RCMP Criminal Record Check from Colombo: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Colombo can raise questions that do not come up with a standard Sri Lankan police clearance. You may know that fingerprints are required, but finding a provider familiar with Canadian requirements, knowing which fingerprint record to use, and making sure your application is accepted can be less straightforward than expected.

For applicants in Colombo, understanding these requirements before booking a fingerprinting appointment can save you from having to repeat the process later.

An RCMP Criminal Record Check is required for Colombo residents who have previously lived, worked, or studied in Canada for 6 months or longer. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue a specific request letter requiring this check under these Colombo-specific scenarios:

• Express Entry & Permanent Residency (PR) Applicant

Many professionals from tech hubs in Colombo, like Orion City, apply for Canadian PR via Express Entry. If you previously completed a degree or a work contract in Canada, you may be asked to submit an RCMP Criminal Record Check alongside your local Sri Lankan Police Clearance Certificate.

• Returning Sri Lankan Students

Students who completed undergraduate degrees at universities like Toronto or UBC and have returned home to Colombo often require this check. When transitioning to a Canadian work permit or pursuing an international postgraduate program, the visa office will mandate a fingerprint-based screening.

• Skilled Workers & Corporate Transfers

Colombo-based engineers, IT consultants, and medical professionals securing Canadian employment visas need to clear the Canadian National Repository database.

• Colombo Families Navigating Canadian Adoption

Local families in Sri Lanka going through international adoption programs managed by Canadian provincial authorities require an RCMP Criminal Record Check as part of the parental screening framework.

Many visa applicants in Sri Lanka mistakenly believe that a local police report covers all their background check requirements. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) treats Canadian and Sri Lankan histories as completely separate entities.

If you are a Colombo resident who has spent time in Canada, you will likely need to submit both documents. To help you avoid costly submission delays or visa rejections, here is a comparison of how these two certificates differ in purpose, authority, and application process:

You have several options for getting fingerprints taken in Colombo for an RCMP Criminal Record Check. However, not every fingerprinting service is equipped to complete a Canadian fingerprint card correctly. Here are the available and most reliable RCMP fingerprinting options in Colombo:

Local police or other authorized fingerprinting agencies

You can check with the relevant police or authorized fingerprinting authority in Colombo to see whether they provide fingerprints for foreign criminal record checks. Before booking, explain that the fingerprints are for an RCMP Criminal Record Check in Canada and confirm whether they can complete the required fingerprint card and certification fields.

Professional fingerprinting services in Colombo

Private fingerprinting providers in Colombo may offer fingerprinting specifically for international background checks. This can be useful when you need a paper fingerprint card completed for submission to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada.

Note: Before booking, confirm that the provider is familiar with RCMP fingerprint requirements and can complete the required fields, take clear impressions, and properly identify and certify the person who took your fingerprints.

Mobile fingerprinting at your Colombo location

If travelling to a fingerprinting office is inconvenient, mobile fingerprinting service, like Globeia, can bring the service to your home, office, hotel, or another suitable location in Colombo. This can be particularly useful for applicants working full-time, staying temporarily in the city, or arranging fingerprints around a busy schedule.

With a mobile appointment, confirm in advance that the associate will bring the correct fingerprint card and equipment for an RCMP application and can complete all required certification details at your location.

What the RCMP fingerprint record needs: Confirm before booking an RCMP fingerprint appointment

Once you choose where to have your fingerprints taken in Colombo, the next priority is making sure the record itself is completed correctly.

All 10 fingerprints

The record should contain clear impressions of all ten fingers, completed according to the requirements of the fingerprint form being used.

Black ink

Use black fingerprint ink suitable for paper fingerprint recording. Faint, smudged, or incomplete impressions can create problems during processing.

Agency name and address

The required agency or organization details should be entered on the fingerprint record.

Fingerprint taker's name and signature

The person taking your fingerprints should complete the required name and signature fields.

Proper identification

Bring valid identification so your identity can be verified and your personal details entered correctly.

Complete fingerprint form

All required sections should be completed before the original record leaves Colombo. Do not assume missing fields can be corrected later.

Correct applicant details

Check your name, date of birth, and other identifying information carefully before leaving the appointment. Errors in these details can create problems when the record is submitted for processing.

