FAQ
General Questions
Fingerprints based criminal record checks in Canada can only be searched by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Police Certificate or Police Clearance will be issued by RCMP directly. Local police stations do not issue such a certificate. As an RCMP accredited agency, our role is same as local police stations, we capture your fingerprints electronically and submit them to the RCMP directly, and RCMP will process your fingerprints application.
Therefore, whether your fingerprints are captured by us or Edmonton Police Service, you or your designated agency will receive exactly same Police Certificate/Clearance report from RCMP.
However, we do not provide Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check, and it can only be done at a local police station. Because a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check will also include a check of local police records to determine the existence of a pattern of behavior that may result in harm to vulnerable persons.
No, we do NOT provide Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check, and it can only be done at a local police station. Because a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check will also include a check of local police records to determine the existence of a pattern of behavior that may result in harm to vulnerable persons. A Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check is required when the applicant will be in a position of trust or authority of children under 18 years of age, the elderly or the disabled. A position of trust or authority must be more than the opportunity for casual contact.
Who is a vulnerable person?
A vulnerable person is defined as a person who, because of their age, disability, or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, are (a) in a position of dependence on others or (b) are otherwise at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by a person in a position or authority or trust relative to them.
The short answer is YES!
We provide both fingerprint based criminal record check and name based criminal record check (CPIC) upon your request. The fingerprints based criminal record check is Certified Criminal Record Check, and the results are issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
You must provide two pieces of valid government issued identification, at least one of which must be photo ID.
The following types of identification are acceptable:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Immigration Documents (Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Record, Landing Paper)
- Military Family ID
- Nexus Card
- Federal Government Employee ID
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Health Care Card (Not all provinces accept health cards as valid government issued ID. Please refer to provincial regulations.)
Please Note:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) can not be used as an ID.
- Expired or temporary identification can not be accepted.
In order to reduce waiting time, appointments are preferred. Walk-in service is available during weekdays, but we may not be able to complete your requests at any time due to staff availability or other commitments. Please note that we take appointments only on Saturdays. Priorities are given to scheduled appointments, therefore we have to make sure clients with appointments can be completed as scheduled before taking walk-in clients when there is a time conflict.
Please check our website for directions, business hours and any special instructions in order to complete your application.
It is recommended that applicants have with them any letter or file number provided by the requesting agency (if applicable). All digital fingerprinting requests for Canadian Citizenship must include a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This letter must include the address for third party results submissions and should have a file number from IRCC. Please ensure this letter is available during your fingerprinting session.
You can call our office, send us an email, or book an appointment on our website (Online Booking).
We recommend that you book your appointment online. Once the appointment is booked online, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details and instructions. You will also receive email and text message reminders. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, you can do it by yourself as indicated in the confirmation email.
For digital fingerprinting, you will be provided with a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted. It is important to keep this document until you or your designated third party receives the result from the RCMP. If this document is lost, there will be an administration fee to provide a copy of this document.
For ink and roll fingerprinting or livescan print-to-card clients, you will be provided with the original fingerprinting card after the fingerprinting is completed.
For fingerprints card scanning, we will email you a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted.
No, we cannot help you with Biometrics Collection. The purpose of our fingerprinting service is to obtain a police certificate.
If you received a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Biometrics Collection is required for your permanent residence or temporary residence application (non police clearance related), then you will have to follow the instructions on the letter and contact one of the official locations. If you are in Canada, you should contact one of designated Service Canada offices (SCOs). However, our office does not maintain a list of designated Service Canada offices (SCOs), you should look up this information on the internet or contact IRCC for more details.
Digital Fingerprinting
Digital fingerprinting is the electronic capture of a person’s fingerprints via an optical scanner at a capture station. The scanned fingerprints, along with the application details are then formatted into a standardized electronic package that is attached and emailed, via a secure link, direct to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Information System (CCRTIS). CCRTIS compares the fingerprint package against the RCMP’s criminal record database. If no record is present, the RCMP will issue a certificate indicating a clear record. If the applicant does have a criminal record this will be indicated in the results.
No, we do NOT provide Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check, and it can only be done at a local police station. Because a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check will also include a check of local police records to determine the existence of a pattern of behavior that may result in harm to vulnerable persons. A Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check is required when the applicant will be in a position of trust or authority of children under 18 years of age, the elderly or the disabled. A position of trust or authority must be more than the opportunity for casual contact.
