Police Certificates
All persons (principal applicants and dependants (spouse and children, whether accompanying the applicant to Canada or not) applying for permanent
residence in Canada who are aged 18 years or older require a police certificate from each country they have lived in for six months or longer since 18years of
age (or since 16 years of age for Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Iran). In some cases, persons applying for temporary residence (workers, students, visitors)
may also be required to provide a police certificate. As well, persons who have lived in a country for less than six months may also be required to provide a
police certificate.
If a country is not listed here, make enquiries with that country’s nearest diplomatic mission.
Attach the original police certificates to the application. Some certificates may take a long time to obtain. Some may not be delivered directly to the applicant.
Be sure to read the document guidelines carefully concerning police certificates. If necessary check the local guidelines of the Canadian Visa Office with
jurisdiction for the country in question (www.cic.gc.ca). In some cases it may be better to submit the immigration application without the police certificate,
and inform the Visa Office that police certificates will follow (attach proof of the request for the police certificate(s). In some cases, it is up to Immigration
Canada to run the check directly with the concerned authorities.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the relevant authorities to obtain the necessary police certificates or clearances. Each country’s procedures are
different. Applicants may have to apply to more than one level of government or more than one agency -- municipal, provincial, state, federal and the police,
courts or similar governmental agencies for the police certificate.
The police or judicial authority responsible for issuing a police certificate or clearance may require a processing fee and additional documentation such as
photographs, fingerprints or details of the applicant’s addresses and periods of residence in that country. In some cases the photos or proof of identity will need
to be notarized. Some authorities require a letter from Canadian immigration authorities confirming that the applicant has applied to immigrate to Canada and
that Canada requires a police certificate showing details of any criminal record as part of the processing of the application. The letter, titled Request for Police
Certificates/Clearances, is provided for this purpose. This letter may be downloaded directly from www.info-immigration.ca/en/forms/doc-police-letter.pdf.
Applicants living in France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia or Libya who previously resided in Canada need not obtain fingerprints and police certificates from the
RCMP. There are some exceptions to this rule. In such cases, the Embassy will contact applicants individually with instructions.
Normally, Canada’s immigration authorities will not accept certificates that are more than three to 12 months old. The immigration process often takes more
than 12 months to complete. As a result, it is possible for Immigration Canada to request updated police certificates from all countries of residence since the
application was first submitted.
These guidelines are provided as a public service only. Procedures for obtaining police certificates vary from country to country, and may change without
notice. If any user identifies or encounters problems obtaining a police certificate and wants to provide comments to help improve this service, email
webmaster@info-immigration.ca.
Source: www.info-immigration.ca/en/forms/doc-police-certificates.htm
Country
Algeria
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Address
Local Police Station
Police Headquarters
The Valley, Anguilla
Tel: 809-497-2333
Criminal Records Office
American Road
Police Headquarters
St. Johns, Antigua
Tel: 268-462-0360
Argentina
Armenia
Local Militia Office
or
Embassy of Armenia, Consular Section
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Office of the Governor, Aruba
Belgium
Ministère de la Justice
Casier judiciaire central
Boulevard Waterloo, 115
1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Criminal Records Office
Police Headquarters
Belmopan, Belize
Edificio de la Policia Técnica Judicial
Calle Llandaeta
Plaza del Estudiante
La Paz, Bolivia
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Central Police Station
Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: 246-436-6600
Instructions
Obtain the Bulletin no 3 issued by the local police office.
Applicants must provide their full names (and aliases), places of residence, purpose for
requesting the certificate, and full passport details (number, date and place of issue).
Fingerprints and photographs are not required.
(1) Local applicants must apply in person with passport, birth certificate and 2 photos;
(2) Overseas applicants should write to Commissioner of Police and include: a set of
fingerprints taken by a recognized police authority, a copy of the birth certificate, a list of
places and dates of residence in Antigua and Barbuda and 2 passport photos.
Certificates issued by provincial police authorities will not be accepted.
Submit a photocopy of the Cédula de Identidad. If you do not have a passport, provide a
photocopy of the Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), Libreta Cívica or Libreta de
Enrolamiento. In addition to police certificates, residents of Argentina must include a copy
of the Argentine Waiver form (IMM 1419) for each member of your family aged 18 or
over. Download the form at www.info-immigration.ca/en/docs/imm1419B.pdf.
(1) Persons living in Armenia should apply to the local militia office. Police certificates are
issued by the Main Information Centre upon request from local militia offices.
