An RCMP police certificate (Canadian Police Information Centre) is not required for all PR pathways in Canada. When applying through Express Entry, the certificate is usually not needed immediately — it’s only requested if an officer asks for it after you receive an invitation to apply. Requirements differ for other pathways.
When RCMP Is Not Required
According to official sources from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), when submitting an application through Express Entry, an RCMP police certificate is not required at the time of submission — neither for the period before you turned 18 nor for time spent in Canada itself. The certificate is only requested if an officer asks for it after you receive an invitation to apply. Until that point, there’s no sense in spending time and money obtaining it.
Police Certificates from Other Countries
Police certificates from all other countries where you or family members (aged 18 and older) have lived for six months or longer in the past 10 years remain mandatory. These certificates must be dated after your departure from that country. This requirement applies regardless of the PR pathway.
Other PR Pathways
When applying through non-Express Entry pathways — such as spousal sponsorship from Canada or provincial programs — requirements for police certificates may differ. According to official IRCC information, these pathways also do not require an RCMP certificate for the period before age 18 or for time spent in Canada, but you should confirm this for your specific program.
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