Who is a vulnerable person?
A vulnerable person is defined as a person who, because of their age, disability, or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, are (a) in a position of dependence on others or (b) are otherwise at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by a person in a position or authority or trust relative to them.
If the applicant does not have a criminal record and has never been fingerprinted for a criminal offence in Canada, the RCMP will make every effort possible to process the request within 72 hours of receiving the electronic submission. The results are mailed to the address provided and extra time should be allowed for delivery by Canada Post. If there is a criminal record, or if your fingerprints need to be processed manually for any reason, the processing time could be increased to 120 days or more.
Electronic Fingerprint Application
No Criminal Record: 5 – 10 business days
WITH Criminal Record: 120 days or more
If you would like to obtain a Certified Criminal Record Check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), you should book an appointment for Digital/Electronic Fingerprinting. Also, please make sure to let us know that you are requesting the record for United States immigration (not for travel or other purposes) under the PRIVACY ACT. The record will be specifically requested to include the “RCMP National Repository entire holdings.”
Those seeking employment with certain corporations and agencies
Applicants for foreign travel, passports, work permits, visas and US waivers
Citizenship, permanent resident and immigration applicants
International adoption applicants
Security license applicants
Volunteers
You must provide two pieces of valid government issued identification, at least one of which must be photo ID.
The following types of identification are acceptable:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Immigration Documents (Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Record, Landing Paper)
- Military Family ID
- Nexus Card
- Federal Government Employee ID
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Health Care Card (Not all provinces accept health cards as valid government issued ID. Please refer to provincial regulations.)
Please Note:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) can not be used as an ID.
- Expired or temporary identification can not be accepted.
Our digital process is fast, efficient and clean. A complete fingerprint session normally takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Digital fingerprinting is available to most applicants for the majority of application types. However in some cases, e.g., submissions to the FBI, applicants may not use digital fingerprinting. For these situations we offer traditional ink and roll fingerprinting. Our fingerprinting professionals can advise you on whether you may opt for digital fingerprinting or if you must use traditional ink and roll fingerprinting.
Each applicant’s criminal record verification results can be sent directly to the individual or to a designated third party, such as an employer, immigration or record suspension (pardon) agency. If an applicant is under the age of 18 their results must be returned directly to the home address of the applicant. Please ensure that all of the address information for the applicant or third party is readily available during the application process.
For digital fingerprinting, you will be provided with a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted. It is important to keep this document until you or your designated third party receives the result from the RCMP. If this document is lost, there will be an administration fee to provide a copy of this document.
For ink and roll fingerprinting or livescan print-to-card clients, you will be provided with the original fingerprinting card after the fingerprinting is completed.
For fingerprints card scanning, we will email you a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted.
Once Edmonton Fingerprinting Services submits applicant’s fingerprints electronically and the fingerprints have been successfully received by the RCMP, the RCMP will not release any further information to Edmonton Fingerprinting Services.
No Criminal Record: 5 – 10 business days
WITH Criminal Record: 120 days or more
If the application has taken longer than the time indicated above, the applicant or authorized Third Party may inquire about the status of the electronic fingerprints submission by contacting the RCMP via email: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
The following information must be provided in the inquiring email:
- Applicant’s full name
- Applicant’s date of birth
- The type of application submitted (Criminal Record Check)
- The date the application was submitted to the RCMP
- A daytime contact phone number
- The Document Control Number (DCN)
Please note: Do not expect an immediate e-mail response from the RCMP
If the applicant is living outside of Canada or an area that digital fingerprinting is not available, Edmonton Fingerprinting Services is accredited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to digitize ink fingerprints and then submit to the RCMP electronically.
Email Edmonton Fingerprinting Services (Contact Us) to obtain a package of Fingerprints Card Scanning Application Forms and Instructions.
Yes, we can provide Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) which is a certified fingerprint-based criminal record search for non-criminal purposes conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ottawa, in which digital fingerprints are compared against the central repository of Canadian criminal records.
The result of the Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) will be sent directly from RCMP to RECA.
Your identification must match the name that you provided to RECA, otherwise RECA will NOT accept it.
No, we cannot help you with Biometrics Collection. The purpose of our fingerprinting service is to obtain a police certificate.