(2) Persons living outside of Armenia should apply to the Consular Section of the nearest
Embassy of Armenia.
Apply for a police certificate to the office of the Governor.
Police certificates and fingerprinting services are available from the local police.
Applicants must provide their full names (including aliases), the last address in Barbados,
their date and place of birth. Locally, people should apply in person with a photo ID.
Overseas applicants must provide fingerprints taken by a recognized police authority.
Photographs are not required.
Fingerprints services for third country police certificates are available. No fee.<
Download and complete the Request for Police Certificates/Clearances form or the form
letter on the Canadian Embassy Paris website before applying.
Police certificate, issued by the Criminal Records Office, Police Headquarters, Belmopan
Three certificates are required.
1. Police Certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) issued by the Federal Police
2. Police Certificate issued by the State Authority.
British Virgin Islands
Police Headquarters
Road Town, Tortola
BVI
Tel: 809-494-3226
Bulgaria
Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
NCO I/C Civil Section
Identification Services
PO Box 8885
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 3M8 Canada
Canada
Clemency and Pardons Division
National Parole Board
410 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R1
Fax: 1-613-941-4981
www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Ministerio de Justicia
Antecedentes penales
Animas y Prado
Centro Habana, Ciudad de La Habana
Tel: 61-1292.
Criminal Investigations Department,
Police Headquarters
3. Justice Certificate (Certidão de Distribuição Civeis e Criminais) issued by the Federal
Ministry of Justice.
Local applicants must apply in person with their passport. Overseas applicants must
provide certified copies of the first five pages of their passports. Neither fingerprints nor
photographs are required. This certificate covers all criminal convictions.
Fingerprinting services for third country police certificates are available from local police.
Police certificates from Bulgaria are available for all Bulgarian citizens. Apply in person at
the Regional Court where you are registered. Bring your birth certificate and ID.
Have fingerprints taken and certified by a local police agency. Fingerprints taken by
private or commercial agencies are not acceptable. The only exception is in Canada, where
fingerprints may be taken by the International Fingerprinting Services Canada (IFS
Canada).
Send fingerprints, payment, a completed Request for Police Certificates/Clearances form
and a letter with the following information: family and given names (including maiden
name and, if applicable, the name in original script - Arabic, Chinese or other script), sex,
date and place of birth, nationality and all addresses (giving precise dates) during your stay
in Canada. You must mention in your letter that you are applying for immigration to
Canada.
If you have a conviction in Canada, you must seek a pardon from the National Parole
Board of Canada before you apply for immigration to Canada.
Application forms can be downloaded from the NPB website: www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca
Police certificates and fingerprinting services are available from the local police.
Residents of Chile should provide an original Certificado de Antecedentes para Fines
Especiales.
You must submit a notarized copy of your military card (Libreta Militar) if you are a
Colombian male applicant over 18 years of age. If you served in the military, please give
detailed information on rank, unit and location of service.
If you have lived in Colombia, you must provide a Certificado Judicial y de Policia issued
by the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad
Once we receive your application and accompanying documentation, we will send you and
your family members over 18 a letter to obtain a Court Certificate from the Registro
Judicial.
Apply for an Antecedentes Penales.
Local applicants apply in person with passport, and must provide aliases and places of
residence, photos (one for each certificate plus one for the CID file), and the fee.
Roseau, Dominica
Tel: 809-448-2222
Ecuador
El Salvador
France
Grenada
Casier judiciaire national
F-44079 Nantes Cedex 1
France
Criminal Records Office
Police Headquarters
St. Georges, Grenada
Tel: 809-440-2823
Guatemala
Guyana
Georgetown Clearance Office
Tel: 592-262-488
Haiti
Honduras
Italy
Procura della Republica
Casellario Giudiziale
Roma, Italy
Jamaica
Ministry of National Security
Mutual Life Building, North Tower
2 Oxford Road, Ground Floor
Kingston 5
Overseas applicants make their request with fingerprints, photos and fee.
If you have lived in Ecuador, you must provide a Certificado de Antecedentes Personales
issued by the Policia Nacional del Ecuador.
Court certificate, issued by the Dirección General de Centros Penales de Readaptación
Police certificate issued by the Policía Nacional Civil.
Send a letter with the following information: family and given name (including maiden
name if applicable), sex, date and place of birth, and current address. You must include a
photocopy of your Identity Card.
Local residents must complete an application in person at the criminal record office, while
overseas applicants write to the Commissioner of Police. Two (2) passport photos are
required, as well as a full set of fingerprints. Fingerprints are taken of local applicants
when the application is made, while overseas applicants may submit a set taken by a
recognized police authority.
