How to get an RCMP Criminal Record Check in New Zealand?

Imagine you are a Canadian living in Auckland or Wellington and suddenly receive an email from IRCC, a licensing body, or an employer requesting an RCMP criminal record check in New Zealand. For most people, the first reaction is confusion. How are you supposed to obtain an official Canadian document while living thousands of kilometres away from Canada?

The good news is that you do not need to travel back to Canada to complete the process. You can follow a structured application route where ink fingerprints are collected in New Zealand by trained associates and then submitted to the RCMP with the help of Globeia.

This process is commonly used by Canadians abroad for immigration, employment, licensing, and legal documentation requirements.

In this blog, you will learn why applicants in New Zealand are asked for an RCMP Criminal Record Check, how fingerprint collection works locally, what documents you need, and how the RCMP independently handles verification and certificate issuance.

Many Canadians living overseas only hear about an RCMP Criminal Record Check after an authority formally requests one. The reason depends entirely on the type of application being submitted.

• IRCC may request it for permanent residency, citizenship, or family sponsorship applications involving Canadian residency history.
• Canadian employers in regulated industries sometimes require it before onboarding remote employees working from abroad.
• New Zealand immigration authorities may request a Canadian criminal record check if applicants previously lived, worked, or studied in Canada.
• Professional licensing organisations in Canada may require it when applicants apply internationally for healthcare, finance, childcare, or legal sector registration.
• International adoption agencies also use the document as part of their due diligence procedures for cross-border applications.

1. Confirm your document requirements

2. Start your application

3. Identity verification

4. Ink fingerprint collection in New Zealand

5. Submission to the RCMP

Many applicants assume the submission company performs the actual criminal record verification. In reality, the RCMP independently manages the entire review process once fingerprints are submitted through CCRTIS.

After Globeia Incorporated in Toronto sends the electronic submission, the RCMP compares the fingerprints against Canada’s National Repository of Criminal Records. This database is maintained and reviewed solely by the RCMP.

If no criminal record is associated with the fingerprints, the RCMP issues the official result directly. If a potential match is identified, the RCMP may conduct additional manual review procedures before releasing the final result.

Applicants should also understand that processing timelines are controlled entirely by the RCMP. 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.

The final certificate is issued directly by the RCMP, not by Globeia or any fingerprint collection associate in New Zealand.

RCMP Criminal Record Check processing times are determined entirely by the RCMP and vary based on application volume and individual circumstances. The RCMP states that processing times range from 3 to 120 days. Mailing time is additional.

Applications that require additional review by the RCMP may take longer than submissions where no matching record is identified. The RCMP independently conducts all verification procedures using Canada’s National Repository of Criminal Records before issuing the official result.

Applicants in New Zealand cannot submit fingerprints directly to the RCMP from outside Canada.

Key Steps for New Zealand Applicants

• Ink fingerprints need to be collected in-person in New Zealand by trained associates.
• Fingerprints are captured on the official C-216C form during the appointment itself.
• Applicants must provide two valid government IDs. At least one ID must include a name, date of birth, signature, and photograph.
• Photocopies of both IDs are required for submission purposes.

Globeia Incorporated electronically submits the request to the RCMP through CCRTIS.

A Globeia representative is also available to guide applicants regarding documentation requirements and application preparation before the fingerprint appointment takes place.

The RCMP Criminal Record Check process from New Zealand is manageable when the correct submission process is followed. Ink fingerprints are collected locally by trained associates and forwarded to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto for electronic submission to the RCMP through CCRTIS.

Once submitted, the RCMP independently reviews the application, compares fingerprints against Canada’s National Repository of Criminal Records, and issues the official result directly. Preparing the correct identification documents before the appointment helps ensure the submission is prepared in line with RCMP requirements.

If you are applying for immigration, employment, licensing, or legal purposes, Globeia can assist with fingerprint collection coordination and RCMP submission preparation for applicants living in New Zealand.