If you received a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Biometrics Collection is required for your permanent residence or temporary residence application (non police clearance related), then you will have to follow the instructions on the letter and contact one of the official locations. If you are in Canada, you should contact one of designated Service Canada offices (SCOs). However, our office does not maintain a list of designated Service Canada offices (SCOs), you should look up this information on the internet or contact IRCC for more details.
Criminal record checks are valid as of the date they were conducted. Results are provided with the date of completion rather than an expiration date. It is up to the requesting organization to determine their own thresholds for how long a check will be considered valid. If it has been too long since the completion of your check, the organization may request a renewal.
RCMP policy states that a Vulnerable Sector Check must be conducted by the local police agency of the jurisdiction where the applicant resides.
If you have initiated the Vulnerable Sector Check through your local police agency and are asked to provide fingerprints to complete the Vulnerable Sector Check, we can assist you with the fingerprinting process and request the results be sent to the requesting police agency from the RCMP. In this case, a request letter from the local police agency is required.
Please ensure that this is the right check for you. Note that a refund will not be provided once the check has been processed.
Ink and Roll Fingerprinting
You must provide two pieces of valid government issued identification, at least one of which must be photo ID.
The following types of identification are acceptable:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Immigration Documents (Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Record, Landing Paper)
- Military Family ID
- Nexus Card
- Federal Government Employee ID
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Health Care Card (Not all provinces accept health cards as valid government issued ID. Please refer to provincial regulations.)
Please Note:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) can not be used as an ID.
- Expired or temporary identification can not be accepted.
For digital fingerprinting, you will be provided with a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted. It is important to keep this document until you or your designated third party receives the result from the RCMP. If this document is lost, there will be an administration fee to provide a copy of this document.
For ink and roll fingerprinting or livescan print-to-card clients, you will be provided with the original fingerprinting card after the fingerprinting is completed.
For fingerprints card scanning, we will email you a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted.
Yes, we do. We provide both FBI fingerprints card and the FD 258 form printed on regular paper.
Yes, we will stamp on the fingerprinting card. We also have an Official Seal Embosser for those countries that require it.
While most applicants will be able to take advantage of digital fingerprinting sessions, traditional ink and roll fingerprints are required for foreign police checks (including an FBI check), some high level Canadian security screening purposes and for those individuals whose fingerprints are of too poor quality for electronic submission.
Yes! We can take your fingerprints, and provide the original fingerprints card to you to apply for a police clearance from a foreign country.
We provide Ink & Roll fingerprinting services for obtaining:
Criminal History record from the USA FBI Certificate of Good Conduct from the UAE. Police Clearance from Barbados Police Clearance from British Virgin Island Police Clearance from Dominica Police Certificate from Egypt Police Certificate from Ethiopia Police Clearance from Grenada Police Certificate from Haiti Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) from Hong Kong Police Certificate from Jamaica Police Certificate from Mexico Police Certificate from Nigeria Police Certificate from Qatar Certificate of Clearance from Singapore Police Certificate from Sr. Lucia Police Clearance from St. Vincent Police Certificate from Trinidad and Tobago All other countries requiring fingerprints.
Some countries require a photo on the fingerprinting form. If a photo is needed, you can take the photo in our office at the same time. Our office is equipped with most advanced photo system to ensure the quality and accuracy of the photo.
Our office provides RCMP C216 and FBI FD-258 fingerprint forms. For countries who accept RCMP C216 and FBI FD-258 forms, you do not need to bring a fingerprint form.
Some countries have their own specific forms, you should make sure to bring the required form with you.
LiveScan Print-to-Card
You must provide two pieces of valid government issued identification, at least one of which must be photo ID.
The following types of identification are acceptable:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Immigration Documents (Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Record, Landing Paper)
- Military Family ID
- Nexus Card
- Federal Government Employee ID
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Health Care Card (Not all provinces accept health cards as valid government issued ID. Please refer to provincial regulations.)
Please Note:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) can not be used as an ID.
- Expired or temporary identification can not be accepted.
For digital fingerprinting, you will be provided with a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted. It is important to keep this document until you or your designated third party receives the result from the RCMP. If this document is lost, there will be an administration fee to provide a copy of this document.
For ink and roll fingerprinting or livescan print-to-card clients, you will be provided with the original fingerprinting card after the fingerprinting is completed.
For fingerprints card scanning, we will email you a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted.
