-nationals)
• A full set of fingerprints taken by a recognized police authority.
• The application should also include any periods of time spent outside Canada, if the period is six months or longer (for nationals).
• Female applicants must include maiden names and surname(s) from previous marriage(s).

Need for the Document

• The certificate of good conduct /character is also known as a Police Clearance Certificate is a document that proves the holder a morally abiding citizen who follows the law and is issued by the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) in Canada
  

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• An employer in Canada will require you to provide a valid certificate of good conduct or one that was taken at least three years ago. The certificate of good conduct in Canada shows that a job candidate is of good morals/ behaviors and obeys the law.
• This clearance is needed by those who want to change country of residence.
• You may also need a police clearance certificate, if you are to proceed on a post graduate programme in foreign institutions.
• Even as a tourist to another country, you will need a police clearance certificate to show that you don’t have an outstanding criminal record back home, and ensure that you won’t be a threat to your host country.
• The Police Clearance Certificate is also required when a person applies for an immigration status to other countries.

External Links

• Police clearance certificate
  

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