Canada Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Which Canadian Criminal Record Check Do You Need?

The correct record-check method depends on whether you need to prove your own criminal-history status, satisfy an employer, work with vulnerable people, or research a public criminal prosecution.

How to Get a Certified RCMP Criminal Record Check in Canada

The RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) provides certified fingerprint-based criminal record checks.

The RCMP explains that fingerprints are the most accurate way to associate criminal-history information with the correct person. They reduce the risk of falsely matching someone with a similar name or date of birth.

Step-by-Step Certified Criminal Record Check

1. 1

   Confirm why the check is required

   Ask the requesting employer, immigration authority, licensing body or organisation whether it requires a name-based check, a certified fingerprint check or a vulnerable sector check. Different check types are not interchangeable.

2. 2

   Choose a local police service or accredited fingerprinting company

   Find an authorised service using the RCMP’s official instructions. A local police service may also direct you to an accredited company.

3. 3

   Prepare your identity documents

   Bring the government-issued identification required by the chosen provider. Confirm acceptable identity documents before visiting. The provider may also require your full legal name, date of birth, address and check purpose.

4. 4

   Have your fingerprints captured

   The police service or accredited fingerprinting company collects fingerprints using the accepted process and verifies your identity.

5. 5

   Authorise the fingerprint submission

   Complete the necessary consent and application information. The provider submits the fingerprint-based request to the RCMP’s CCRTIS system electronically.

6. 6

   Pay the applicable fees

   The federal fee is generally C$25 unless an exemption applies. The local police service or fingerprinting company may charge a separate collection or service fee.

7. 7

   Allow time for RCMP processing

   Processing varies depending on whether fingerprints match an existing record or require additional verification. The RCMP publishes separate time targets for straightforward submissions and manual review.

8. 8

   Receive the certified result

   The RCMP states that certified results are mailed to the address supplied in the application. Check the recipient and delivery requirements before submitting fingerprints.

Can You Complete the Entire RCMP Check Online?

Not by entering a name and paying through an unrestricted public database. Some providers offer online booking and digital administration, but the certified RCMP process requires fingerprints collected and submitted through an authorised channel.

Some ordinary name-based police checks may be requested online, depending on the local police service and the purpose.

Canada Name-Based Criminal Record Check: How It Works

A name-based check uses identifying information such as your full name and date of birth to search police criminal-history information accessible through the authorised screening process.

Depending on the jurisdiction and check type, police may use the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and other permitted police databases.

CPIC is not an unrestricted public people-search website.

How to Apply for a Name-Based Check

1. Identify the police service responsible for the area where you live.
2. Open that police service’s official Criminal Record Check or Police Information Check page.
3. Choose the exact check type required by the receiving organisation.
4. Complete any online identity verification or application form offered.
5. Provide the required identity and consent information.
6. Pay the locally published fee, if one applies.
7. Follow any additional fingerprint instructions if the result cannot be confirmed by name alone.
8. Receive the completed report through the approved delivery method.

Can You Check Someone Else’s Criminal Record Without Their Permission?

You cannot simply access another person’s complete RCMP criminal-history file through an unrestricted public search.

Legitimate employment and other police screening procedures have identity, consent and access requirements. Publicly accessible court files are a separate category of information and may be searched according to the relevant court’s rules.

Criminal Record Check Canada Fees in 2026

There is no single universal price for every criminal record check in Canada. The federal RCMP processing charge, local fingerprinting charge and provincial police screening fee may all differ.

Verify official RCMP processing fees and exemptions →

Who Qualifies for an RCMP Federal Fee Exemption?

The RCMP publishes federal processing fee exemptions for certain purposes, including:

• Qualifying volunteer work in Canada.
• Canadian citizenship applications.
• Certain immigration-to-Canada applications.
• Specified federal-government employment screening.
• Applications to join a Canadian police force.
• Certain Privacy Act requests.
• Eligible Indigenous name-reclamation applications.

The exact exemption depends on the application purpose and required evidence.

For volunteer checks, the RCMP requires a letter from the organisation identifying the applicant, organisation, volunteer position and confirmation that the work is unpaid and uncompensated.

How Long Does an RCMP Criminal Record Check Take?

The RCMP publishes approximate processing times for electronic fingerprint submissions received by CCRTIS.

Why Can a Criminal Record Check Take Longer?

Delays can arise because of:

• A potential fingerprint match requiring manual verification.
• Incomplete or inconsistent identifying information.
• Follow-up with a reporting police service.
• Fingerprint quality issues.
• Application volumes.
• Provider processing or mailing time.

Canada Vulnerable Sector Check: Who Needs It and How to Apply

A vulnerable sector check is a specialised screening process for qualifying positions involving children or vulnerable persons.

Examples may include certain roles in childcare, schools, coaching, healthcare, residential care or other settings involving trust or authority.

The role must meet the legal criteria. Merely working for a school or organisation does not automatically authorise a vulnerable sector check for every position.