Fingerprinting services for third country police certificates are available. No fee.
Court certificate, issued by the Corte Suprema de Justicia
Police certificate issued by the Dirección General de la Policía Nacional.
Applications for all locations except New Amsterdam are made through the Georgetown
Clearance Office. Applications from New Amsterdam are sent from New
Amsterdam to Georgetown for processing and returned there for pick-up. Three (3) photos
and right thumbprint, taken at the time of application, are required. All jurisdictions are
included in the record.
Police certificates issued by the Police National d’Haiti (PNH), or an Extrait du Tribunal
de Première instance de Port-au-Prince, or a Certificat de bonne vie et moeurs issued by a
Tribunal or mayor’s office in the capital or in one of the provinces
Court certificate, issued by the Juzgado de Letras o de Paz or the Juzgado de Paz from the
applicant’s place of residence. Note: Once the Immigration Canada office receives an
application and accompanying documentation, they will send the applicant and any family
members over 18 a letter to obtain a Constancia de Antecedentes Policiales from the
Direccion General de Investigacion Criminal in Tegucigalpa.
Citizens, residents and former residents of Italy must obtain two certificates:
• Certificato Penale Generale del Casellario Giudiziale
• Certificato Dei Carichi Pendenti rilasciati dalla della Procura della Republica presso il
Tribunale di resdenza per uso emigrazione
Provide written authorization to a relative or friend in Italy who can obtain the certificates
on your behalf. Both certificates are issued by the office of the State Attorney, Judicial
Records (Procura della Republica-Casellario Giudiziale) in Rome.
Residents of Jamaica
Application for police certificates must first be made to Ministry of National Security.
Bring your passport and two identical passport-sized photographs to the above office
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m, Monday to Friday. You will be issued a receipt and must
then go to the following address:
Jamaica
Japan
Assistant Commissioner of Police,
Criminal Investigation Branch
East Queen St.
PO Box 462
Kingston, Jamaica
The Criminal Records Office
Police Certificate Section
34 Duke Street
Kingston, Jamaica
Bring the receipt with you. Do not collect the certificate; once completed, it will be sent by
the Jamaican authorities directly to the Canadian visa office in Kingston.
Persons not resident in Jamaica
You or someone acting on your behalf may obtain police certificates from the Assistant
Commissioner of Police. Two identical passport-sized photographs are required, along
with the appropriate fee (certified manager’s cheque or bank draft). You are not to collect
the certificate; once completed, it will be sent by the Jamaican authorities directly to the
Canadian visa office in Kingston.
Obtain police clearances from your Prefectural Police Headquarters, Identification Section
covering your time of residence in Japan.
Residents of Tokyo should contact the Police Certificate Sub-section, 1st Foreign Affairs
Section, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
Download the Canadian Embassy Tokyo website letter (IMM 5433) to apply for these
certificates.
Kazakhstan
Korea
Make as many photocopies of this letter as needed for you and your family members,
write-in the appropriate names after “Dear”, and present them to the police authorities.
Persons living in Kazakhstan and persons living outside of Kazakhstan should apply to the
regional Centre of Legal Statistics and Information, Office of the Prosecutor General. The
request must be made in writing and be accompanied by a copy of your passport or other
identification document.
The visa office will request the police certificates. To allow the visa office to obtain a
police
clearance from the Korean National Police on behalf of clients for immigration to Canada,
we
require, for each applicant and each dependent accompanying or not, age 18 or over, the
following documents:
a) two IMM 1052 forms (Han Moon) with a passport size photograph taken within the last
3
months attached at the left bottom of each, see attachment; (you may photocopy the IMM
1052 if necessary);
b) an IMM 5432 form (Sinwon Hwakin Johoe) to which the same photograph as
mentioned
above in (a) is attached;
c) a Family Census Register (Hojok Deungbon) which is no more than 15 days old when
the
application is submitted.
Kyrgyzstan
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Main Information Centre
469 Frunze Street
Bishkek 720040
Kyrgyzstan
Luxembourg
Moldova
Montserrat
Criminal Investigation Department
Police Headquarters
Plymouth, Montserrat
Tel: 809-491-2555
Morocco
Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Peru
Peru
For Police certificate:
Av. Aramburú
San Isidro, Peru
Registro Nacional de Condenas
Av. Abancay block 5
Downtown, Lima
Consejo Supremo de Justicia Militar
Av. Arequipa 310
Lima, Peru
Portugal
Romania
Inspectoratul General al Politiei
Sos. Stefan cel Mare nr. 13-15
Bucharest, Romania
Phone: 40-21-210-2525
d) a Resident Register (Jumin Deunglok Deungbon) which is no more than 15 days old
when
the application is submitted.
