How Canadians Can Get an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Europe

More than 200,000 Canadians are currently residing in Europe, and for them, obtaining an RCMP Criminal Record Check is usually a necessary step when applying for residency, citizenship, employment, professional licensing, or other official programs. While the requirement itself is common, many applicants are uncertain about how the process works once they are outside Canada.

Unlike domestic applications from within Canada, obtaining an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Europe involves overseas fingerprint collection, submission through an accredited Canadian channel, and, in many cases, additional requirements such as apostilles or translations depending on the receiving authority.

The good news is that Canadians do not need to return to Canada to complete the process. With the right preparation, an RCMP Criminal Record Check can be obtained while living abroad and used to support a wide range of applications across Europe.

Most Canadians in Europe are already familiar with the basic eligibility requirement, that if you have lived in Canada for six months or more after the age of 18, you may be asked to provide a Canadian criminal record check.

What is sometimes less clear is when and where this document is required. Depending on your circumstances, an RCMP Criminal Record Check may be needed for:

European Immigration, Visas, Work Permits, or Residency

The most common reason an RCMP criminal record check is required is when applying for long-term visa, a residence permit, or permanent status in a European country. Immigration and visa authorities require proof of a clean criminal record before approving your visa or residency application.

Some of the most popular European destinations chosen by Canadians, along with the visa categories that require criminal record checks, are listed below:

High-Security or Regulated Employment

If you’re taking up a job in an MNC in Europe or any country abroad, you might be required to submit a criminal record check from your home country. This is a very standard practice for background verification, and mandatory if you are working in highly regulated fields, such as finance or banking, working with vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, or patients, aviation, and defense, etc.

Dealing with Canadian Authorities from Abroad

Sometimes, it’s not a European entity asking for the check, but Canada itself while you happen to be in Europe. If you are managing a Canadian PR, express entry, or citizenship application while living in Europe, the IRCC - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will demand the submission of an RCMP criminal record check.

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Yes, Canadians living in Europe can obtain an RCMP Criminal Record Check without travelling back to Canada. The RCMP allows applicants outside Canada to submit fingerprint-based criminal record check requests, provided the fingerprints are collected and submitted through the appropriate process.

This is an important distinction because the RCMP does not accept direct fingerprint submissions from individuals living abroad. Instead, fingerprints collected in Europe must be routed through an accredited Canadian fingerprint company for electronic submission to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).

As a result, the process involves three separate stages:

1. Fingerprint collection in Europe.
2. Electronic submission to the RCMP through a private, accredited Canadian company.
3. Issuance of the Criminal Record Check by the RCMP.

The key is ensuring that fingerprints are collected correctly and submitted through the proper channel from the outset. Errors at this stage can result in processing delays, rejected submissions, or the need to repeat the fingerprinting process.

For this reason, many applicants choose to work with a service provider that can help coordinate fingerprint collection, submission requirements, and document delivery while they remain in Europe.

Where Can Canadians Living in Europe Get Their Fingerprints Taken?

One of the most common questions Canadians have when applying for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Europe is where to obtain fingerprints that can be used for RCMP processing.

Depending on the country where you live, fingerprints may be obtained through:

• Local police services (most of them don’t stock up on official fingerprint cards; you’ll have to source them yourself)
• Government agencies that provide fingerprinting services
• Authorized fingerprint collection centres
• Private fingerprinting providers

Availability varies across Europe, so applicants should verify local options before booking an appointment.

When attending your fingerprinting appointment, it is important to ensure that your fingerprints are recorded on an acceptable fingerprint form for RCMP processing. In many cases, this will be the official C-216C fingerprint form.

Because fingerprint quality and accuracy directly affect processing, applicants should ensure all personal information is recorded correctly and that fingerprints are captured clearly to help avoid delays or resubmissions.

Check How to Give Your Fingerprints for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Outside Canada

Can Canadian Embassies in European Countries Help with Fingerprinting?

No, Canadian Embassies, Consulates, and High Commissions in Europe do not provide fingerprinting services for RCMP criminal record checks or other international background checks to the public. Their role is to provide just consular assistance and processing biometrics required for Canadian visa, permit, citizenship, or immigration applications. They are not authorized to collect fingerprints for criminal record checks, certify fingerprint cards, or submit fingerprints to the RCMP on your behalf.

Follow these steps to obtain your Canadian Criminal Record Check while living in Europe:

Step 1: Have Your Fingerprints Taken

Book an appointment with a local police service, government agency, or fingerprinting provider that can collect fingerprints suitable for RCMP processing. Ensure your fingerprints are recorded on an official fingerprint form and that all personal information is entered accurately.