Important RCMP Rules

• The requesting organisation must identify the qualifying role.
• The applicant must provide consent.
• The check is for an eligible position, not general curiosity or ordinary private investigation.
• Outside British Columbia’s designated provincial process, contact the local police service.
• RCMP-accredited private fingerprinting companies do not themselves provide vulnerable sector checks.
• The results are provided for an eligible organisation located in Canada.

How to Apply for a Vulnerable Sector Check

1. 1

   Get the requesting organisation’s instructions

   Ask for the organisation name, position description and any required letter or code.

2. 2

   Confirm eligibility for the check

   The role must involve the level of trust, authority and interaction with vulnerable persons required by the applicable rules.

3. 3

   Use the correct service

   Contact your local police service, or follow British Columbia’s Criminal Records Review Program when the position is covered by that provincial scheme.

4. 4

   Provide identification and consent

   Submit the required personal information, position details and proof of identity.

5. 5

   Submit fingerprints if required

   Additional identity verification may be necessary in some cases.

6. 6

   Follow the result-release procedure

   The screening authority supplies the permitted result according to its rules and the requesting organisation’s requirements.

Ontario Criminal Record Check: CRC, CRJMC and Vulnerable Sector Checks

Ontario uses three principal police record-check categories under the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015.

Ontario requires consent for these checks, and the applicable information disclosed is regulated by legislation.

How to Get an Ontario Police Record Check

1. Ask the employer or organisation which of the three types is needed.
2. Find your local municipal, First Nations or Ontario Provincial Police service.
3. Use its official online or in-person application process.
4. Provide the requested identification and consent.
5. Submit the correct purpose or organisation information.
6. Pay the applicable fee or follow the volunteer-fee exemption process where eligible.
7. Receive the result using the police service’s approved procedure.

Ontario Government — Police Record Checks and Screening Rules →

Are Volunteer Checks Free in Ontario?

Ontario provides certain free police record check benefits for qualifying volunteers, including specified criminal record and criminal record and judicial matters checks.

The province notes that third-party provider checks are not automatically eligible for these free-check arrangements and that vulnerable sector checks may still carry local police fees.

Contact the police service and requesting organisation before applying.

Canada Public Criminal Court Records: How to Search by Province

Canadian criminal court proceedings are generally subject to the open court principle. However, some records are protected by legislation, court orders, publication bans, youth privacy rules or judicial access policies.

The following government portals help people locate publicly accessible criminal court information. They are not replacements for an official RCMP criminal record check.

Other Provinces and Territories

For New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, begin with the relevant provincial or territorial court website or courthouse registry.

You may also search published judgments from those jurisdictions through CanLII. The availability of daily dockets, name searching, older case files and document downloads differs by court.

Can You Search Canadian Criminal Court Decisions for Free?

Yes. CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) is a free legal research resource supported by Canada’s legal profession.

It contains published court decisions from federal, provincial and territorial courts.

How to Search Criminal Judgments Using CanLII

1. 1

   Open CanLII

   Visit CanLII.org.

2. 2

   Select the jurisdiction

   Choose Canada (Federal), Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec or another relevant province or territory.

3. 3

   Search a case name or citation

   Use the available title or citation field for a known criminal case. You can also search legal terms in the document-text field.

4. 4

   Apply court and date filters

   Limit results to the relevant criminal court and judgment period when possible.

5. 5

   Read the actual decision

   Determine whether the decision concerns conviction, sentencing, an appeal, acquittal or another proceeding.

6. 6

   Check for later decisions

   A conviction or sentence may have been appealed or changed. Review subsequent decisions and case history before presenting a finding as final.

How to Get a Canadian Criminal Record Check From Outside Canada

Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other individuals living outside Canada may need a certified RCMP criminal record check for foreign work, immigration, visas, licensing or other purposes.

The RCMP provides a specific overseas fingerprint process.

Overseas RCMP Criminal Record Check Steps

1. 1

   Confirm the type of Canadian record requested

   Ask the receiving embassy, immigration authority, employer or professional licensing agency whether it requires a certified RCMP fingerprint check.

2. 2

   Have fingerprints taken abroad

   Use an authorised fingerprint-taking organisation in your country of residence, following the RCMP’s overseas instructions.

3. 3

   Check the fingerprint form requirements

   The RCMP requires fingerprints of all ten fingers on the accepted paper form, together with the name and address of the fingerprint-taking agency and the official’s identification and signature.

4. 4

   Contact an RCMP-accredited company in Canada

   Choose a Canadian accredited company that can convert the overseas paper fingerprint submission into the required electronic format.

5. 5

   Submit the fingerprint form to the Canadian company

   Follow its secure document-delivery and identity-verification instructions. Do not send fingerprints directly to the RCMP CCRTIS office.

6. 6

   Pay the applicable processing and provider fees

   The Canadian accredited company can explain the federal processing fee, collection charges, shipping and any additional costs.

7. 7

   Confirm the certificate delivery arrangements

   The RCMP’s certified results are mailed to the specified address. Confirm whether the destination authority requires the original, authentication or another document procedure.

RCMP — Official Procedures Inside and Outside Canada →

Canadian Criminal Record Checks for Employment and Volunteering

Employers may request a criminal record check as part of legitimate recruitment screening, but the check must be appropriate for the role and comply with applicable federal or provincial laws.

