RCMP Criminal Record Check from Medellin: A Guide for Canadian PR and Visa Applicants

Medellin has grown into one of Latin America's most connected cities, with a large and established community of professionals, students, and families maintaining close ties to Canada. For many of them, the RCMP criminal record check is an unavoidable step in the Canadian immigration process, whether they are Colombian nationals who previously lived or worked in Canada and are now applying for permanent residence from Medellin, or former Canadian residents now based in Colombia pursuing an immigration pathway.

What makes the process different from Medellin is not the requirement itself but the logistics involved. Ink fingerprints must be collected locally, couriered internationally, submitted to the RCMP in Canada, and the resulting certificate delivered back all within timelines that Canadian immigration applications do not always accommodate generously.

This blog walks through who needs the RCMP criminal record check from Medellin, how the process works, what affects the timeline, and what applicants can do to avoid the delays that most commonly set back immigration applications from Colombia.

The RCMP criminal record check is a fingerprint-based verification conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police against Canada's National Repository of Criminal Records. It is the most comprehensive form of Canadian criminal record check available and the only check accepted by IRCC for immigration purposes.

The check is issued directly by the RCMP. No private company or fingerprinting agency issues the certificate; their role is limited to collecting ink fingerprints and, where accredited, submitting them to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). The RCMP independently processes the submission and issues the certificate to the address provided.

This distinction matters because it affects both the timeline and the process. Once fingerprints leave Medellin and are submitted to the RCMP, the issuing authority is entirely outside your control. Understanding this upfront helps applicants build realistic timelines around their immigration deadlines rather than discovering the gap when it is too late. 

The RCMP criminal record check is required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for anyone who has spent six months or more in Canada at any point after the age of 18. If you are now based in Medellin and fall into this category, you will need to obtain the check from here rather than travelling back to Canada to do so.

The most common groups applying from Medellin include:

• Colombian nationals with prior Canada residency who are now applying for permanent residence, Express Entry, a work permit, or a study permit from Medellin. IRCC requires the RCMP criminal record check as part of the admissibility assessment for all such applicants. A name-based check is not accepted as a substitute.
• Former Canadian residents now living in Medellin who are re-applying for Canadian immigration, sponsoring a family member, or responding to an IRCC request for updated documentation as part of an ongoing application.
• Dependants and co-applicants included in a primary applicant's immigration file who have also spent the required time in Canada must each submit their own individual RCMP criminal record check.

If you are unsure whether your time in Canada meets the six-month threshold, err on the side of applying. IRCC will flag a missing check far more severely than one that was submitted unnecessarily.

One important note: IRCC advises applicants not to request an RCMP criminal record check unless they have received a letter from IRCC specifically asking for one. If you have not yet received such a request, wait until you do before initiating the process. Applying too early without an IRCC request can result in the certificate expiring before it is needed. 

This is one of the most common points of confusion for applicants in Medellin. There are two types of Canadian criminal record checks: a name-based check and a fingerprint-based check and they are not interchangeable for immigration purposes.

A name-based check searches criminal records using personal details such as name and date of birth. It is faster and does not require fingerprinting, but is considered less reliable because it can miss records where names have changed or where there are discrepancies in personal information. IRCC does not accept a name-based check as a substitute for the RCMP criminal record check in immigration applications.

The RCMP criminal record check is fingerprint-based. It searches Canada's National Repository of Criminal Records using biometric data, making it a definitive verification tied to the individual rather than their name. This is the check IRCC requires for PR applications, Express Entry, work permits, spousal sponsorship, and most other immigration categories where a Canadian criminal record check is requested.

If your IRCC application requests a Canadian criminal record check, it is the fingerprint-based RCMP criminal record check that is required. Submitting a name-based check in its place will result in the application being considered incomplete.

Processing time is the question most applicants in Medellin search for first, and it is also the most misunderstood part of the process. The RCMP processing window is only one part of a longer end-to-end timeline that includes several steps before and after.

Here is a realistic breakdown of the full timeline for an applicant in Medellin:

Processing times are determined entirely by the RCMP. Mailing time is additional.

