Police certificate (criminal record check)
Statutory definition
IRCC requires police certificates as part of its application process for permanent residence. Certificates are required from each country where the applicant has lived for 6 months or more since the age of 18. The requirement, processing time, and format of police certificates varies by country. Some countries issue certificates through embassies; others require in-person applications. Canadian police certificates (for applicants already in Canada) are obtained through RCMP or local police.
Explanation
Police certificates are critical timeline items in a permanent residence application. Some countries (e.g., Philippines, India, China) have processing times of 3–6+ months for police certificates. Applicants should initiate police certificate requests from all required countries as early as possible — often concurrently with the visa application process. Police certificates have validity periods (typically 6–12 months) and must remain valid at the time the PR application is finalised. An expired certificate requires renewal before the application can be completed.