(1) Persons living in Kyrgyzstan should apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs or to the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan at 59, Razzakova
Street, Bishkek. The phone number is: (996-312) 22-73-04.
(2) Persons living outside of Kyrgyzstan should apply to the Consular Section of the
nearest Embassy of Kyrgyzstan.
From the local police station. Download and complete the Request for Police
Certificates/Clearances form or the form letter on the Canadian Embassy Paris website
before applying.
Contact the Ministry of Interior or police to obtain the necessary police certificate or
clearance.
Local and overseas applicants must provide aliases, passport information (number, date
and place of issue), and four (4) passport photos. Fingerprints are not required.
Fingerprinting services for third country police certificates are available with a written
request from an official organization. No fee.
You must provide the Fiche anthropométrique, issued by the local police office
Applicants who have lived in the Netherlands Antilles must provide a Certificate
RegardingConduct from the office of the Governor.
Police certificates are not available directly to the applicant. Complete and sign the
Request for Police Certificates/Clearances letter. Send this letter along with the completed
application for permanent residence to the Canadian visa office.
Court certificate, issued by the Corte Suprema de Justicia (Juez del Distrito del Crimen)
and a police certificate issued by the Policía Nacional.
Court certificate (Policivo y Penal), issued by the Policía Técnica Judicial
Provide an original Certificado de Antecedentes para Fines Especiales.
For Peru three types of certificates are required: Police, Penal and Judicial certificates.
Penal certificate
Judicial certificate
In major cities, apply to the Centro de identifcaçao civil e criminal. In smaller centres,
apply to the Judicial Delegation or the local court.
Police certificates from Romania are available for all Romanian citizens. You must apply
in person at the police station where you are registered. Bring your ID, a fiscal stamp with
a value of 2000 lei and your application. Police certificates will be issued in 15 working
days for persons born in the city of residence and in 30 days for persons from other cities.
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Information Centre
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Head, Department of Interior Affairs
(GUVD) or
Department of Interior Affairs (UVD)
in the city/region of residence
or outside Russia
Russian Embassy, Consular Section
Unavailable
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Ministerio de Justicia
Registro central de penados y rebeldes
San Bernardo, 45
28071 Madrid
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis
Criminal Records Office
Police Headquarters
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Tel: 809-465-2641
St. Lucia
Police Headquarters
Castries, St. Lucia
Tel: 758-452-285
St. Vincent
Criminal Records Office
Police Headquarters
Kingstown, St. Vincent
Romanian citizens who live outside Romania and non-national applicants should contact
the nearest Romanian Embassy or Consulate or, in Romania
(1) Persons living in Russia should apply in person or via an authorized representative to
the Information Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Head Department of Interior
Affairs (GUVD) or to the Department of Interior Affairs (UVD) of the city/region of
residence. Certificates must be issued using the standard form indicated in the Ministry of
Interior Affairs instructions dated January 2002.
(2) Persons living outside of Russia should apply to the Consular Section of the nearest
Embassy of Russia in the country of residence. Use the letter in Russian on the following
link to request police certificates. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/E37075.pdf
Police certificates are not issued by Saudi Arabia. Indicate in a cover letter accompanying
the application that Saudi Arabia does not provide police certificates. Obtain written
confirmation from the Saudi embassy if necessary.
Apply for police certificates at the local police station. Completed forms and fingerprints
are then forwarded to National Police Criminal Records Headquarters in Pretoria, which
runs computer and fingerprint checks. A fee of 30 rand (CAD 15) in revenue stamps
applies. The letter from the National Police Criminal Records Headquarters should be
included with the application for permanent residence.
Send a background check form (Sinwon Hwakin Johoe) with one colour photo along with
the completed application to the Canadian Immigration office.
Once the file has passed the initial processing stage, the applicant will be contacted to
submit an Original Family Census Register (Hojok Deungbon), and an Original Resident
Register (Jumin Deunglok Deungbon). Once requested, both must be less than three
months old.
Foreigners who no longer reside in Spain must contact their own embassy in Madrid. The
embassy must make the application on their behalf.
You must provide a police certificate issued by the Inspector-General, Control Criminal
Registry.
Local applicants apply in person with a valid ID, any change of-name documents, while
overseas applicants apply with fingerprints, and a certified photo.