What Employers Should Confirm

• The precise screening level required.
• Why the information is relevant to the job.
• Whether the applicant’s consent is required and how it will be obtained.
• Which police service or authorised provider will conduct the check.
• Whether the applicant or organisation pays the fee.
• How the result will be securely handled and retained.
• Whether human rights, privacy or employment rules restrict the use of certain information.

Canada’s police screening framework is not identical to the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act system. Canadian employers must consider the relevant Canadian privacy, police record-check, human rights and employment laws.

Do All Employers Need a Vulnerable Sector Check?

No. The RCMP explains that the position must meet the statutory vulnerable sector criteria. Requiring that check for a position that does not qualify is not appropriate.

Can a Criminal Record Automatically Disqualify Someone From a Job?

Not in every situation. The consequences depend on the conviction, legal requirements of the job, applicable human rights protections, whether a record suspension exists and the employer’s lawful screening obligations.

For example, federal employment discrimination law includes protections concerning a conviction for which a pardon has been granted or a record suspension ordered, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.

How to Apply for a Criminal Record Suspension in Canada

A record suspension, previously called a pardon, can allow eligible individuals with Canadian criminal convictions to have those records kept separate from the active criminal record system.

The process is administered by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC).

A record suspension does not necessarily erase every court file, news article or local record and does not guarantee eligibility to enter another country.

Canadian Record Suspension Application Steps

1. Review the eligibility rules applicable to the conviction and date of the offence.
2. Confirm that all relevant sentences and requirements have been completed.
3. Obtain the required RCMP criminal-history documentation.
4. Gather court information and local police checks using the PBC’s official forms.
5. Complete the Record Suspension Application Form.
6. Include the required consent and supporting documents.
7. Pay the current C$50 PBC application processing fee.
8. Submit the application directly to the Parole Board following its official instructions.
9. Retain copies and respond to requests for additional information.

Do You Need a Lawyer or Pardon Company?

No. The Parole Board explicitly states that applicants can apply directly without using a lawyer or commercial pardon company.

Third-party companies may charge substantial additional fees and do not receive priority processing merely because they submit the application.

How Long Does a Record Suspension Take?

The Parole Board publishes the following targets after an application is accepted as eligible and complete:

These times do not include all the time necessary to collect records, obtain fingerprints, establish eligibility and prepare a complete application.

Parole Board general enquiries: 1-800-874-2652.

Why a Canadian Criminal Record Check or Court Search May Show No Result

An empty search result can have many explanations. It should not automatically be interpreted as proof that someone has never been charged or convicted.

How to Obtain Canadian Criminal Court Documents or a Certified Disposition

If you need the actual criminal judgment, conviction order, sentencing record or dismissal document, the original court registry is the appropriate starting point.

The process differs by province and by court.

Requesting Court Documents

1. 1

   Identify the original court

   Determine which provincial, territorial or federal court heard the case.

2. 2

   Find the file number

   Use available public registry information, court schedules or another official source to identify the case.

3. 3

   Contact the registry

   Ask whether the document is accessible to the public and what request form or method applies.

4. 4

   Specify the document

   Request the particular judgment, disposition, order or other permitted document rather than a vague complete background check.

5. 5

   Confirm restrictions and fees

   Some records are subject to publication bans, sealing orders, statutory privacy rules or court access conditions.

6. 6

   Request certification if necessary

   Confirm whether the receiving organisation requires an official certified court copy or accepts an ordinary copy.

Criminal Record Check Canada: 10 Frequently Asked Questions

Official Canadian Criminal Record Check Resources

Use these RCMP, provincial government, court and Parole Board resources for current application rules and public record access.

RCMP Criminal Record Checks

• RCMP — Criminal Record Checks Overview
• RCMP — Where to Get a Criminal Record Check
• RCMP — Processing Times, Federal Fees and Exemptions
• RCMP — Types of Certified Criminal Record Checks
• RCMP — Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements
• RCMP — Official Accredited Fingerprinting Companies
• Canadian Federal Regulation — C$25 Criminal Record Verification Fee

Ontario

• Ontario Government — Police Record Checks
• Ontario — Search Court Cases Online
• Ontario Court of Justice — Public Criminal Records

British Columbia

• BC Court Services Online — Public Criminal and Traffic Search
• BC Government — Court Records and Public Access
• BC Government — Criminal Records Review Program
• BC CRRP — Current Fees and Procedures

Other Provincial Court Resources

• Alberta — Court of King’s Bench Criminal Search Request
• Quebec — Consult Criminal Court Records and Plumitif
• Manitoba — Official Court Registry System
• Manitoba — Requesting Court Documents
• Saskatchewan Courts — Public Access Procedures
• Nova Scotia Courts — Official Court Dockets

Published Judgments and Record Suspensions

• CanLII — Free Canadian Court Judgments
• CanLII — Search Instructions
• Parole Board of Canada — Apply for a Record Suspension
• Parole Board — Official Forms and Processing Guidelines