Every year, thousands of people living outside Canada need a Canadian Criminal Record Check for immigration applications, employment, professional licensing, or volunteer work. But for applicants abroad, the process raises an immediate question: how do you give your fingerprints when you are not in Canada?

The answer is ink fingerprinting. Unlike digital or electronic capture, which is only permitted from within Canada using approved equipment, applicants outside Canada can have their ink fingerprints collected on the official form by a trained associate, with the completed forms then sent to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada for electronic submission to the RCMP.

This blog explains exactly how that process works, what you need to prepare, and what to look for in a provider to ensure your application reaches the RCMP correctly.

What Is an RCMP Criminal Record Check and Why Does It Require Fingerprints

A Canadian Criminal Record Check is an official verification conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that confirms whether a person has a criminal record in Canada. It is fingerprint-based, meaning your unique fingerprints are used to match records, not just your name and date of birth.

This matters for a few important reasons:

A name-based check can produce false matches when two people share the same name and date of birth. Fingerprints eliminate this ambiguity entirely. For immigration, employment, and licensing purposes, Canadian authorities require a fingerprint-based Criminal Record Check precisely because of this accuracy.

The Canadian Criminal Record Check is issued directly by the RCMP upon completion of their verification. No private company issues the certificate.

Why Applicants Outside Canada Cannot Simply Mail Fingerprints Directly to the RCMP

This is one of the most common misconceptions. The RCMP does not accept fingerprint applications submitted directly by individuals, whether mailed from abroad or submitted independently. All fingerprint-based Criminal Record Check applications must go through a company that holds RCMP accreditation to submit to the RCMP's CCRTIS system.

Electronic fingerprint capture is also only permitted from within Canada. Applicants outside Canada cannot submit electronically from their country of residence. This means the only approved path for applicants abroad is ink fingerprinting on the official form, with the completed forms reaching an RCMP-accredited company in Canada for electronic submission.

6 Things That Have to Go Right for Your RCMP Criminal Record Check from Abroad

Your provider must be connected to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada: This is the foundation everything else rests on. The RCMP only accepts submissions from accredited companies, not individuals, nor unverified local services. If this is not in place, nothing else matters.
Your fingerprints must be taken on the right form, the right way: Ink and roll on the official C-216C form, taken in person by a trained and authorised technician. Electronic capture is not permitted outside Canada. One smudge, one unclear impression, and the RCMP rejects the submission.
Your identity documents must be complete and correct: Two government-issued IDs, at least one showing your name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Photocopies of both are required. An expired document or an unclear copy stops your application before it even leaves your hands.
Your forms must reach an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, not the RCMP directly: Completed forms cannot be submitted directly to the RCMP; they must be sent to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, which handles electronic submission to the RCMP's CCRTIS system.
The submission must meet RCMP standards before it goes in: Clear fingerprints, complete identity details, correct consent documentation, and no missing information all need to be in order before the application moves forward. An incomplete submission can result in delays, correction requests, or the need to restart the process.
What happens next is entirely the RCMP's decision: Once submitted, processing times range from 3 to 120 days and are determined entirely by the RCMP based on application volume and individual circumstances. Mailing time is additional. No private company influences this timeline in any way.

Working with Globeia from Outside Canada

Globeia exists specifically for situations like this. Applicants abroad should not have to piece together a process that involves finding a local fingerprinting service, sourcing the correct forms, and then figuring out how to get everything to an accredited company in Canada.

When you book with Globeia, a trained associate comes to you. The C-216C form and CCRTIS-approved consent form are handled at your appointment. Your prints are checked before the associate leaves. Your completed original forms go directly to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, which is accredited and certified by the RCMP to submit civil fingerprint verification requests to the RCMP. Nothing passes through unverified hands.

Every appointment also comes with a Letter of Identity Verification, a Globeia-issued document with a unique encrypted QR code that confirms your fingerprints were taken by a trained associate under strict identity verification protocols.

The Letter of Identity Verification is issued by Globeia and is not issued by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the RCMP, the FBI, or any government authority.

Conclusion

Getting a Canadian Criminal Record Check from outside Canada is entirely possible, but it requires ink fingerprinting on the official form, complete documentation, and submission through an RCMP-accredited company in Canada. Understanding these requirements from the start is what separates a smooth application from one that gets delayed or rejected.

Globeia supports applicants abroad through ink fingerprint collection at your location and submission coordination through Globeia Incorporated's accredited office in Toronto, so your application is prepared correctly before it reaches the RCMP.

FAQs

I live outside Canada. Can I apply for a Canadian Criminal Record Check without travelling to Canada?

Yes. Your ink fingerprints must be taken in person on the official C-216C form by a trained associate, but this can be arranged at your location. Your completed forms are then couriered to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada for electronic submission to the RCMP. You do not need to travel to Canada.

Why can't I just mail my fingerprint forms directly to the RCMP?

The RCMP does not accept fingerprint applications submitted directly by individuals. All fingerprint-based Criminal Record Check applications must be submitted through a company that holds RCMP accreditation to submit to the RCMP's CCRTIS system. Mailing directly to the RCMP will result in the application not being processed.

Can I use digital or electronic fingerprinting if I am outside Canada?

No. Electronic fingerprint capture is only permitted from within Canada using approved equipment. Applicants outside Canada must use ink fingerprinting on the official C-216C form.

My fingerprints were rejected before. Can Globeia help?

Yes. Globeia's trained associates collect your ink fingerprints carefully on the official C-216C form and check impressions before forms are packaged for courier. This reduces the risk of the same issue occurring again. If you have had a previous rejection, let our team know when you get in touch so we can factor that into your appointment preparation.

How long will it take once everything is submitted?

Once your forms are submitted to the RCMP by an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, processing times range from 3 to 120 days and are determined entirely by the RCMP. Mailing time is additional. No company has any influence over this timeline.

Written by :

We are a background screening and document verification agency in Toronto. While we cover the Greater Toronto Area for in-person appointments, the bulk of our clientele uses our online services from different countries of the world. Globeia makes it simple and cost-effective for companies and individuals to navigate governmental red tape without breaking the bank.

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