Are you moving to a foreign country and were told you need a legalized Criminal Record Check? This is common practice for many countries. Following are some facts to help you get started.
For a more in-depth explanation of the process, take a look at this helpful article: Canadian Criminal Record Check Apostille For Foreign Residency Applications
Where do you get a Criminal Record Check?
You can have the Criminal Record Check issued by the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, or from a local police detachment.
What is the difference between one issued locally or from the RCMP?
Any criminal record check that is issued at a local RCMP or local police detachment must be notarized before going through the apostille or legalization process.
A Certified Criminal Record Check that is issued by the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa does not usually require notarization.
What is a Criminal Record Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check?
“Vulnerable Sector” refers to a group of people who are at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by others in a position of authority or trust relative to them (e.g. children, disabled or elderly).
With this type of record check your name and date of birth will be searched in the National Repository of Criminal Records maintained by the RCMP. In addition, any outstanding charges and notable contact with police for at least the previous five years will be considered for release.
Can you get a criminal record check while out of the country?
In most cases, you can get a Criminal Record Check while out of the country. We recommend arranging with an accredited fingerprinting agency to have them mail the necessary supporting documentation to you for completion.
How can we help you with your criminal record check?
At International Documents Canada we have helped many clients with the apostille, or legalization of Criminal Record Checks issued at the local level, as well as the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa. We would welcome a chance to discuss your particular needs. Phone us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or fill out our quick contact form.
