Canadian Criminal Record Check From Australia: Mistakes That Delay RCMP Processing

Australian authorities may request an RCMP Criminal Record Check when applicants previously lived, worked, studied, or held status in Canada. These requests commonly appear during:

• Immigration and residency applications.
• Employment background verification.
• Professional licensing and compliance reviews.
• Legal and court-related documentation requirements.

In many cases, Australian authorities specifically request fingerprint-based RCMP verification rather than local Australian police certificates or name-based background checks.

Because the RCMP verifies criminal record information using fingerprint records linked to Canadian databases, the submission process follows different requirements than standard domestic police checks issued in Australia.  

Here are some common mistakes that most applicants make, and you can avoid:

Inconsistent Personal Information Across Documents:

Small inconsistencies between fingerprint forms and supporting documents are one of the most common reasons RCMP applications face delays during processing.

Problems often appear when:

• Names are written differently across documents
  Dates of birth do not match supporting identification
  Addresses are incomplete
  Signatures differ between records
  Forms contain overwritten or corrected information

Because RCMP applications rely on both fingerprint verification and supporting identity records, even minor discrepancies can interrupt processing or create resubmission requests later in the application.

Problems With Fingerprint Formatting and Submission Standards:

Fingerprint quality and submission formatting both play an important role in whether an RCMP application can move through processing correctly.

Applications may face delays when:

• Fingerprints are unclear or smudged
• Incorrect fingerprint forms are used
• Supporting information is incomplete
• Fingerprint cards are not prepared according to the standards required for fingerprint submission to the RCMP.

For applicants in Australia, fingerprint collection generally involves ink fingerprints completed on the official C-216C form before transfer to Canada for digitization and fingerprint submission to the RCMP.

Please note that the RCMP does not accredit private fingerprinting companies outside Canada. 

Submission Delays Caused by Incomplete Processing Coordination:

Many RCMP application delays happen after fingerprint collection rather than during the appointment itself.

International transfer handling, incomplete documentation, incorrect submission preparation, and missing consent requirements can all interrupt the process before fingerprints reach the RCMP for verification.

For applicants applying from Australia, RCMP applications often involve multiple stages connected to:

• Fingerprint collection
• Identity verification
• International courier transfer
• Digitization
• Electronic submission processing in Canada

Because these stages involve both Australian and Canadian processing requirements, incomplete coordination between submission steps can create avoidable delays later in the application process.

Apostille for Your Canadian Criminal Record Check: 

In some cases, particularly if you are planning an extended stay or applying for residency in Australia, the authority requesting your Canadian Criminal Record Check may also require an apostille. An apostille issued through the designated government authority confirms the authenticity of your document for international use.

However, not every situation requires an apostilled Criminal Record Check. The simplest approach is to confirm directly with the requesting authority whether an apostille is needed before proceeding.

Applying for a Canadian Criminal Record Check from Australia often involves multiple stages beyond fingerprint collection alone.

Globeia helps applicants coordinate these stages through a centralized process connected with Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada.

Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada, is accredited by the RCMP to take and submit civil fingerprint verification requests to the RCMP for civil purposes.

Step 1: Start Through Globeia SmartForm

Applicants begin by submitting their details through Globeia’s SmartForm, where identity documents, application information, and service requirements can be uploaded in one place before fingerprint collection begins.

Step 2: Ink Fingerprint Collection

Ink fingerprints are collected on the official C-216C form through trained associates following the standards required for fingerprint submission to the RCMP.

Step 3: Document Review Before Transfer

Fingerprint forms and supporting records are reviewed before transfer to Canada to help reduce issues connected to incomplete information, incorrect formatting, or inconsistent documentation.

Step 4: Transfer to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto

Completed fingerprint forms are mailed or couriered to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto for digitization and electronic submission to the RCMP.

Step 5: RCMP Processing

The RCMP independently verifies the submission and issues the Criminal Record Check directly. RCMP processing times generally range from 3 to 120 days after submission is received by the RCMP. Mailing time is additional.

Additional Documentation Support

Applicants who require additional documentation support may also coordinate apostille requests and certified translations connected to immigration, residency, employment, or legal applications.

Applying for a Canadian Criminal Record Check from Australia involves more than completing fingerprints locally. Fingerprint formatting, identity verification, submission standards, and international transfer requirements can all affect whether an RCMP application moves through processing without delays.

Understanding where applications commonly break down can help reduce avoidable issues connected to immigration, employment, residency, and legal documentation requirements.

Globeia coordinates RCMP submission processing through Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada, for applicants applying from Australia.