Various Canadian immigration programs require applicants to submit police certificates as supporting documents during the application process. This includes those who are applying for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or Criminal Rehabilitation to overcome criminal inadmissibility to Canada.
Police certificates either serve as proof that someone has no criminal record or detail exactly what someone’s criminal record consists of so that the applicant’s risk to Canada can be properly assessed.
Most people with a past criminal record are automatically criminally inadmissible to Canada and must, therefore, secure the necessary special permissions before attempting to enter. The two main ways to do this are obtaining a Temporary Resident Permit or Criminal Rehabilitation. However, a third route—Deemed Rehabilitation—is available in a small number of cases.
What is a Police Certificate?
A police certificate is a form of criminal record check that either confirms that you have no criminal record or provides a detailed account of any criminal convictions you have received in the past. They are also known as police clearance certificates, good conduct certificates, or judicial record extracts.
For the purposes of Canadian Immigration, applicants usually need to obtain a police certificate from:
- the country where they currently live
- any country where they have lived for six consecutive months or more in the last 10 years (after the age of 18)
Police certificates are not needed for any period of time before you were 18 years old or for time spent in Canada.
Police certificates must be scanned copies of the original certificates in full color.
If you cannot obtain a police certificate, you must show proof that you requested one from the correct authorities and write a letter explaining all you’ve done to try to get one.
Who Needs a Police Clearance Certificate
The following Immigration Canada programs usually involve a criminal record check and will therefore require you to submit original police certificates along with your application forms:
- Permanent Resident (PR) Applications
- Citizenship Applications
- Live-in Caregiver Program
- International Experience Canada
- Family Sponsorship Applications
- Temporary Resident Permits (TRP)
- Criminal Rehabilitation Applications
Other programs such as study permits, work permits, TRVs, and refugee and asylum claims do not always require you to provide police certificates, but the Canadian government can still request them on a case-by-case basis.
How to Get a Police Clearance Certificate
The Canadian Government has a handy tool available on their website that provides detailed instructions on how to obtain the right type of police certificate in most countries in the world.
In general, the process will require you to present proof of your identity such as a valid passport to a criminal records office along with photographs, fingerprints, the addresses where you have lived in that country, and potentially a small fee.
More detailed instructions for some of the most common countries can be found in the FAQs below.
Translation
If your police certificate is in a language other than English or French, you must include a translation from a certified translator along with the original police certificate when you submit your documents.
Your certified translator must be a member in good standing of a professional translation association, and include a seal or stamp (in English or French) with their translation that shows their membership number.
When does a Police Certificate Expire / How Long is it Valid?
- If a police certificate is from the country where you currently reside, it must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application. Depending on processing times, you could be asked for updated certificates during the process.
- For any other country, the police certificate must have been issued after the last time you resided there for 6 consecutive months or longer since the age of 18.
How Dogen Law Can Help
At Dogen Law, we have extensive experience helping Americans with past criminal convictions enter Canada. If you have a criminal record and think you could be denied entry, contact us today to learn more about your options.
Our dedicated team of experienced immigration lawyers can guide you to the best pathway for your unique set of circumstances and help you navigate the complex application process. Getting your documents perfectly in order before submitting your application, including police clearance certificates, means you will be much less likely to experience delays.
Frequently Asked Questions – Quick Answers
How do you get a police clearance certificate in the USA for Canada Immigration?
For the USA, you need an Identity History Summary issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You can request one of these online for a small fee.
How to get a police clearance certificate in India for Canada Immigration?
For India, you can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate at your local police station, a passport office, or your nearest Indian embassy or consulate if abroad. Character Certificates are not accepted.
How to get a police clearance certificate in Dubai for Canada Immigration?
For the UAE, you can obtain a Criminal Clearance Certificate from the national Government, or a Police Clearance Certificate from an individual Emirate such as Dubai. A Good Conduct Certificate is also an acceptable form. You only need one police clearance from any emirate in the UAE.
You can apply for one of these certificates at your nearest police department in the UAE, at your nearest UAE Embassy if abroad, or online on the Dubai Police website.
How to get a police clearance certificate in Australia for Canada Immigration?
For Australia, you will need an Australian National Police Certificate (code 35 or 41-45, depending on the purpose of your application). You can apply for one either online or on paper. Complete Disclosure Certificates are not accepted.
If you live or have lived in Queensland, you also need to submit a traffic history that goes back to your 18th birthday. You can apply for this online. If you are not able to provide one, you must obtain a letter from the Queensland Roads Authority to confirm you’ve never held a driver’s license in that state.
If you live or have lived in Victoria, you also need to submit a full license history search that goes back to your 18th birthday. You can apply for this online. If you are not able to provide one, you must obtain a letter from the Victoria Roads Authority to confirm you’ve never held a driver’s license in that state.