Alternative to traditional Ink & Roll fingerprinting, we can also take your fingerprints with the Live Scan device and print the fingerprints on a standard RCMP C216C form or FBI fingerprint card FD-258 with a printer certified by the RCMP. This process is also accepted by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
Yes, we will stamp on the fingerprinting card. We also have an Official Seal Embosser for those countries that require it.
Fingerprints Card Scanning
For digital fingerprinting, you will be provided with a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted. It is important to keep this document until you or your designated third party receives the result from the RCMP. If this document is lost, there will be an administration fee to provide a copy of this document.
For ink and roll fingerprinting or livescan print-to-card clients, you will be provided with the original fingerprinting card after the fingerprinting is completed.
For fingerprints card scanning, we will email you a confirmation document with Document Control Number (DCN) after your application is submitted.
Once Edmonton Fingerprinting Services submits applicant’s fingerprints electronically and the fingerprints have been successfully received by the RCMP, the RCMP will not release any further information to Edmonton Fingerprinting Services.
No Criminal Record: 5 – 10 business days
WITH Criminal Record: 120 days or more
If the application has taken longer than the time indicated above, the applicant or authorized Third Party may inquire about the status of the electronic fingerprints submission by contacting the RCMP via email: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
The following information must be provided in the inquiring email:
- Applicant’s full name
- Applicant’s date of birth
- The type of application submitted (Criminal Record Check)
- The date the application was submitted to the RCMP
- A daytime contact phone number
- The Document Control Number (DCN)
Please note: Do not expect an immediate e-mail response from the RCMP
If the applicant is living outside of Canada or an area that digital fingerprinting is not available, Edmonton Fingerprinting Services is accredited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to digitize ink fingerprints and then submit to the RCMP electronically.
Email Edmonton Fingerprinting Services (Contact Us) to obtain a package of Fingerprints Card Scanning Application Forms and Instructions.
- Email Edmonton Fingerprinting Services (Contact Us) to obtain a package of Fingerprints Card Scanning Application Forms and Instructions.
- Review Document Checklist and complete Application Forms.
- Get your fingerprints taken by a local police agency.
- Gather all document and submit an scanned copy to us for verification.
- We will review application and send you an invoice for payment.
- You can make the payment by Email Transfer, Credit Card, WeChat or Alipay.
- Once we confirm your application is complete, you can then send ALL original documents to our office.
- After receiving your application documents, we will digitize fingerprints and submit the application to the RCMP.
- The RCMP will process your Criminal Record Check application and issue a police certificate to you or your designated third party via Canada Post Regular Mail.
- OPTIONAL: You can complete the Third Party Consent form indicating that Edmonton Fingerprinting Services is to receive the result from RCMP, then we will forward the result to you by courier (shipping and handling fees apply).
We cannot process the scanned version of the fingerprints. Please mail the original fingerprints form and other required documents as a package to our office.
We will send an email to acknowledge the receipt of your package once we receive it. We recommend you ship your application package with tracking information available so that you could monitor your shipment directly. We may not reply to inquiries asking whether your package is received or not. Especially when you use a shipping method without tracking information, we are not able to check the status and not able to continuously provide any status either.
Fingerprints must be taken by an acceptable “Fingerprinting Agency / Department” as follows:
- Police Force;
- Government Department;
- Embassy / Consulate;
- Notary of the Public;
- Foreign Private Fingerprinting Company (PFC) with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an Accredited Canadian PFC; or Foreign PFC with an MOU with a local police force or government department.
Criminal record checks are valid as of the date they were conducted. Results are provided with the date of completion rather than an expiration date. It is up to the requesting organization to determine their own thresholds for how long a check will be considered valid. If it has been too long since the completion of your check, the organization may request a renewal.
RCMP policy states that a Vulnerable Sector Check must be conducted by the local police agency of the jurisdiction where the applicant resides.
If you have initiated the Vulnerable Sector Check through your local police agency and are asked to provide fingerprints to complete the Vulnerable Sector Check, we can assist you with the fingerprinting process and request the results be sent to the requesting police agency from the RCMP. In this case, a request letter from the local police agency is required.
Please ensure that this is the right check for you. Note that a refund will not be provided once the check has been processed.
