Requirements set by foreign governments and employers

Foreign Travel, Visas & Overseas Employment

Fingerprinting required by foreign governments, consulates, licensing bodies or overseas employers, including work-permit and border-crossing purposes.

Application types covered

Visa / Border Crossing / Foreign Travel / Work
International applications

The federal fee for this purpose

Foreign travel, overseas employment and border-crossing purposes are generally subject to the $25 RCMP federal fee in addition to the $60 service fee. Consular, authentication and legalization fees are separate and are not collected by Acuity.

The federal fee is set by the RCMP, not by Acuity, and is passed through at cost. GST does not apply to the service fee. We confirm the fee that applies to you against your request letter before your appointment.

See the full fee breakdown

What to bring

Two pieces of valid, original government-issued identification
At least one identification document containing a photograph
Your fingerprint request letter, instructions or file number
Name and address of the organization receiving the result

See the full checklist

Processing times

Processing times are set by the RCMP, not by Acuity. Where fingerprints do not match a criminal record, processing may take three business days or less. Applications requiring manual processing, or involving a possible match, may take approximately 120 business days. Mailing time is additional. Acuity Fingerprint Solutions does not control processing or delivery times.

Note — These processing times apply only to the RCMP criminal-record-check component. They do not include mailing time or processing by IRCC, the Parole Board of Canada, a foreign government, an employer, a licensing body or another requesting organization.

Official guidance

Requirements are set by the organization that asked for your fingerprints and can change without notice. Where their letter or instructions differ from anything on this page, follow their instructions, and bring the letter to your appointment so we can submit the transaction the way they need it.

These links open official government websites, which Acuity does not operate or control.

Acuity Fingerprint Solutions Inc. is an RCMP-accredited affiliate fingerprinting company. Electronic fingerprint transactions are securely submitted to CCRTIS through an RCMP-accredited Direct Connect agency.

Questions

Foreign Travel, Visas & Overseas Employment — frequently asked

The questions we are asked most often about this application type. Where your request letter says something different, follow the letter and bring it with you.

My destination country wants the certificate authenticated and legalized. Can you do that?

No. Authentication and legalization are a separate step after the RCMP issues the certificate, handled by Global Affairs Canada and the consulate concerned. Consular, authentication and legalization fees are set by those bodies and are not collected by Acuity.

I was given a paper fingerprint card or form — what do I do with it?

Bring it with you, unmarked. Do not fill it in, and do not attempt to take your own prints on it — a card with your own ink prints on it cannot be used. At your appointment we will look at what the form asks for and tell you what can be done with it, and whether an electronic submission is what the requesting body actually needs.

Does the $25 RCMP fee apply to travel and overseas work?

Yes. Foreign travel, overseas employment and border-crossing purposes are generally subject to the $25 RCMP federal fee in addition to the $60 service fee.

Do you issue police clearance certificates or CPIC checks?

No. We do not issue police clearance certificates, Police Information Checks, CPIC checks or FBI background-check results. We capture and submit fingerprints; the result is produced and released by the responsible authority.

Will my result be sent to me or to the organization?

That depends on your application type and the instructions from the requesting organization. Bring the recipient name and mailing address to your appointment so the submission is directed correctly.