What Does A Canadian Criminal Record Check Show?

Seeing “No Criminal Record” on an RCMP certificate does not necessarily tell you everything you might assume about your record. Similarly, seeing information on the certificate does not always mean the same thing across every type of Canadian criminal record check.

This raises some important questions when you receive your result:

• What exactly does the RCMP Criminal Record Check show?
• Why can two types of checks produce different results?
• What does a “No Criminal Record” result actually mean?
• Which information falls outside the scope of the check?

Understanding these factors matters when your RCMP certificate is being submitted for an official purpose. The result needs to be read in the context of the specific check that was requested.

An RCMP Criminal Record Check searches information held in the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records. However, the way the search is performed usually depends on the type of check you are applying for.

• A name-based search uses identifying information.
• A fingerprint-based check uses your fingerprints for a more precise identity match.  

This is how differently the fingerprint-based process worlds from a basic name search:

• Fingerprint submission: Your fingerprints are captured and submitted electronically to the RCMP for processing.
• Identity matching: The RCMP uses the fingerprints to establish whether the records found belong to you, rather than relying only on your name and other personal details.
• Record search: The fingerprints are checked against the RCMP’s repository to determine whether a matching record exists.
• Result disclosure: The information ultimately reported depends on the type of check requested and the applicable disclosure rules.

It can disclose different types of information depending on the type and purpose of the check. A name-based search, a fingerprint-based check, and a Vulnerable Sector Check do not necessarily produce the same result:

Understanding Your Report: What Can Appear on the Result? 

As per the type of RCMP Criminal Record Check you have requested and its purpose, the information that may appear on the report includes: 

• Criminal convictions: Convictions that can be reported may appear on the check.
• Outstanding charges: Some checks can include charges that are still before the courts.
• Discharges: Absolute and conditional discharges can be reported in certain circumstances.
• Non-conviction information: Charges that did not result in a conviction can appear in certain types of checks.
• Youth information: Youth records are governed by separate rules on access and disclosure.
• Suspended records: A record suspension generally limits the disclosure of the conviction. Vulnerable Sector Checks have specific provisions for certain sexual offences.

The main difference between the two is why the check is being conducted and who it is intended for.

• A Standard RCMP Criminal Record Check is used for general screening when an organization needs information about an individual’s criminal history.
• A Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is highly restricted and deep screening exclusively held for individuals who will be in a position of trust or authority over vulnerable people, such as children or elderly. Unlike a standard check, a VSC queries specialized local police databases. It also includes an automated check against a restricted repository of pardoned sexual offenses using your gender and date of birth.

The nature of your work determines whether a VSC is required. The two checks should not be treated as interchangeable. The organization requesting the screening should confirm which type is required for the position or purpose.

A “No Criminal Record” result on an RCMP Criminal Record Check means that the check did not identify a criminal record that needs to be reported on the certificate.

For an employer, licensing body, immigration authority, or other organization requesting the certificate, this means the RCMP check has returned a clear result.

However, a clear result should be understood only in the context of the specific check that was conducted. It does not mean that every type of police or background information has been searched or that a person has never had any previous contact with the justice system.

For example, a “No Criminal Record” result does not by itself confirm that:

• the person has no information in local police records;
• the person has no driving or traffic history; or
• the person would receive the same result from a different type of police check, such as a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Therefore, No Criminal Record means no reportable record was identified through a particular Canadian Criminal Record Check. It should not be interpreted as a complete record of everything that may exist about a person.

• Foreign criminal records 

Canadian police departments can query global systems like Interpol or the FBI's NCIC for internal investigative purposes. However, by law, they cannot disclose foreign records on a background check requested by the general public or an employer.

• Civil matters and lawsuits 

An RCMP Criminal Record Check covers criminal records, not civil legal matters. This means things such as small claims cases, family court matters, and civil lawsuits do not form part of a criminal record check.

• Credit or financial information 

An RCMP Criminal Record Check does not include credit history, debts, or other financial information. These are handled separately through credit reporting agencies. 

• Restricted or suspended records 

A record suspension can restrict access to a conviction record. As a result, a suspended conviction may not appear on a standard criminal record check, subject to applicable rules.

After receiving your RCMP Criminal Record Check, review the certificate carefully before submitting it to the organization or destination country that requested it. Here are the details you should check:

1. Check Your Personal Information

Your name, date of birth, and other identifying information must be correct. If any details are incorrect, contact the appropriate authority or service provider to determine how they can be corrected.

2. Review the Criminal Record Information

Read the result carefully and make sure the information shown relates to your circumstances. If you believe the result contains incorrect or outdated information, do not ignore it. You may need to contact the relevant police service or authority that maintains the record to determine the appropriate correction or review process.

3. Confirm the Receiving Authority's Requirements

Do not submit the certificate without checking whether the organization or destination country requires a specific certificate format. Also check the required recent issue date, authentication, legalization, apostille, or translation requirements.

If the certificate is being used outside Canada, these additional requirements are separate from the criminal record information itself and depend on the requirements of the receiving authority.

4. Keep a Copy of the Certificate

Keep a copy of your RCMP Criminal Record Check for your records before submitting the original or certified document.

What appears on your RCMP Criminal Record Check depends on the type of check requested and the information that can legally be disclosed. If your organization requires a fingerprint-based check, the application must also be completed through the appropriate RCMP submission process.

This is where the fingerprinting stage matters the most. Globeia Incorporated is an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada that helps applicants complete fingerprint-based RCMP Criminal Record Checks. The service is available to applicants in Canada as well as those who need to complete the process from outside the country. 

If you need to apply for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from outside Canada, Gobeia can arrange fingerprinting appointments locally on the required form. The collected impressions are then sent to Globeia Incorporated in Canada for electronic submission for RCMP processing.

Know more about What Is an RCMP Criminal Record Check and How Globeia Makes the Process Easier.

A Canadian Criminal Record Check is not only a document to read as “clear” or “not clear.” The terminology and information on the result need to be understood in the context of the specific check that was requested.

If you are using an RCMP Criminal Record Check for any official purposes, make sure the certificate you obtained matches the authority's requirements. Understanding what the result represents can help you avoid misinterpreting the certificate or submitting the wrong type of check.