Yes. The RCMP criminal record check searches Canada's National Repository of Criminal Records, which holds fingerprint-based criminal record information from police services across all provinces and territories. It is not limited to the province or city where you previously lived or worked in Canada.

This is worth clarifying for Medellin applicants who may have lived in multiple Canadian provinces, for example, studying in Ontario and later working in British Columbia. A single RCMP criminal record check covers your entire Canadian criminal record history, regardless of where in Canada it was generated.

It is also worth noting that the check reflects records held in the National Repository at the time of submission. If a record exists but has not been transmitted to the national level by a local police service, it may not appear. This is an RCMP system limitation and not something any fingerprinting agency or applicant can influence.

Colombia uses a naming convention that differs significantly from Canadian records, and this difference is one of the most overlooked sources of errors in RCMP applications submitted from Medellin.

In Colombia, full legal names include two given names and two surnames, a paternal surname followed by a maternal surname. Canadian records, however, may have captured only one surname, a shortened version of a name, or a name without accent marks, depending on how the individual was registered during their time in Canada.

Common discrepancies that cause problems include:

• A name recorded without accent marks in Canadian records, appearing with accents on a Colombian cedula.
• Two surnames on a Colombian ID appear as a hyphenated single surname or only one surname in Canadian records.
• Given names appear in a different order between the Colombian cedula and Canadian immigration documents.
• Shortened or anglicised versions of names used informally in Canada that differ from the full legal name on the Colombian ID.

These discrepancies do not automatically result in rejection, but they can trigger manual processing by the RCMP, which extends the timeline considerably. Before your fingerprinting appointment, review how your name appears on your Canadian records, immigration documents, study permits, work permits, or any IRCC correspondence and ensure the name entered on the consent form matches your Canadian records exactly, not your Colombian cedula.

Coming to your appointment prepared reduces the risk of errors on the consent form and ensures your application is ready to be couriered to Toronto without delays.

Before your appointment, have the following in place:

Identity documents

Two valid government-issued IDs are required. At least one must include your name, date of birth, signature, and photo. Photocopies of both IDs are required for submission alongside your fingerprint forms.

Your Canadian records information

Have your Canadian immigration documents or any IRCC correspondence available to confirm exactly how your name appears in Canadian records. The name on your consent form must match your Canadian records, not necessarily your Colombian cedula.

Federal processing fee

The federal processing fee is payable to the Receiver General of Canada. This is separate from any service fee charged by your fingerprinting provider. Both fees should be confirmed at the time of booking.

CCRTIS-approved consent form

The consent form is provided at the appointment and must be completed in the presence of an authorized associate. The C-216C form cannot be downloaded, pre-filled, or completed independently before the appointment.

Ink fingerprinting for RCMP criminal record check applications is not available at Canadian consulates or embassy offices in Colombia. The Canadian Embassy in Bogota does not provide fingerprinting services, and there is no consular fingerprinting facility in Medellin.

Applicants in Medellin must use an authorized ink fingerprinting service that collects prints on the CCRTIS-approved consent form and coordinates mailing to an RCMP-accredited company in Canada for electronic submission to CCRTIS.

When selecting a fingerprinting service in Medellin, confirm the following before booking:

• Fingerprints are collected on the CCRTIS-approved consent form, not on a generic fingerprint card.
• The service coordinates the mailing or couriering of completed forms to an RCMP-accredited office in Canada.
• An authorized associate completes the consent form in your presence during the appointment.
• Identity verification is conducted at the appointment.
• A record of your fingerprint collection is issued upon completion.

Avoid any service that offers to collect fingerprints on a form you bring yourself, allows self-completion of the consent form, or cannot confirm where completed forms are sent in Canada.

Delays in RCMP applications from Medellin rarely come from the RCMP processing stage alone. Most avoidable delays happen before the forms even reach Canada. Understanding where things go wrong helps applicants and compliance teams build timelines that account for the full picture.

International courier delays

Medellin does not have direct courier routes to Toronto. Packages route through Bogota before clearing Colombian customs and international transit. This adds several business days to the mailing timeline that many applicants do not factor in when calculating their overall timeline.

Incomplete or incorrectly filled consent forms

Missing fields, illegible handwriting, or incorrect personal details on the CCRTIS-approved consent form can result in the application being returned or delayed at the RCMP's end. Every field must be completed accurately before the forms leave the appointment.

