What Is the RCMP, and How To Apply for a Canadian Criminal Record Check from the UK?

If you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have spent more than six months in Canada as an adult, there is a strong chance you will be asked to produce a Canadian Criminal Record Check at some point, particularly if you are planning to live, work, or study abroad. For those moving to or already based in the United Kingdom, this is almost always a mandatory requirement.

The good news is that you do not need to travel back to Canada to get this done. This blog explains what the RCMP is, what a Canadian Criminal Record Check involves, and how you can apply for one online from the UK. 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada's national police force. Among its many responsibilities, the RCMP maintains Canada's National Repository of Criminal Records and is the sole authority that conducts criminal record verifications and issues Criminal Record Checks for civil purposes.

It is important to understand that the Criminal Record Check is not issued by any private company or third-party service; the RCMP conducts the verification independently and issues the certificate directly. What an accredited company does is collect your fingerprints and coordinate the submission so your application reaches the RCMP correctly and completely.

UK authorities routinely request a Canadian Criminal Record Check from applicants who have previously lived in Canada. This applies across a wide range of situations, including employment, professional licensing, educational institution admissions, visa applications, and residency processes. If Canada features in your personal history, expect to be asked for this document at some stage of your UK application.

The requirement exists because the UK authorities need to verify your background across every country where you have spent significant time as an adult. A Canadian Criminal Record Check is the only document that satisfies this requirement for your time spent in Canada.

Yes, you do not need to return to Canada to get your Criminal Record Check. However, there is one step in the process that cannot be done remotely or independently: your fingerprints must be taken in person on the official C-216C form by a trained associate. There is no approved self-service, photograph-based, or digital alternative to this step.

What you can do online is initiate your application, get guidance on what is required, and have the process coordinated on your behalf through an RCMP-accredited company. Globeia Incorporated, based in Toronto, Canada, is accredited by the RCMP to collect and submit civil fingerprint verification requests to the RCMP, making it possible for you to complete this process from the UK without setting foot in Canada.

Step 1 -  Start Through Globeia SmartPortal 

Begin your application by completing the required details through Globeia’s secure SmartPortal. Based on your selected service, the system guides you through the required information, appointment preferences, identity verification steps, and document requirements before your fingerprinting appointment is scheduled. 

Step 2 - Get Your Ink Fingerprints Taken

Your ink fingerprints must be taken in person on the official C-216C form by a trained associate of Globeia. This step cannot be skipped or substituted. Globeia will guide you on how to get your fingerprints taken correctly from your location in the UK so that your submission meets RCMP requirements.

Step 3 - Prepare Your Identity Documents

Alongside your fingerprint form, you will need two valid government-issued IDs; at least one must clearly show your name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Photocopies of both IDs are required for submission purposes. A signed CCRTIS-approved consent form, as required by CCRTIS, must also be completed before your application can move forward.

If your Criminal Record Check result needs to be sent to a third party, such as a UK employer or authority, rather than to your own address, a signed third-party waiver consent form must be in place before submission. This is a mandatory requirement.  

Step 4 - Globeia Incorporated Submits to the RCMP

Once your fingerprint form and documents are received by Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, the electronic submission to the RCMP's CCRTIS system is handled from there. You do not need to coordinate this step separately; it is part of the process.

Step 5 - The RCMP Issues Your Certificate

After submission, the process moves entirely to the 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. No private company has any control over this timeline, and no service that promises a specific turnaround is being accurate about how the RCMP process works.

Your Criminal Record Check is issued directly by the RCMP upon completion of their verification and delivered to your address in the UK.

The RCMP does not accept fingerprint submissions for civil purposes directly from individuals; submissions must go through a company that holds RCMP accreditation for this purpose. This is not a formality; it is a requirement that determines whether your application can be processed at all.

Globeia Incorporated in Toronto holds RCMP accreditation and is authorised to submit fingerprints electronically to the RCMP's CCRTIS system after digitizing them. Working with an accredited company also means your application is prepared correctly from the start, reducing the risk of delays caused by incomplete documentation or incorrect submission.

When evaluating any company for this service, confirm that they hold a current letter of accreditation from the RCMP before proceeding. Globeia Incorporated's accreditation is held in Toronto, Canada, and covers civil fingerprint submission to the RCMP.

The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for Canadians relocating abroad. Its cities carry centuries of history, its professional landscape is well-established, and the cultural familiarity makes the transition relatively smooth for most Canadians. Whether you are moving for work, study, or a longer-term life change, the administrative requirements are manageable, and a Canadian Criminal Record Check is simply one item on that list.

Getting it sorted early, before it becomes a bottleneck in your broader application, is always the smarter approach.

Applying for a Canadian Criminal Record Check online from the UK is entirely achievable, but it requires following the right process, working through an RCMP-accredited company, and making sure your fingerprints and documents meet submission requirements before anything reaches the RCMP.

Globeia Incorporated's accreditation means your submission goes through the correct authorised channel, and our team is available at every step to make sure your application is prepared properly. Whether you are just starting out or have questions about your specific situation, reach out through our contact form, give us a call, or book a free consultation with one of our specialists.

We coordinate the fingerprint collection, handle the documentation, and manage the submission so you can focus on everything else your move to the UK demands.