When to get a police certificate

Different programs have different time requirements for the submission of police certificates.

Express Entry

If you are an Express Entry candidate, you have 60 days to submit your police certificates. Avoid delays by starting your police check as soon as you’re in the pool.
Get more details about police certificates for Express Entry.

International Experience Canada

If you’re an International Experience Canada candidate, in most cases you’ll need to provide a police certificate when you submit your work permit application.
Get more details about police certificates for International Experience Canada.

Citizenship

If you’re applying for citizenship, you need to submit a police certificate for the following citizenship applications:

• adult (18 and over)
• resuming your Canadian citizenship (after giving it up)

Any other programs

If you’re applying to any other immigration program, check the instruction guide for the program you are applying for.

If you need a request letter

Some countries will give you a police certificate only if you have a request letter from us. If this applies to you

upload a document in the police certificate field in the document checklist that says “I am applying from a country that requires an official request letter from IRCC to get a police certificate.”

We’ll then review your application. If it is otherwise complete, we’ll send you more information on how to get a police certificate.

How long your police certificate is valid

For the country where you currently reside

The police certificate for the country where you currently reside must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application. As processing times may vary, we may ask you for updated certificates.

For any other country

For any other country, the police certificate must be issued after the last time you resided there for 6 consecutive months or longer since the age of 18.

Some countries put expiry dates on their police certificates. If this is your situation, include the certificate. We’ll accept it if:

• it was issued after the last time you stayed there for 6 consecutive months or longer
• it is not for the country where you currently reside

IRCC may require updated documentation at any time during processing.

You don’t need to give us police certificates for any period of time before you were 18 years old or for time spent in Canada.

Submit scanned copies of the original certificates

Police certificates must be scanned copies of the original certificate(s) in colour. Certified true copies or unauthorized copies won’t be accepted and will result in your application being rejected.