Every year, Australians and international residents living in Australia need an RCMP Criminal Record Check for Canadian immigration, employment, professional licensing, adoption, or other official purposes. But without a clear picture of how the process works from Australia, many applicants run into avoidable delays.

The RCMP does not accept fingerprint submissions directly from individuals outside Canada. This means that applicants in Australia must have their ink fingerprints collected correctly and submitted through an RCMP accredited company in Canada. This blog covers everything you need to know about getting a RCMP Criminal Record Check in Australia.

Who in Australia Needs an RCMP Criminal Record Check

The RCMP Criminal Record Check is required for a wider range of situations than most applicants initially expect. In Australia, the most common cases include:

Canadian immigration and permanent residency: IRCC requires a fingerprint-based criminal record check from every country where you have lived for a significant period, including Canada.
Employment with Canadian or multinational firms: Professionals joining organisations with Canadian operations or regulatory obligations are frequently required to provide an RCMP Criminal Record Check as part of their onboarding.
Professional licensing in regulated industries: Healthcare workers, legal professionals, engineers, and financial services professionals applying for Canadian licences often need criminal record clearance as part of the licensing process.
Adoption proceedings: International adoption applications require background verification from relevant authorities, including the RCMP.
Volunteer roles involving vulnerable populations: Organisations working with children, the elderly, or other vulnerable groups frequently require this check for anyone taking on a relevant role.

If a Canadian authority, employer, immigration consultant, or licensing body has specifically asked for an RCMP Criminal Record Check, this applies to your situation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting an RCMP Criminal Record Check in Australia

Step 1: Ink Fingerprint Collection in Australia

Fingerprints for an RCMP Criminal Record Check must be collected on the official C-216C form by a trained and authorized technician. Poor quality impressions are the leading cause of application rejection, so how and where your fingerprints are taken matters significantly.

In Australia, you have a few options for fingerprint collection:

A local Australian police station. Some stations offer fingerprinting services, though availability varies by location, and an appointment is usually required. Confirm beforehand that the station is familiar with the C-216C form and RCMP formatting standards.
A private fingerprinting agency. Several private providers in Australia offer fingerprinting services. Before booking, confirm that they are experienced with RCMP-specific requirements and can review impression quality before the forms are dispatched.

If impressions are smudged, incomplete, or incorrectly rolled, the RCMP will reject the submission, and you will need to restart the process. Using a provider experienced in RCMP fingerprint standards significantly reduces this risk.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents

Alongside your fingerprints, your application must include the correct identity documents. You will need two valid government-issued IDs. At least one must clearly show your full name, date of birth, signature, and photo. Photocopies of both IDs are required for submission purposes. A CCRTIS-approved consent form must also be completed before your application can move forward.

Any mismatch between the information on your fingerprint form and that on your identity documents can cause delays or require resubmission, so check everything carefully before your forms are sent.

Step 3: Mail Your Forms to the RCMP-Accredited company in Canada

Australia-based applicants cannot submit the C-216C form directly to the RCMP. All international applications must be submitted through an RCMP accredited company operating in Canada, which handles the electronic submission to the RCMP's CCRTIS system. The RCMP only accepts electronic fingerprint submissions, which is why this step is mandatory regardless of where you are based.

Step 4: RCMP Verification

Once your fingerprints and forms have been submitted electronically by the accredited Canadian company, the RCMP searches the National Repository of Criminal Records and verifies your identity against their database. Your RCMP Criminal Record Check is then issued based on the findings.

Step 5: Receiving Your Result

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 RCMP processing timelines. Your RCMP Criminal Record Check is issued directly by the RCMP and delivered to the address provided in your application.

If you need your result for use outside Canada, such as for an international visa or employment application, you may also require apostille or translation services alongside your submission. An experienced provider can coordinate this for you.

Common Challenges for Australia-Based Applicants

The distance between Australia and Canada is not just geographical. It creates real, practical challenges that catch applicants off guard.

There is no local RCMP presence in Australia: Unlike some countries where Canadian authorities have consular fingerprinting arrangements, Australia-based applicants must arrange everything independently and ensure their submission reaches an accredited company in Canada.
Errors are expensive to fix from a distance: If your fingerprints are rejected or your documents are incomplete, you cannot simply walk back into an office and correct them the same day. Every mistake adds weeks to your timeline due to international mailing times.
Not all local providers understand international standards: Many fingerprinting services in Australia are set up for domestic purposes. RCMP submissions have specific requirements around form type, rolling technique, and identity verification that local providers may not be familiar with.

How Globeia Helps Australia-Based Applicants

Globeia offers mobile fingerprinting across Australia, coming to your home, office, or a convenient location to collect your ink fingerprints on the official C-216C form. This removes the guesswork of finding a local provider who understands RCMP formatting requirements and submission standards.

Once your fingerprints are collected, your completed original forms are mailed to Globeia Incorporated in Canada, which is accredited by the RCMP to take and submit civil fingerprint verification requests to the RCMP.

If your check requires apostille or translation services for international use, Globeia can coordinate that through the relevant government authorities, keeping your fingerprint collection and submission coordination in one place.

Each appointment also includes the issuance of a Letter of Identity Verification, an exclusive Globeia document certifying that your fingerprints were collected by a trained associate.

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 RCMP Criminal Record Check in Australia requires the right forms, correctly captured ink fingerprints, and submission through an RCMP-accredited channel in Canada. When these steps are followed correctly, the process is manageable, and the risk of rejection is significantly reduced.

Globeia coordinates the process for applicants in Australia, from fingerprint collection at your location through to submission via Globeia Incorporated's accredited office in Toronto. Whether you need the check for Canadian immigration, employment, licensing, or adoption, reach out through our contact form or book a consultation with one of our specialists to get started.

FAQs

Do I need to travel to Canada to get my RCMP Criminal Record Check?

No. Your ink fingerprints can be collected at your location in Australia by a trained and authorised technician. Your completed forms are then mailed to the accredited Canadian office for submission to the RCMP. You do not need to travel to Canada at any stage.

What happens if my fingerprints are rejected?

Rejection most commonly occurs due to unclear impressions, incorrect forms, or incomplete information. If your application is rejected, you will need to repeat the fingerprinting process. Requesting an on-the-spot quality check during your appointment reduces this risk significantly.

Can I use my Australian police check instead of an RCMP Criminal Record Check?

No. An Australian police check and an RCMP Criminal Record Check are entirely separate documents issued by different authorities for different purposes. If a Canadian authority has specifically requested an RCMP Criminal Record Check, an Australian police check will not satisfy that requirement.

Will my employer or immigration authority receive my results directly?

Only if a signed third-party waiver consent form is completed before your application is submitted. Without this form in place, results are delivered to your own address. If you need results sent elsewhere, confirm this before your application is processed.

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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