RCMP Criminal Record Check from Japan: Fingerprinting, Submission & Processing Explained

Living in Japan and needing an RCMP Criminal Record Check means coordinating a process that involves two countries. First, you need to find a reliable RCMP fingerprinting provider in Japan. Then, you need to ensure that they can coordinate with an RCMP-accredited company in Canada. You cannot submit your fingerprints from Japan directly to the RCMP without going through the appropriate Canadian submission route.

For Japan-based applicants, this means arranging your fingerprints locally and sending the original fingerprint documents to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada, such as Globeia Incorporated, for digitization and electronic submission to CCRTIS. This guide explains the process, requirements, and key points to check before starting your RCMP Criminal Record Check from Japan.

For people living in Japan, the requirement for an RCMP Criminal Record Check usually arises due to their previous connection with Canada or a Canadian authority:

Former Canadian Residents Living in Japan

People who previously lived in Canada for purposes, like work or study, may need to provide Canadian criminal-record documentation after moving to Japan. The requesting authority may ask for an RCMP Criminal Record Check as part of its application requirements.

Japan-Based Applicants Responding to an IRCC Request

Applicants living in Japan who are applying for Canadian immigration may be asked by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide an RCMP Criminal Record Check.

The requirement is case-specific, so applicants should follow the instructions in their IRCC request rather than assuming that every Canadian immigration applicant needs an RCMP Criminal Record Check.

Applicants Completing Canadian Licensing or Registration Requirements

Some people living and working in Japan may be applying to a Canadian professional or regulatory body that requires Canadian criminal-record screening. In this case, they may be required to complete the RCMP Criminal Record Check application process from Japan.

Japan-Based Applicants With a Canadian Background-Check Requirement

The check may also be requested for other official applications involving a Canadian employer, organization, institution, or authority. In these cases, the requesting organization should confirm the exact type of RCMP Criminal Record Check required before the applicant arranges fingerprinting.

Applicants Who Need Canadian Criminal-Record Documentation for Another Country

A person living in Japan may also be asked to provide it when applying to a third country. This can occur when the receiving authority requires police certificates from countries where the applicant previously lived.

The important point is that an RCMP check documents the applicant's Canadian criminal-record history. It does not replace the police certificate required for the applicant's current or previous residence in Japan.

RCMP Criminal Record Check process from Japan involves two stages:

• You need to get an acceptable set of fingerprints in Japan through a local provider.
• Completing the RCMP submission through the required Canadian process.

Note: Remember that applicants outside Canada cannot mail their fingerprint cards directly to the CCRTIS.

The process generally follows these steps:

1. Confirm Which Type of RCMP Criminal Record Check You Need

Sometimes applicants do not really require an RCMP Criminal Record Check, but they realise this after spending several weeks and money on the process. Therefore, it is important to confirm whether you really need it.

Check:

• Whether a fingerprint-based check is required
• The purpose of the check
• Any required fingerprint form or supporting documents
• Whether the result must be authenticated, apostilled, legalized, or translated
• Where the completed result must be submitted
• This prevents you from arranging the wrong type of Canadian or Japanese police document.

2. Get the Correct Fingerprint Card - C-216C for RCMP Submissions

For an RCMP fingerprint-based check, the required fingerprint form must be used. If your application requires the C-216C fingerprint card, make sure the correct version is used and completed properly. 

The card contains your identifying information and the fingerprint impressions needed for the RCMP's identification process.

3. Arrange Professional Fingerprinting in Japan 

Arrange a professional and reliable fingerprinting service provider in Japan to have your fingerprints captured on the required card in Japan.

The provider must ensure that the impressions are complete and sufficiently clear for identification. Poor-quality, incomplete, or improperly recorded fingerprints can cause problems during processing.

4. Complete the Required Application and Supporting Documents

The fingerprint card is only one part of the submission. Sometimes, you may also need to provide the required consent or application information and payment for the RCMP criminal record check.

Make sure the information on the application matches the information on your fingerprint card. Differences in names, dates of birth, or other personal identity details can create processing issues or delays.

5. Send the Original Card to an RCMP-Accredited Company in Canada 

Applicants outside Canada need to arrange for their original fingerprint documents to reach an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada, such as Globeia Incorporated.

The RCMP states that fingerprint records from applicants outside Canada should be submitted through an accredited Canadian fingerprinting company rather than mailed directly from overseas to CCRTIS.

This is the main difference between completing the process from Japan and applying from within Canada.

6. The Canadian Accredited Company Digitizes the Fingerprints

After receiving the original fingerprint card, the accredited Canadian company converts the paper fingerprint record into the electronic format required for submission.

The quality of the original impressions matters at this stage. If the fingerprints cannot be successfully processed because of poor-quality impressions or incomplete information, additional fingerprints may be required.

7. The Fingerprints Are Submitted to CCRTIS

The electronic fingerprint submission is sent to the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS), which is part of the RCMP.

The applicant does not submit the physical fingerprint card directly into the RCMP's electronic system from Japan. The Canadian accredited-company stage is what connects the original paper fingerprints with the electronic RCMP submission process.

8. CCRTIS Processes the Criminal Record Check

Once CCRTIS receives the electronic submission, the RCMP processes the request.

The result can depend on the outcome of the fingerprint search and any additional review required by the RCMP. A fingerprint submission does not automatically mean that a criminal record will be found. The purpose of the process is to confirm the applicant's identity and search the applicable Canadian criminal-record information. 

9. Receive the RCMP Result

After processing is complete, the RCMP issues the applicable criminal record check result.

The completed document may then need to be submitted to the organization that requested it. If the receiving authority requires apostille, authentication, legalization, or translation, those requirements should be checked separately because they are not part of the RCMP criminal-record search itself.

10. Apostille, Legalisation, or Translation - What Comes After the RCMP Result 

An RCMP Criminal Record Check and its subsequent authentication are separate stages.

If your Japanese employer, immigration authority, foreign government, or other organization requires the document to be authenticated or legalized, confirm the exact document format and authentication chain before submitting the final certificate.

Hence, completing an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Japan involves timely coordination across multiple stages, authorities, and locations. You need to arrange acceptable fingerprints, prepare the documents correctly, move the original fingerprint card from Japan to Canada, and complete the electronic submission before the RCMP can process the request.

This is why applicants choose a more coordinated service provider like Globeia who not only helps you get fingerprinted professionally, but also coordinates the entire RCMP submission process.

The RCMP's processing time begins after the electronic fingerprint submission reaches Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). As per RCMP, the electronic submissions with no match to a criminal record may take 3 business days or less. On the other hand, the cases involving manual processing or a possible match can take up to 120 business days. Additional time may also be required for international document shipping before and after the RCMP processing stage.

Therefore, the overall timeline for Japan applicants depends on more than the RCMP processing period. Consider all the stages from fingerprinting to RCMP submission and delivery back to you, when planning the application.

This is how Globeia coordinates the complete process on behalf of Japan-based RCMP Criminal Record Check applicants:

An RCMP Criminal Record Check from Japan is manageable when the Canadian submission requirements are confirmed before you arrange your fingerprints. Start by checking exactly what the requesting authority needs, then make sure your fingerprint documents, submission route, and final document requirements all match those instructions.

For applicants who want the process coordinated from Japan, Globeia Incorporated provides support across the relevant fingerprinting and RCMP submission stages.