Canada updates police certificates requirement for Express Entry Applications 

Police certificates are now required from any country, or territory, where an applicant has resided for six consecutive months or longer within the last 10 years or since the age of 18.

This change is effective immediately and applies to permanent residence applications through the Express Entry system received on or after January 1, 2015.

The principal applicant, spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children 18 years or older (including non-accompanying dependents) must provide the required police certificates with their electronic application for permanent residence, or e-APR.

If you need one from a country where you lived in the past, it must have been issued after you last lived in that country. If it has an expiry date and is now expired, include it. IRCC will let you know if you need a new one.

If you have a criminal record, you may not be allowed to enter or stay in Canada. People who pose a risk to Canada’s security are also not allowed to come to Canada.

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

Police certificate(s):

• Must have been issued no more than six months before the submission of the e-APR;
• Must have been issued after the last time the applicant lived in that country;
• Are required upfront upon submission of the e-APR and are mandatory for each country (except Canada), where an individual has lived for six months or more in a row;

IRCC will also do background checks anywhere you and your family members have lived. These checks will show if you have had any arrests or convictions, or if you are a security risk to Canada.