All must provide addresses in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Fingerprinting services for third country police certificates are available with a written
request from an official organization.
Local applicants apply in person with a valid photo ID and two (2) passport-sized photos.
All must provide addresses in St. Lucia. If you are applying from outside St. Lucia you
must request the form and complete it and return along with two (2) passport-sized photos
and fingerprints.
Local applicants apply in person with a valid photo ID and two (2) passport-sized photos.
Overseas applicants apply with fingerprints, and two (2) photos.
Surinam
Switzerland
Tel: 809-456-1810
Police Headquarters
Parimaribo, Surinam
Bureau central suisse de police
3003 Berne
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Local Police Station
Trinidad And Tobago
Police Administration Building
Edward and Sackville Streets
Port of Spain
Tel: 809-623-4173
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
UK - England And Wales
Apply to the police headquarters in Parimaribo (free of charge) or to the local district
commissioner’s office (five Surinamese guilders). For non-Surinamese, the same
procedure applies provided that they were registered with the Surinamese authorities.
Metropolitan Police
Subject Access Office
10 Broadway
London SW1H 0BG
England
Applicants who have their household registered in Taipei city or Kaohsiung city should
apply to the appropriate Municipal Police. Applicants registered elsewhere should apply to
their County Police. Applicants without a household register will need to present their
passport and Alien Resident Certificate tot he Taipei Municipal Police Headquarters,
Foreign Affairs Section, 96 Yen Ping South Road, Taipei
(1)Persons living in Tajikistan should apply to their local police station.
(2) Persons living outside of Tajikistan should apply to the Consular Section of the nearest
Embassy of Tajikistan.
Local applicants apply in person with a valid photo ID. If you apply from outside Trinidad
and Tobago you must request the police certificate in writing, stating your name, date of
birth, date and addresses of residence in Trinidad and Tobago and the reason you are
requesting a police certificate, along with a set of fingerprints.
You must provide the Bulletin no 3 issued by the local police office.
Police certificates and fingerprinting services are available from the local police.
Write a letter requesting your "Prosecution/Conviction History under Section 21 of the
Data Protection Act, 1984." Do not request a police certificate.
Local police in the UK have application forms (3019A) and details on how to apply and
pay the processing fee.
The Subject Access Office will provide you with a letter in response to your request for
information about your prosecution/conviction history. The letter you receive from the
Subject Access Office should be included with the application for permanent residence.
UK - Northern Ireland
UK – Scotland
Uruguay
Computer Services Unit
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Lisnasharragh, Montgomery Road
BT6 9LD, Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Data Protection Officer
Strathclyde Police
Police Headquarters
173 Pitt Street, G2 4JS
Glasgow, Scotland
Note: Former residents should apply to the regional police
Write a letter requesting your "Prosecution/Conviction History under Section 21 of the
Data Protection Act, 1984." Do not request a police certificate.
Write a letter requesting your "Prosecution/Conviction History under Section 21 of the
Data Protection Act, 1984." Do not request a police certificate.
Provide an original Certificado de Habilitación Policial issued by the Dirección Nacional
de Policía Técnica. You must also submit a photocopy of your Cédula de Identidad and of
USA
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
CJIS Division
Attention: SCU Mod D-2
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306
USA
USA
Local or State Police
Uzbekistan
Information Centre
Ministry of Internal Affairs
1, Radzhabi Street
Tashkent 700029, Uzbekistan
Tel: (998-71) 139-7397
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
your passport.
Send a full set of fingerprints, payment, and copy of the Immigration Canada request letter.
Fingerprints should be provided on the FBI fingerprint card or fingerprints may be
obtained from a local police department as long as you have proof of your identity, or from
a private organization engaged in the fingerprinting business. Do not contact any FBI
office for fingerprinting. You may request a blank fingerprint form by writing to the FBI at
the same address.
• Money order for US $18 made payable to the U.S. Treasury.
• Always specify that you require fingerprints for Canadian Immigration purposes (include
the Immigration Canada request letter).
Processing times may take between three and six weeks. The FBI will send you the results.
In some cases, the Immigration Officer may also request a police certificate from the local
or state police in each city or state where the applicant resided since age 18. Contact the
appropriate city, county or state police for details in obtaining such certificates.
(1) Persons living in Uzbekistan apply to the the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
(2) Persons outside of Uzbekistan apply to the Consular Section at the nearest Embassy of
Uzbekistan.
Residents of Venezuela do not need to provide police clearance as background checks will
be done with the authorities.