How Long Does a Canadian Criminal Record Check Take | A 2026 Guide

Many RCMP applicants begin their Criminal Record Check application without realizing how long it can take to apply and receive the report from outside Canada. The RCMP controls the actual processing time of a Criminal Record Check. But what an applicant can control is everything that happens before the application reaches the RCMP and how efficiently the result is handled afterward. Professional coordination and guidance at the right time can help reduce avoidable delays, prevent resubmissions, and keep the application moving.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) determines its official processing times based on how your fingerprints are submitted and whether your data shows a potential match in the National Repository of Criminal Records. The RCMP utilizes Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS), an automated system that screens electronic biometric submissions.

According to official RCMP guidelines, the benchmark processing window ranges from 3 business days to 120 business days.

How Does the Submission Method and Mailing Window Affect the Timeline?

• The Submission Method: The RCMP’s published processing times apply to electronic fingerprint submissions received by CCRTIS. When fingerprints are collected as ink impressions outside Canada, they must first be converted into an electronic submission before reaching the RCMP.
• Mailing Windows: The RCMP processing time does not include delivery time. Results are mailed to the address provided, so applicants should allow additional time for Canada Post delivery after the RCMP completes processing.

The presence or absence of a matching criminal record is one of the biggest factors that determine how long you will have to wait for your Canadian Criminal Record Check results. The main difference is whether the electronic fingerprint search can be completed without further review:

The process includes extra steps and authorities for the applicants requesting a Canadian Criminal Record Check from outside Canada. Every stage before and after RCMP processing adds time that must be planned for:

Note: All timelines except the fingerprinting appointment are estimates. RCMP processing is completely controlled entirely by the RCMP and cannot be guaranteed or expedited by any third party.

Globeia offers a coordinated process from fingerprinting to the RCMP submission along with various helpful features. These features help the applicants avoid visiting different authorities and managing fingerprinting or international courier separately that helps reduce the avoidable gaps.

• Get Your Fingerprints Taken at Your Location 

Globeia offers office-based and mobile fingerprinting options in supported locations, helping applicants avoid the time involved in finding and travelling to a separate fingerprinting provider. Availability depends on location.

• Get Fingerprints Reviewed Before Submission 

You have completed and submitted the correct fingerprinting card within the deadline. But a single missing or incorrect detail can reject your application. Therefore, Globeia’s professionals review your documents for incomplete information, unclear impressions, missing signatures, or other issues, before sending it to the Canadian office.

• RCMP-Accredited Globeia Incorporated in Canada  

The RCMP accepts fingerprint submissions through RCMP-accredited companies in Canada. Globeia Incorporated is an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, providing a secure route for sending, handling, and electronically submitting your fingerprint application to the RCMP.

Once the original fingerprint package reaches Globeia’s Canadian office, it is electronically submitted to the RCMP the same day, helping avoid additional waiting between receipt and submission. It helps reduce the time and effort involved in finding a separate accredited company after getting fingerprinted.

• Work With One Dedicated Case Manager

Every Canadian Criminal Record Check coordination at Globeia is assigned to a dedicated case manager who provides guidance on fingerprint requirements, document uploads, and application requirements. This gives you a single point of contact instead of having to coordinate questions and corrections between different service providers.

• Track Your Application Through SmartPortal

Globeia’s SmartPortal provides updates at important stages, including package receipt, RCMP submission, processing completion, and certificate dispatch. This gives applicants visibility into the progress of their application without repeated follow-ups.

Also Read: What Is An RCMP Criminal Record Check for more details.

Knowing the RCMP processing timeframe is important when planning a Canadian Criminal Record Check from outside Canada. While the RCMP controls the processing period, applicants should also allow time for fingerprinting, submission, and delivery. Starting the process early gives you more time to account for any additional processing or mailing delays.

Get Professional RCMP Criminal Record Check Coordination Services from Globeia to avoid unnecessary delays and get your report faster.