How To Get a Criminal Record Check in Canada

If you are living in Canada and need to get a criminal record check, whether for a PR application, a new job, a visa, or any other formal requirement, the process is more straightforward than most people expect. That said, there are specific steps you need to follow, and skipping or mishandling any one of them can delay your application significantly.

This blog walks you through exactly how to get a criminal record check in Canada, what to prepare, and how Globeia makes the process easier from start to finish.

Before you begin, it is worth knowing that there are two distinct types of checks available in Canada. They are not interchangeable, and submitting the wrong type can mean starting over.

Name Based Check

A Name Based Check searches the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system using your full name and date of birth. It is simpler to initiate, but it comes with a real limitation because two people can share the same name and date of birth; these checks carry a higher risk of inaccurate results. Many formal applications will not accept a name-based result as sufficient.

Criminal Record Check (Fingerprint-Based)

A fingerprint-based Criminal Record Check is the standard requirement for most PR, immigration, employment, and licensing applications in Canada. Since fingerprints are unique to each individual, this method produces a definitive, unambiguous result. If your application has specifically asked for a Criminal Record Check, this is the type you need.

Not sure which one applies to your situation? Our team can review your requirements before you begin, so you do not waste time on the wrong process.

While you are physically in Canada, the RCMP still requires that fingerprint submissions for civil purposes go through an accredited company rather than being submitted directly by individuals. This is how the RCMP maintains the integrity and consistency of the verification process.

Globeia Incorporated, based in Toronto, Canada, is accredited by the RCMP to collect and submit civil fingerprint verification requests to the RCMP. This means your fingerprints are submitted electronically to the RCMP's CCRTIS system through an authorised channel, the correct and only approved route for civil submissions.

Step 1 - Get Your Ink Fingerprints Taken

The first step is having your ink fingerprints collected in person on the official C-216C form or another RCMP-accepted fingerprint format by a trained Globeia associate. This process must be completed physically using ink fingerprints, as remote or self-submitted alternatives are not accepted for RCMP criminal record check processing.

Globeia provides professional in-person ink fingerprint collection appointments across Canada through trained associates to ensure the fingerprints are captured clearly and prepared correctly for submission.

Step 2 - Prepare Your Identity Documents

Your application will require two valid government-issued IDs alongside your fingerprint form. At least one must clearly show your name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Photocopies of both IDs are required for submission purposes. A signed CCRTIS-approved consent form, as required by CCRTIS, must also be completed before anything moves forward.

Getting this right from the start matters. Incomplete or mismatched documentation is one of the most avoidable reasons applications get delayed, not because of anything the RCMP does, but because the submission was not prepared correctly in the first place.

Step 3 - Globeia Incorporated Submits to the RCMP

Once your fingerprint forms and supporting documents are complete and received, Globeia Incorporated in Toronto handles the electronic submission to the RCMP's CCRTIS system. You do not need to follow up on this step separately; it is handled as a straightforward part of the process.

If your Criminal Record Check result needs to be directed to a third party such as an employer, a licensing body, or an immigration authority, rather than to your own address, a signed third-party waiver consent form must be collected from you before the submission goes ahead. This is a mandatory requirement and cannot be skipped.

Step 4 - The RCMP Verifies and Issues Your Certificate

Once submitted, everything moves to the RCMP. 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 to this window.

No private company has any control over how quickly the RCMP processes a submission. If you come across a service that promises a guaranteed turnaround or a specific processing window, that claim is not accurate. Your Criminal Record Check is issued directly by the RCMP upon completion of their verification; it comes from them, not from Globeia or any other intermediary.

Getting a criminal record check in Canada is a process with clear steps, but those steps need to be followed correctly, with the right documentation and the right submission route, or you risk delays that set back your broader application timeline.

Globeia Incorporated's RCMP accreditation means your fingerprints are digitized and submitted electronically to the RCMP's CCRTIS system directly by Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, and our team is available at every stage to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Whether you need help figuring out which type of check you need, want a manual package mailed to your Canadian address, or are ready to get started today, we are here.

Reach out through our contact form, give us a call, or book a free consultation with one of our Criminal Record Check specialists. We handle the fingerprint collection, documentation, and submission coordination so you can stay focused on what the certificate is actually for.