Your Complete Guide For a Criminal Record Check In Manitoba

A criminal record check is a preparatory document required if you want to apply for employment, volunteer, immigration, adoption, or legal name changes in Manitoba. Understanding the nuances of criminal record checks is essential to get your criminal records checked in the correct order. 

The criminal record check is referred to by different names all over Canada. The essential details of the checks and the methods of applying for them are the same all over. Here is a list of criminal record checks in Manitoba that you can use:

Police Criminal Record Check (PCRC): This name-based check searches the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database for adult convictions without a record suspension.

Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC): This check is required for positions involving trust or authority over vulnerable individuals, such as children or the elderly. It includes additional screening for sexual offences. Only municipal police stations can do vulnerable sector checks.

Certified Criminal Record Check (fingerprint-based check): If a name-based check cannot conclusively confirm identity, fingerprints are required for a certified check. This is often necessary for immigration or specific employment sectors. 

There are various methods for applying for criminal record checks in Manitoba. They have been explained as follows:

Online Applications:  It is the easiest form of application that does not require you to travel to Winnipeg for your application. Criminal Record checks in Manitoba can be done online in two ways. 

• Winnipeg Applications: The Winnipeg Police Service offers online applications for PCRC and PVSC. Applicants must be Winnipeg residents and provide valid identification. Some police stations use third-party applications that work on older modules for these checks. If you want faster, discreet, technologically enhanced results, you must directly approach a third-party accredited company. 
• Third-party providers: Those not residents of Winnipeg can go to third-party service providers authorized to perform these checks for you. These service providers are discreet, fast, and provide bulk record check services at nominal rates.

In-person Applications: 

• For Winnipeg: If the EIV fails or you must undergo a fingerprint-based check, you can book an appointment online and bring two valid pieces of identification, one of which must be government-issued and have a photo. You must give your fingerprints and fill out the form and other details at the station.
• For Others: If you live outside Winnipeg, in Manitoba, you can contact your local RCMP centre for a criminal record check. PVSCs must be requested from the jurisdiction where you reside.

Suggestion: As mentioned earlier, most police stations split the cost of providing these checks with a third-party company that works holistically on an obsolete system. You can visit a third-party company that offers faster services with a technologically advanced system for a nominal fee. This also saves you the wait time you would incur otherwise if you applied for the in-person submission option. 

For a smooth and easy application, you must submit proof of identification to the police or third-party companies. Applicants must provide two pieces of valid, government-issued identification: 

• One piece with a photo, name, date of birth, signature, and expiry date (e.g., driver's license, passport).
• A second piece confirming identity (e.g., health card, birth certificate).

If applying by mail, photocopies must be signed and dated by a Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public, or a professional who witnessed the signature and saw the original identification.

• If you have no criminal history, it will indicate that nothing was discovered throughout the background check.
• If you have a criminal history but failed to declare your convictions, the report will show "incomplete" results.
• The convictions you reported will be visible on the report, and a "confirmed" result will be displayed if you have a criminal record. It will only display the information you entered, such as the conviction offense, sentencing date, and court location. Your conviction won't be disclosed in any other way. 
• You will receive an "incomplete" result if you make a mistake when disclosing your convictions. This includes making a mistake with the location, the conviction's date, the offense's name, or even revealing a sentence no longer on your record.
• The result of a criminal background check in Manitoba may have technical language that is hard to explain to ordinary people. If you cannot perceive the result correctly, you must go through our comprehensive guide to understand it better. Some terms could easily be misinterpreted if not understood properly. This guide gives you a clear next step that you need to follow to complete the criminal record check in Manitoba. 

1. What identification do I need for a criminal record check?

You must provide two valid government-issued IDs:

• One with your photo, name, date of birth, signature, and expiry date (e.g., passport or driver’s license).
• A second ID to confirm identity (e.g., health card or birth certificate)

2.What happens if my criminal record check result says "incomplete"?

• You did not correctly disclose your convictions.
• There was a mismatch in the offense name, date, or court location.
• You listed convictions that no longer exist in the CPIC database.

3.Can third-party agencies perform criminal record checks in Manitoba?

4.Do I need fingerprints for all criminal record checks?