How to Get a Police Record Check in Canada
Local police services run police record checks, not the RCMP directly. Most jobs need a basic criminal record check ($25–$50, often same day). Work with children or vulnerable adults needs a vulnerable sector check. It includes a deeper search, and it takes longer.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Varies by police service; fingerprint-based checks add a $25 federal RCMP processing fee
- Total time:
- 1–3 weeks (same day in some detachments)
- Steps:
- 5 steps
- Where to apply:
- rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(October 2026).
0 of 5 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Know which check you need
There are three levels. (1) Criminal record check: a basic search of your name and birthdate. This is for most jobs and volunteering. (2) Criminal record and judicial matters check: this adds outstanding charges and warrants. (3) Vulnerable sector check: this is for work with children, elderly, or disabled people. It includes pardoned sex offence records. Ask your employer which one you need.
Click to mark as done
- Go 30 min
Apply at your local police service
Apply to the police service for the place where you live. This is your city police, or a provincial police detachment. Many services now take online applications. Others need you to come in person, with ID. Do you live in an area with no municipal police? The provincial police or an RCMP detachment handles it.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay
Pay the fee and consent
Fees vary by police service. A basic check is often $25–$50. A vulnerable sector check is $50–$75. Some services charge more. A fingerprint-based check adds a $25 federal RCMP processing fee. You sign a consent form that allows the search. A record check cannot be run on you without your consent. Some employers pay the fee back. Keep your receipt.
Click to mark as done
- Wait 1–3 weeks
Wait for results
A basic check often takes same day to 1 week. A vulnerable sector check takes 1–3 weeks. It may need fingerprints, to confirm your identity. This happens if your birthdate and gender match a pardoned record. Fingerprints are taken at the detachment, or at an accredited company.
Click to mark as done
- Receive
Use and store the certificate
The result is a certificate. It states "no record found", or it lists the findings. It is valid for the organization that asked for it. Each organization sets its own validity period. Store it safely. Some volunteer roles accept a recent check for more than one organization.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a newcomer with no Canadian record. Do I still need a check?
For Canadian jobs, yes, if the employer asks for one. It will simply return "no record found." A job may also ask for a police certificate from your home country. IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ and certain employers ask for this. It is a separate process, through that country's police or embassy.
Can I request my own record check without an employer?
Yes. You can ask for a criminal record check on yourself at any time. This is useful before you apply for jobs, or for immigration to other countries. You cannot run a vulnerable sector check on yourself. An eligible organization must ask for it.
The check shows an old charge that was withdrawn. Can it be removed?
Withdrawn, dismissed, and stayed charges can appear on some checks. You can apply to have non-conviction records removed or sealed. Use the police service's destruction request process. For convictions, you can apply for a record suspension (a pardon) through the Parole Board of Canada, after the waiting period.
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