Are RCMP Fingerprints Required for Canadian PR Applicants Living Outside Canada?
Applying for Canadian permanent residence from outside Canada involves several identity, security, and background-verification requirements. One question that often causes confusion is whether applicants living outside Canada need to provide RCMP fingerprints.
The short answer is not every Canadian permanent residence applicant living outside Canada needs an RCMP criminal record check or RCMP fingerprints. However, IRCC may specifically request an RCMP criminal record check during processing. This is different from the biometrics that many permanent residence applicants must provide.
At F.I.P.S. (Fingerprints, Identifications and Pardons Services), we provide professional fingerprinting services in Canada and can help applicants who have been asked to provide an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check.
Do Canadian PR Applicants Outside Canada Need RCMP Fingerprints?
Generally, no—not automatically.
If you are applying for Canadian permanent residence from outside Canada, IRCC will tell you if it requires a Canadian criminal record check. IRCC specifically states that applicants should not request an RCMP criminal record check unless they receive a request to do so.
However, there are two different fingerprint-related requirements that applicants should understand:
- IRCC Biometrics
Many permanent residence applicants between the applicable ages must provide biometrics, which consist of fingerprints and a photograph. This is part of the immigration application process.
- RCMP Criminal Record Fingerprints
An RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check is a separate process. IRCC may request it if additional Canadian criminal record verification is required.
Biometrics and RCMP criminal record fingerprints are not the same thing. IRCC explicitly distinguishes the two processes.
Why Might IRCC Request RCMP Fingerprints?
If you have lived in Canada for more than six months since turning 18, IRCC may ask you to provide fingerprints for a Canadian criminal record check.
A fingerprint-based check provides stronger identity verification than a name-based search. The RCMP explains that fingerprints are the most accurate way to confirm a person’s identity and help prevent someone from being incorrectly associated with another person’s criminal record.
Receiving an RCMP fingerprint request does not automatically mean you have a criminal record. It may simply be required to confirm your identity and complete the background verification.
What If You Are Living Outside Canada?
This is where the process is particularly important.
If IRCC requests an RCMP criminal record check while you are outside Canada, you can have your fingerprints taken in the country where you currently live.
The RCMP’s current instructions state that applicants outside Canada should:
- Contact an authorized agency in the country where they are located.
- Have all 10 fingerprints taken in black ink on a paper fingerprint form.
- Ensure the fingerprint form includes the required agency information and the name and signature of the official who took the fingerprints.
- Send the fingerprint form to an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada.
- The Canadian accredited company converts the paper fingerprints into a digital format and submits the application electronically to CCRTIS.
The RCMP also confirms that there are no RCMP-accredited private fingerprinting companies outside Canada.
Can You Send Your Fingerprints Directly to the RCMP?
No.
If you are outside Canada, the RCMP states that you should not mail your fingerprints or application directly to CCRTIS.
Instead, an accredited fingerprinting company in Canada must complete the electronic submission process.
This is an important point for applicants living overseas because sending the documents to the wrong location can cause unnecessary delays.
How FIPS Can Help Applicants Outside Canada
If you are outside Canada and IRCC has specifically requested an RCMP criminal record check, F.I.P.S. can assist with the Canadian portion of the fingerprint submission process.
The general process is:
Step 1: Receive the IRCC Request
Do not obtain an RCMP criminal record check unless IRCC has specifically asked you to provide one.
Step 2: Have Your Fingerprints Taken Abroad
Visit an authorized fingerprinting agency, police service, government department, notary, or another acceptable provider in your country.
The RCMP requires all 10 fingerprints in black ink along with the required identifying information.
Step 3: Send the Original Fingerprint Form to Canada
The completed fingerprint form can then be sent to an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada.
Step 4: Digital Conversion and Submission
The Canadian accredited company converts the fingerprint card into the required digital format and electronically submits the eligible transaction to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).
What Is the Difference Between Biometrics and RCMP Fingerprinting?
This is one of the most important questions for Canadian PR applicants.
Requirement | Purpose | Where It Is Used |
IRCC Biometrics | Fingerprints + photograph for immigration processing | Immigration application |
RCMP Fingerprinting | Criminal record and identity verification | RCMP criminal record check |
Police Certificate | Criminal record information from a particular country | Immigration background requirements |
An applicant may need more than one of these during the immigration process.
For example, a PR applicant may provide IRCC biometrics and later receive a separate request for an RCMP criminal record check.
Do You Need a Canadian Police Certificate for PR?
Canadian police certificate requirements are different from police certificates from other countries.
For Canadian permanent residence, IRCC says that you don’t need to provide a Canadian police certificate unless IRCC asks you for a Canadian criminal record check.
By contrast, PR applicants may need police certificates from other countries where they lived for the required period. For Express Entry, IRCC generally requires police certificates for applicants and family members aged 18 or older for countries where they lived for six months or more consecutively during the relevant period.
What Documents Should You Keep?
If you receive an RCMP fingerprint request, keep:
- IRCC fingerprint request letter
- Original fingerprint card
- Passport or other identification
- Copies of submitted documents
- Courier or shipping tracking information
- Any documents provided by the fingerprinting agency
Following the exact instructions in your IRCC request is important.
Why Choose F.I.P.S.?
F.I.P.S. provides professional fingerprinting and identity verification services for Canadian and international applicants.
Our services include:
- RCMP Digital Fingerprinting
- RCMP Certified Criminal Record Checks
- Fingerprint Card Processing
- Cardscan Fingerprinting
- Immigration Fingerprinting
- Citizenship Fingerprinting
- Record Suspension Fingerprinting
- U.S. Entry Waiver Fingerprinting
- International Fingerprinting Services
F.I.P.S. serves clients throughout Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, North York, Scarborough, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, and the Greater Toronto Area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. RCMP fingerprints are not automatically required for every PR applicant. IRCC will tell you if you need to provide an RCMP criminal record check.
No. IRCC biometrics and an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check are separate processes with different purposes.
Yes. If IRCC requests an RCMP criminal record check, you can have your fingerprints taken abroad on paper and then send the fingerprint form to an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada for electronic submission.
No. The RCMP states that applicants outside Canada should submit their paper fingerprint form through an accredited fingerprinting company in Canada rather than mailing the application directly to CCRTIS.
No. The RCMP states that there are currently no private fingerprinting companies accredited by the RCMP outside Canada.
No. Fingerprinting is also used to confirm identity and complete accurate criminal record verification. A fingerprint request does not by itself mean that you have a criminal record.
Generally, no. IRCC advises applicants not to request a Canadian criminal record check unless IRCC sends a request for one.
Yes. F.I.P.S. can assist with the Canadian portion of an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check when the required fingerprints have been taken abroad and the application needs to be submitted electronically through an RCMP-accredited Canadian provider.
If you are a Canadian permanent residence applicant living outside Canada, you should not assume that you need RCMP fingerprints simply because you are applying for PR.
The key distinction is between IRCC biometrics and an RCMP criminal record check. If IRCC specifically requests an RCMP criminal record check, applicants outside Canada can have their fingerprints taken abroad and work with an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company in Canada to complete the electronic submission.
F.I.P.S. can help applicants understand the fingerprinting and submission requirements and provide professional Canadian fingerprinting services for eligible applications.