Canadian Criminal Records Information Services

Civil Fingerprinting Services | Pardon and Purge Services |
Assistance for Law Enforcement | National Parole Board Offices |
National Missing Children Services

CIVIL FINGERPRINT SCREENING SERVICES

Release of Information to a Third Party | Frequently Asked Questions |
Release of Pardoned Record for U.S. Waiver

HOW TO OBTAIN A CERTIFIED CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

1) Full set of fingerprints required

To conduct a criminal record check we require a full set of fingerprints, including both rolled and flat impressions of all ten fingers.

Complete all fields on the fingerprint form. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant unprocessed.

If you are IN CANADA: you must have your fingerprints taken on form C-216C at your local police station or private accredited fingerprinting agency. Depending on the police jurisdiction, a fee may be required.

If you are OUTSIDE OF CANADA: contact the nearest police force which offers fingerprinting services. The RCMP will accept fingerprint forms from foreign countries that contain the following:

• rolled and flat impressions of all ten fingers taken with black ink
• full name, date of birth and sex of the applicant
• the name and address of the police agency
• the signature of the official taking the fingerprints

Note: Canadian embassies and consulates may not have adequate resources or facilities to provide this service.

2) Reason for Application

Clearly indicate the reason for your certified criminal record check :

• Adoptions - Canadian and International
• Foreign travel - Visas, U.S. Waivers, Border Crossing
• Employment *- federal, provincial, municipal governments; private industry; Canadian police forces
• Airport access screening
• Applications for immigration to Canada**
• Applications for Canadian Citizenship
• Applications to obtain criminal record to apply for a Pardon
• Volunteer work *
• Name change
• Permanent residency in foreign countries (all countries except Canada)

* Applicants for employment or volunteer work must specify the job title or position sought in the "REASON FOR APPLICATION" portion of the fingerprint form.

** Applicants for immigration to Canada must enter the name and address of the Canadian Immigration Center, Embassy, Consulate or High Commission handling the case in the "Name and Address of Contributing Agency/Dept" portion of the C216C. If you have an immigration file number, write it below the address as a reference for immigration officials.

3) Personal Information

Ensure you provide your full name, date of birth, sex, mailing address and phone number and/or fax number and/or e-mail address. (No further information is required , such as social insurance numbers, passport copies, photographs or addresses of former places of residence.)

4) Identification of police service or fingerprinting agency

Verify the information recorded by the official taking your fingerprints and ensure that the official's name and signature, and the name of the agency is indicated on your fingerprint form.

5) Processing fee

The processing fee is 25.00$CAN or 18.00$US, and is payable to the "Receiver General for Canada" by certified cheque or money order. Payments by credit card are not accepted.

The processing fee is in addition to the fee you may have to pay to have your fingerprints taken.

This fee does not apply to all types of applications. Read the following information carefully to identify which type applies to you:

FEE REQUIRED	FEE NOT REQUIRED
Adoptions - Canadian and International	Applications for Canadian citizenship
Foreign travel, Visas, U.S. Waiver, Border Crossing	Applications for Immigration to Canada
Employment; private industries	Federal Government Screening when requested by Departmental Security Officers
Permanent residency in foreign countries (except Canada)	Canadian Police Force personnel when requested by Canadian police force officers
Applications to obtain criminal record search to apply for a Pardon	Volunteer work (e.g. Boys and Girls Club). Request must be accompanied by written confirmation from a bona fide registered non-profit organization.
Name Change applicants	Airport access screening

* NOTE: Applicants must submit a fingerprint form and a fee for each separate type of request. (i.e. US Waiver and Pardon Applicant requires two fingerprint forms and two fees.) To avoid delays, please submit both applications together.

6) Release of information to a third party

The release of personal information is governed by the Privacy Act and ministerial directives. If you want the results of your criminal record check forwarded to a third party, such as an agency, lawyer, friend or family member acting on your behalf, you must provide written consent authorizing the RCMP to release your criminal record information to the individual or agency.

The consent must contain a statement that you are aware that refusal to give consent to release information to a third party will not negatively affect your request. Your consent must be an original document.

NOTE: Faxed or photocopied consent letters are not considered valid and will be returned unprocessed.

7) Final step (checklist) :

Before sending your application, make sure it contains the following:

• original fingerprint form
• full name
• date of birth
• sex
• mailing address
• phone number, fax number or email address
• reason for application
• processing fee ( if applicable)
• third party consent letter (if applicable)

8) Mailing addresses:

Forward your request with all relevant documents by mail or courier. Note: Hand-delivered fingerprint submissions will not be accepted by local RCMP offices:

By mail:

RCMP
Civil Fingerprint Screening Services
P.O. Box 8885
Ottawa, ON K1G 3M8

By courier:

RCMP
National Police Services Building, Loading Dock #1
Information and Identification Services
Civil Fingerprint Screening Services
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2

If you wish to have your results returned by courier, you must enclose a prepaid return envelope (not C.O.D.) according to the following conditions:

• If you are outside Canada, the prepaid envelope must be from an internationally recognized courier service.
• If you are in Canada, the prepaid envelope must be from Canada Post or from an internationally recognized courier service.
• If you are using a courier service company, the attached waybill must bear an account number which could be from your own contractual agreement with a courier service company or from a courier service agency, in which case a temporary account number would be given upon payment of one prepaid envelope.
• If you have difficulty obtaining a temporary account number from an agency, call other agencies until you find one that will provide an account number.
• All conditions above must be met, otherwise documents will be returned by regular postal service, even if funds or credit card information is provided to pay for courier service.

9) Release of pardoned record for a U.S. waiver

Through international agreements, the RCMP shares criminal records information with foreign authorities who may register this information in their databank.

If you have been convicted of an offence, you may subsequently be refused entry into another country, even if you have since been granted a pardon in Canada.

Many foreign countries, including the U.S., do not recognize a Canadian pardon unless you produce a copy for their evaluation.

To obtain a copy of your pardoned criminal record:

Follow the procedures portion outlined above in HOW TO OBTAIN A CERTIFIED CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK and write "Request for PARDONED Record" in the REASON FOR APPLICATION box of fingerprint form C-216C.

Complete and sign a Privacy Act, "INFO SOURCE, Personal Information request" form TBC350-58. Faxed or photocopied signatures will not be accepted. Paper versions of the form are available from:

Treasury Board Central Distribution Centre
300 Laurier Ave. W. RM. 140
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R5

and are also available at your Local Employment and Immigration Centre and your Federal MP Office.

Clearly state that the request is for the "release of information for which a PARDON has been granted."

Send your application to:

• BY MAIL:
  RCMP
  Privacy Act
  P.O. Box 8885
  Ottawa, ON K1G 3M8
• BY COURIER:
  RCMP
  Privacy Act
  National Police Services Building, Loading Dock #1
  1200 Vanier Parkway
  Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2

Note: No fees are charged for processing pardoned criminal records under the Privacy Act. The pardoned record will be returned directly to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

LINKS

• National Parole Board of Canada
• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
• Our Missing Children Program