The total cost of an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Colombo is usually around CAD 180-300+. It majorly depends on the fingerprinting provider, Canadian processing service, courier charges, and whether you require return delivery or additional document services:

Estimated RCMP Criminal Record Check Cost from Colombo

Note: Additional costs may apply if your receiving authority requires an apostille, authentication, legalization, or translation. These are not automatically required for every RCMP Criminal Record Check.

Here is how the process works step by step:

Step 1: Get the correct fingerprint card completed in Colombo

Start by finding a fingerprinting provider in Colombo that can complete a fingerprint record suitable for an RCMP application.

Step 2: Arrange secure delivery of the original card to Canada

The original fingerprint card now has to travel from Colombo to Canada. If you are handling the application yourself, you need to arrange international courier delivery and make sure the card reaches the RCMP-accredited Canadian fingerprinting company handling your submission.

This is a separate logistical step from fingerprinting. You need the correct Canadian recipient, a trackable delivery method, and a way to confirm that the original document has arrived.

Step 3: Have the card checked before submission

Once the Canadian company receives your card, the fingerprint record should be reviewed before it is submitted electronically.

That can add another round of international shipping and additional waiting time.

Step 4: Have the paper fingerprints digitized

Paper fingerprints taken in Colombo cannot simply be uploaded by the applicant as a substitute for the required Canadian submission. The fingerprint impressions need to be digitized by the Canadian fingerprinting company so they can be prepared for electronic submission through the appropriate RCMP channel.

This is one of the key differences between having a fingerprint card completed locally and actually submitting an RCMP Criminal Record Check.

Step 5: Submit the digitized fingerprints to RCMP CCRTIS

The Canadian fingerprinting company submits the digitized fingerprint information electronically to the RCMP Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).

CCRTIS uses the submitted fingerprint information to conduct the required criminal record search.

Step 6: Wait for RCMP processing

The RCMP then processes the electronic submission. The time required can vary depending on the result and whether additional review is necessary.

Importantly, an RCMP processing estimate should not be confused with your total Colombo-to-Canada timeline. Your overall wait can also include the fingerprinting appointment, card review, international courier delivery, Canadian processing before submission, and final document delivery.

Step 7: Receive the RCMP Criminal Record Check

After CCRTIS completes the search, your RCMP Criminal Record Check is issued through the applicable delivery process. If you are in Colombo, you then need to receive the document in Sri Lanka and check whether the organization requesting it requires any additional step.

Depending on the purpose of your application, this may include authentication, apostille, legalization, or translation.

Globeia simplifies the RCMP process by coordinating the fingerprinting, Canadian document handling, and RCMP submission for you. You can have your fingerprints taken at a convenient location in Colombo while the Canadian processing is managed through Globeia’s RCMP-accredited office.

1. Fingerprinting in Colombo at Your Location

A Globeia fingerprint associate takes your fingerprints at your convenient location in Colombo and completes the required fingerprint documentation.

2. Your original card reaches Canada

The completed fingerprint card is sent to Globeia Incorporated in Canada, where it is reviewed before submission. This removes the need for you to arrange and coordinate the Canadian receiving process yourself.

3. Fingerprints are reviewed and digitized

Globeia checks the fingerprint record for completeness and quality. The fingerprints are then digitized and prepared for electronic submission to the RCMP.

4. Electronic submission to the RCMP

Globeia submits the digitized fingerprints electronically to RCMP Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). You do not need to manage the technical submission process yourself.

5. Track the progress of your application

Globeia keeps the application moving through the Canadian processing stages, with status updates available through its tracking system as the file progresses from receipt to RCMP submission and completion.

6. Receive your RCMP result + Additional Documentation

Once the RCMP completes the check, the completed document can be arranged for delivery to you in Colombo. If your receiving authority requires an apostille, authentication, legalization, or translation, those services can also be coordinated as part of the document process.

You do not need to return to Canada to begin your RCMP Criminal Record Check from Colombo. You can complete the fingerprinting process in Sri Lanka and have your original fingerprint record sent to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada for electronic submission. Choosing a provider that handles the fingerprint quality, document routing, and submission correctly can help avoid unnecessary delays.

Need RCMP Fingerprinting in Colombo? Get fingerprinted at the time and location of your convenience in Colombo. Globeia also helps coordinate the secure delivery of the original card to Canada, and the RCMP submission process through its Canadian office.