As of July 8, 2026.
A police certificate is one of the documents most likely to delay a Canadian permanent residence application, because it comes from foreign governments on their own timelines, not IRCC's. This guide explains who needs one, from which countries, how to get it, and how to keep it from stalling your file.
TL;DR
You and every family member 18 or older need a police certificate from each country or territory where you stayed for 6 months or more in a row in the last 10 years. | For Express Entry, you upload police certificates with your electronic application (e-APR) after you receive an Invitation to Apply. | Each country issues them differently, so follow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)'s country-specific instructions for the exact authority and process. | A certificate must be recent and cover your full time in that country; missing or expired certificates are a common cause of delays and requests for more documents.
What is a police certificate and why does Canada require one?
A police certificate is an official document from a country's police or government that lists your criminal record there, or confirms you have none. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses it to check admissibility: whether your history makes you inadmissible to Canada on criminality or security grounds. It is a mandatory document for most permanent residence applications and can be requested for some work and study permit applications too.
Who needs a police certificate for Canadian immigration?
You need a police certificate if you are applying for permanent residence, and so does each of your family members who is 18 or older, whether or not they are coming to Canada with you. For Express Entry, the requirement is based on the countries you stayed in during the last 10 years, and an officer can separately ask for certificates covering any period back to when you turned 18.
| You need a certificate from a country if | Example |
|---|
| You stayed there 6 months or more in a row in the last 10 years | Studied abroad for a year |
| It is your current country of residence | Living and working there now |
| An officer requests one for an earlier period | Officer flags a gap back to age 18 |
Short trips and stays under six months in a row generally do not require a certificate for that country, and time you spent in Canada is not counted.
When do you submit police certificates in Express Entry?
For Express Entry, you submit police certificates by uploading them with your electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) after you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA). You have 60 days after the ITA to submit the complete application, so you should start requesting certificates from slow-issuing countries as early as possible, even before your ITA arrives. For non-Express-Entry programs, you usually include them with your application or send them when an officer asks.
How do you get a police certificate?
You get a police certificate from the designated authority in each country, and the process is different everywhere, from an online portal to an in-person visit or a mailed fingerprint card. Because the steps, fees, and issuing bodies vary, follow IRCC's country-specific instructions for each place you need one.
- Check IRCC's page for the exact issuing authority and method for that country
- Request it well ahead of your deadline, as some countries take weeks or months
- Get it in the required format, with a certified translation into English or French if needed
- For your current country, get the certificate as close as possible to when you apply
How long is a police certificate valid?
A police certificate must be recent and cover your full period in the country, and IRCC expects the certificate for your current country of residence to have been issued no more than six months before you submit your application. Certificates from countries you no longer live in only need to be issued after the last time you stayed there and cover that period, so an older one can still be acceptable if you left that country years ago. If your file takes a long time, an officer can ask for an updated certificate.
What if you cannot get a police certificate?
If a country will not issue a police certificate, issues them only in a form IRCC does not accept, or you genuinely cannot obtain one, you should include a written explanation and proof of your attempts with your application. Do not simply leave it out. An officer decides whether your explanation is acceptable, so keep copies of every request, receipt, and response that shows you tried through the proper channels.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police certificate from my home country if I no longer live there?
Yes, if you stayed there for six months or more in a row within the last 10 years. The certificate only has to cover the years you were there, so an older certificate can be fine.
Do my children need police certificates?
Only family members who are 18 or older need them. Children under 18 do not.
How early should I request police certificates?
As early as you can, ideally before your Invitation to Apply, because some countries take weeks or months and the Express Entry deadline is only 60 days.
Does a police certificate expire?
There is no fixed expiry, but IRCC expects a recent certificate for your current country and can request an updated one if your application is still in process.
Getting your police certificates in on time
Police certificates are simple in theory and slow in practice, so the applicants who avoid delays are the ones who map out every country they stayed in for six months in the last 10 years and start requesting early. As a licensed Canadian immigration firm, we help applicants figure out exactly which certificates they need and in what format so nothing bounces back. If you want help mapping your requirements, book a consultation with our team.
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