Step 2: Send Your Fingerprints to an Accredited Canadian Fingerprint Company

Once your fingerprints have been collected, the original fingerprint form must be sent to an RCMP-accredited Canadian fingerprint company. The company will convert the fingerprint record into the required electronic format and submit it to the RCMP on your behalf.

You can find the list of RCMP-accredited fingerprinting companies in Canada here!

Step 3: RCMP Processing

After the submission is received, the RCMP independently verifies your fingerprints against the National Repository of Criminal Records. This process can take anywhere from 3 to 120 days (plus some additional mailing time) based on the verification requirements, application volume, backlogs, and multiple other factors. 

Step 4: Receive Your Results

Once processing is complete, the RCMP Criminal Record Check is issued and delivered to the accredited company in Canada. The company then forwards the results to you using the delivery method you selected during the application process.

If there is one thing that catches Canadians completely off guard, it is the validity period attached to this document. You might assume that your RCMP criminal record check remains valid indefinitely, but several European immigration authorities see it very differently.

In many European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France, immigration authorities require an RCMP criminal record check that was issued within the last 3 months (90 days). The validity period could stretch up to 6 months (180 days) in some countries, depending on the specific visa or residency program. But it is generally safest to use the Canadian criminal record check that is less than 3 months old when submitting your application.

Receiving your RCMP Criminal Record Check is not always the final step. Depending on the requirements of the country or organization requesting the document, additional preparation may be needed before it can be submitted.

Apostille Requirements

Many European countries, who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, require foreign documents to be authenticated by an Apostille before they can be accepted. These include Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France, Austria, Malta, and more. Your RCMP criminal record check has to be apostilled for use in participating countries through Global Affairs Canada, which is the sole Canadian authority for affixing an apostille.

Translation Requirements

If the receiving authority does not accept documents in English, a certified or official translation may also be required. Translation requirements vary by country and application type. Check out the translation requirements of some common European countries below:

Verify Requirements Before Submission

Before submitting your RCMP criminal record check, it is important to confirm the latest requirements with the organization requesting the document. This can help ensure that any apostille, translation, or additional supporting documents are completed before submission.

There are multiple steps involved in obtaining an RCMP criminal record check, and even more when applying from abroad. You don’t need to manage everything alone. Globeia helps simplify the process by providing complete and reliable support for Canadians living in Europe. Just follow these simple steps:

Book Your Appointment Online

The process begins with Globeia's SmartForm, which allows applicants to submit their information digitally before fingerprinting takes place. This helps ensure all required details are reviewed and prepared correctly before moving to the next stage.

Face ID Verification

Before the fingerprinting appointment, applicants complete a Face ID verification through Globeia's SmartPortal. This additional verification step helps confirm identity and securely connect the application to the correct individual before documents are prepared.

Fingerprints Collected by a Trained Associate

A trained associate can meet you at your preferred location to collect fingerprints, making the process more convenient for applicants living and working abroad. Fingerprints are collected on the official C-216C fingerprint form or equivalent using black ink and completed according to RCMP submission requirements.

Electronic Submission Through an RCMP-Accredited Company

Once fingerprints have been collected and verified, the completed cards are couriered to the accredited Globeia Incorporated office in Toronto, Canada, from where they’re submitted electronically to the RCMP.

This is the required pathway for Canadians applying from abroad, as fingerprints cannot be submitted directly to the RCMP by international applicants.

Apostille and Translation Assistance

If the receiving authority requires an apostille or certified translation, Globeia can coordinate these additional steps after your RCMP Criminal Record Check has been issued.

Our team in Europe can help with obtaining Canada apostille through Global Affairs Canada and arranging certified translations in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and more than 50 other languages, helping ensure your document is ready for submission in your destination country.

Doorstep Delivery Across Europe

Once processing is complete, your RCMP criminal record check, complete with the apostille or translations (if required) can be delivered securely to your doorstep throughout Europe, helping streamline the process from fingerprint collection to final delivery.

Already Started the Process? Globeia Can Help at Any Stage

Not everyone applying for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from Europe is starting from scratch. Depending on where you are in the process, Globeia can step in at the stage that applies to you.

If you already have fingerprints taken by a local police service or another provider, Globeia can coordinate the next steps from that point forward.

Start Your RCMP Criminal Record Check Process with Globeia Here!

Whether you're applying for residency, citizenship, employment, or another official process abroad, obtaining an RCMP Criminal Record Check is often a necessary part of the journey. The key is starting early, following the correct fingerprint submission process, and understanding any additional requirements before your deadline arrives.

With the right preparation, Canadians living in Europe can complete the process efficiently and avoid unnecessary setbacks.