CPIC Criminal Record Check
No, we do NOT provide Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check, and it can only be done at a local police station. Because a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check will also include a check of local police records to determine the existence of a pattern of behavior that may result in harm to vulnerable persons. A Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check is required when the applicant will be in a position of trust or authority of children under 18 years of age, the elderly or the disabled. A position of trust or authority must be more than the opportunity for casual contact.
Who is a vulnerable person?
A vulnerable person is defined as a person who, because of their age, disability, or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, are (a) in a position of dependence on others or (b) are otherwise at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by a person in a position or authority or trust relative to them.
You must provide two pieces of valid government issued identification, at least one of which must be photo ID.
The following types of identification are acceptable:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Immigration Documents (Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Record, Landing Paper)
- Military Family ID
- Nexus Card
- Federal Government Employee ID
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Health Care Card (Not all provinces accept health cards as valid government issued ID. Please refer to provincial regulations.)
Please Note:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) can not be used as an ID.
- Expired or temporary identification can not be accepted.
Criminal record checks, also referred to as police clearance, criminal background checks, criminal checks, police checks, police certificates or CPIC checks, are processed through the Canadian Police Information Center (CPIC) database.
Criminal record checks are provided through use of your name and date of birth or by submission your fingerprints. If a certified criminal record check is required or if the name and date of birth inquiry matches an individual in the CPIC system submission of fingerprints to the National database becomes mandatory.
If you have a criminal record, the name and date of birth based check through criminal name index of CPIC will come back as “Incomplete”. Submission of fingerprints to the RCMP will be required to complete the process. If you already know you have a criminal record, you should request a fingerprint based criminal record check (digital fingerprinting) instead.
Criminal record checks are valid as of the date they were conducted. Results are provided with the date of completion rather than an expiration date. It is up to the requesting organization to determine their own thresholds for how long a check will be considered valid. If it has been too long since the completion of your check, the organization may request a renewal.
The check ordered through this service consists of a name-based criminal record verification and does not include a Vulnerable Sector Search. RCMP policy states that a Vulnerable Sector Check must be conducted by the local police agency of the jurisdiction where the applicant resides.
Please ensure that this is the right check for you. Note that a refund will not be provided once the check has been processed.
If you have initiated the Vulnerable Sector Check through your local police agency and are asked to provide fingerprints to complete the Vulnerable Sector Check, we can assist you with the fingerprinting process and request the results be sent to the requesting police agency from the RCMP. In this case, a request letter from the local police agency is required.
Commissioner for Oaths
What we can do:
- Administer Oaths/Affidavits/Solemn Declarations
- Witness of Signatures
- Change of Name Application
- Common-Law Union Statutory Declaration
- Single Status Declaration
- Land Title Transfer
- Commission of Forms & Declarations
- Lost/Stolen/Damaged/Destroyed/Inaccessible Passport or Travel Document Statutory Declaration
- Consent Letter for Children Traveling Abroad
- Letter of Invitation
- Professional Accountants applications for membership
- Real Estate application for License and Registration
- Certify True Copy (for documents used for immigration or visa applications)
- Any other documents that need signatures from a Commissioner for Oaths
- A valid picture ID must be provided.
- If a witness is required, you must provide your own witness with their own picture ID.
- You need to complete the document yourself, and you will be responsible for the contents of the document.
- Do not sign the document and leave the signature field blank
Passport/Visa/ID Photos
It takes a minute to take the picture and a few minutes to have it ready. It usually takes less than 10 minutes in total!
We recommend you to wear a colored shirt, darker colors are best. White tops and light colored tops are not recommended. The passport office requires sufficient contrast between you and the white background. Head coverings except those worn for religious reasons are not allowed. Head coverings should also be dark-colored to provide sufficient contrast. No hats, ball caps or sunglasses in the hair. Please do not wear jewelry that is very reflective, this includes earrings and facial piercings. Please do not wear lipstick, you will be asked to take it off.
We do not recommend that you wear eyeglasses for your passport photos. The passport office will reject a photo for the slightest reflection or glare, even on the frame or rim of your eyeglasses.
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tanzania, Trinidad, UAE, UK, USA, Vietnam, and … as long as you have the size requirement, we can do it!
Yes, we do (service fee applies)! We are able to provide digital copy with our most advanced photo system. We do Professional Digital Photo for Online Canadian Study Permit, Work Permit, Temporary Resident Visa Renewal, USA Visa, China Visa and Passport, etc.
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