ID photocopies not included

Photocopies of both government-issued IDs must accompany the submission. Missing photocopies are one of the most common and easily avoidable reasons applications are held up.

Name discrepancies between Colombian and Canadian records

As covered earlier, differences in name formatting between Colombian and Canadian records can trigger manual processing at the RCMP, significantly extending the timeline. Ensure the name on your consent form matches your Canadian records exactly before your appointment.

Applying too close to an IRCC deadline

Applicants who underestimate the full end-to-end timeline, from courier from Medellin to Toronto, submission to the RCMP, RCMP processing, and certificate delivery, frequently find themselves applying too late to meet IRCC response windows.

Applying too early

The RCMP criminal record check is valid for six months from the date of issue. Applying too far in advance risks the certificate expiring before your immigration application is submitted. 

For applicants in Medellin, the challenge is not understanding what is required; it is ensuring every stage of the process is handled correctly before forms leave the appointment. Errors at the collection stage cannot be corrected once the forms are in transit, and the consequences of a delayed or rejected application are felt directly in immigration timelines.

Globeia provides ink fingerprint collection on the CCRTIS-approved consent form for individuals in Medellin applying for an RCMP criminal record check. Completed forms are mailed or couriered to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada, which holds RCMP accreditation and submits fingerprints electronically to the RCMP CCRTIS. The RCMP independently processes the submission and issues the certificate directly.

How the Process Works

Booking is done through Globeia's SmartPortal. Before the appointment, applicant details are collected and reviewed through SmartForm registration, and identity is verified through Face ID verification, ensuring everything is in order before the associate arrives.

On the day of the appointment, a trained associate travels to your location in Medellin, your home, office, or preferred meeting point. The associate completes the CCRTIS-approved consent form with you, rolls ink fingerprints onto the form, and conducts a quality review of every impression and form field before the appointment closes. Nothing leaves the appointment until it has been checked.

Once complete, the forms are mailed or couriered directly to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto for electronic submission to the RCMP CCRTIS.

Who This Service Covers

Globeia supports individual applicants and families coordinating multiple submissions as part of a single immigration application. Appointments can be arranged for:

• PR and Express Entry applicants.
• Work and study permit applicants.
• Spousal and family sponsorship co-applicants.
• Dependants included in a primary immigration file.

With every appointment, Globeia issues a Letter of Identity Verification confirming that fingerprints were collected by a trained associate under strict identity verification protocols, complete with an encrypted QR code for tamper-proof authentication.

The Letter of Identity Verification is issued by Globeia and is not issued by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the RCMP or any government authority.

Important: Globeia collects ink fingerprints and coordinates mailing to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto. The RCMP criminal record check is issued directly by the RCMP upon completion of their verification. Globeia does not issue the certificate and has no control over RCMP processing times or outcomes.

Whether your RCMP criminal record check needs an apostille depends on what it is being used for and where it is being submitted.

However, if your RCMP certificate is being submitted to Colombian authorities, for example, as part of a visa application, residency process, or any official Colombian government requirement, an apostille issued through Global Affairs Canada is required. Colombia is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, which means documents issued in Canada must carry an apostille before Colombian authorities will accept them as legally valid.

The apostille must be obtained after the RCMP certificate is issued. It cannot be applied in advance or simultaneously with the fingerprint submission process.

How Globeia Can Help

For applicants in Medellin who need their RCMP certificate apostilled and translated into Spanish, Globeia coordinates both services on your behalf. Once the RCMP issues your certificate, Globeia submits the apostille request to Global Affairs Canada, the designated government authority and arranges a certified Spanish translation through an authorised translator. This means you do not need to manage multiple service providers or navigate the apostille process independently from Medellin.

The paperwork required for Canadian immigration is demanding enough without avoidable delays adding to it. From Medellin, the margin for error is smaller, courier timelines are longer, name discrepancies are more common, and recovery from a rejected or incomplete submission takes more time than it would from within Canada.

Prepare early, verify your name against your Canadian records before your appointment, and build your timeline around the full process, not just the RCMP processing window.