July 3, 2025 . 5 mins read

How to Obtain a Canadian Criminal Record Check from Australia?

For individuals who have resided in Canada for six months or more and have subsequently relocated to Australia, obtaining a Canadian police check is often required. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police issues a certified criminal record check. The process involves taking ink fingerprints from a local police station or a fingerprinting authority and then sending them to a third-party agency in Canada for digitization. They send it across to the RCMP for further processing. The RCMP police check in Australia is required for immigration, employment, or legal documentation. This guide will help you through the step-by-step process of doing a Canadian police check in Australia.

Understanding the Canadian Police Check

In Canada, there are three main types of criminal background checks, each serving a different purpose. It is beneficial to understand these checks, especially when confirming employment in Australia. In most cases, you may be required to get a fingerprint-based check, but you can understand and confirm the same with the authorities that have asked you to get the check done.

Basic Criminal Record Check: Using a candidate's name and birthdate, a basic criminal record check seeks out information about any charges or offenses in pertinent databases. The summary of crimes and any associated pardons is not covered in full by this check. Fingerprinting could be necessary to continue if this check is unable to verify the person's identification.

Enhanced Criminal Record Check: Improved Criminal History Verification

All of the information included in a basic criminal background check is also included in an enhanced check, such as a Police Information Check (PIC) or a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC). Other information includes summary convictions from the previous five years, judicial orders, probation orders, and outstanding warrants. It also includes additional serious accusations about firearms, theft, and patterns of behavior. This thorough investigation delves deeper into a person's past, making it a valuable option for employers evaluating the histories of their Australian employees.

Certified criminal record check: A certified criminal record check is an authorized document that helps Australian authorities and private organizations make an informed decision about a candidate's immigration and employment status after reviewing the details of their criminal activity in Canada. This is the most comprehensive level of verification that involves taking fingerprints and conducting identity verification to provide authentic candidate information.

When do you require an RCMP police check in Australia?

People who have lived in Canada for 6 months or more and then moved base to Australia will need to get an official RCMP police check for the following reasons:

Immigrating to another country, Australia, in this case.
Applying for jobs and workspaces in Australia for private and government organizations.
Going through legal processes like name changes or adoption while you are in Australia.
Enrolling in specific academic programs in Australia.
Volunteering and employment in organizations that work with vulnerable populations, including children and vulnerable adults.

Steps to Obtain the RCMP Criminal Record Check from Australia

Understanding the step-wise process to obtain a Canadian criminal record check in Australia will not only streamline your process but also help you with quick issues so that you can move closer to your goals.

Step 1: Obtain Ink Fingerprints in Australia

You will need to get an ink fingerprint on a stipulated document so that you can submit it to a third-party agency of your choice. You can get these fingerprints at the local police station or a designated fingerprinting authority that can verify your identity when required. You can search for a fingerprint based in Australia to help you with work. Ensure that your fingerprints are taken on the RCMP’s C-216C form. If the form is not available, the fingerprinting agency should provide a form that meets RCMP specifications.

Step 2: Choose an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency in Canada

The RCMP is the only designated authority that can conduct these checks for individuals in Canada and abroad. But the RCMP does not accept applications from candidates who are stationed outside Canada. These candidates need to get the form and digitized fingerprints submitted to the RCMP with the help of a third-party accredited company. You can take a look at the list of companies that the RCMP has officially chosen to do these checks for you. You can select the company that you deem fit to help you complete your application.

There are a few points that you must keep in mind while choosing your accredited agency so that you can make an informed choice. Read about the criteria list here.

Step 3: Submitting the documents with the RCMP-accredited company of your choice

The good third-party companies have an expert system that can significantly reduce your workload compared to what you would otherwise have to accomplish. The online portal and extensive network of these companies can help you complete the task with minimal effort. Once you have picked the company that you deem fit for the task, you will need to make an online account on their website and fill out a form. Once you have the fingerprints ready on the C216-C form, you will need to scan and submit it online along with the Valid government-issued IDs, such as a passport and driver’s license. One of these should be a photo ID that clearly shows your name and date of birth for official use. Make the subsequent payment for the processing fees that include the agency charges, RCMP application fee, and any other services that you may need. You can go through the list of documents required for an Australian working visa here.

Note: Some organizations in Australia may require some additional work after you have received the Canadian police check in Australia. This may include notarization, legalization, and apostilling the documents before submission. When you choose a third-party agency, you can ask them if they provide these services for you. A good agency can offer all the services in one go for a nominal charge, so that you do not have to coordinate with different agencies for each task.

Step 4: Processing and results for Canadian police checks in Australia

The processing time for your RCMP police check in Australia varies depending on the criminal convictions that you may have a record of in the RCMP database. Another factor that can delay the process is the presence of incorrect information or incomplete fingerprints in the results. In case the latter occurs, your chosen third-party agency will inform you to send in the fingerprints again.

The current processing time estimate for the RCMP is approximately 72 hours, including mailing time. The turnaround time could exceed 120 business days if a possible match to a criminal record is discovered during the verification process. The results will then be sent to the address you have supplied by the RCMP by regular mail, which is not trackable. You can ask your third-party agency to deliver the results to you by expedited courier if you would rather have the RCMP send them straight to Globeia. The RCMP usually takes two to three weeks to release the results. The RCMP may take one to four months plus mailing time to provide the results, though, if you have any prior charges or convictions.

Results for RCMP police check from Australia

The RCMP uses technical language when explaining the candidate's criminal history. It can be tricky for you to understand the result if you do not have full knowledge of the same. You can understand the meaning of your result and the subsequent steps that you may need to take with the help of this guide.

Common Mistakes to avoid when completing a Canadian police check from Australia

Without complete guidance from a good agency, you may end up making mistakes in your Canadian police check from Australia. Here are some common mistakes people often make when filling out the form, along with simple ways to avoid them.

Incomplete or Incorrect Fingerprint Forms: Many applicants either submit fingerprint cards with missing fields (such as birthdate or signature), or the prints are smudged or unclear. Forms that don’t meet RCMP standards will be rejected. Always use the RCMP C-216C form or a form that includes all the required fields. You should get your fingerprints taken by an expert who has previous experience and can guide you with the process.
Using a non-accredited agency: You should always check if the RCMP has accredited the agency that you plan to use. If that is not the case, there is no guarantee of acceptance of your form and security of your data with these agencies as they do not follow the RCMP norms.
Submitting incomplete or noneligible documents: While uploading the documents for the third-party agency, you must check the details and legibility of your name, date of birth, and fingerprints. Some applicants send expired IDs or submit only one piece of ID instead of the required two. Others send scanned documents that are unclear or cropped.
Entering the wrong mailing address: For those who need their documents mailed to a specific address that differs from their home address, providing the mailing address is crucial. Incorrect addresses lead to delays, lost certificates, or failed deliveries, especially when mailing internationally.
You can read more about the common mistakes to avoid when applying for an RCMP check from Australia here.

Conclusion

Whether you are applying for immigration, employment, or legal documentation, a Certified Criminal Record Check issued by the RCMP is a crucial step. From getting your fingerprints taken locally in Australia to submitting them through an RCMP-accredited agency in Canada, each stage plays a key role in ensuring your background verification is processed accurately and on time.

Choosing a reliable third-party provider not only ensures your fingerprints and documents are submitted correctly but also helps you avoid common mistakes that could delay your application.

Written by :

We are a background screening and document verification agency in Toronto. While we cover the Greater Toronto Area for in-person appointments, the bulk of our clientele uses our online services from different countries of the world. Globeia makes it simple and cost-effective for companies and individuals to navigate governmental red tape without breaking the bank.

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