A Police Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), is a compulsory document for all immigrant visa types. It serves as proof that you have not participated in any criminal activities and do not possess a criminal record.
The PCC is required for the main applicant and all family members aged 18 years and above for the past decade. It is necessary to obtain a PCC from every jurisdiction, state, territory, and country where you have resided for six consecutive months or more over the past ten years or since turning 18, whichever duration is shorter.
However, a Police Certificate is not required for the period of your stay in Canada.
Obtaining your police certificate can be done through your passport office, district police headquarters, or state police headquarters. If you have resided at various addresses within the same state, you can apply at the state police headquarters and list all addresses. If you have lived at the same address throughout your adult life and continue to reside there, it is advisable to apply through the Passport office. Online applications are also accepted.
For obtaining a PCC from a country where you no longer reside, it is recommended to reach out to that country’s embassy. A PCC from another country is required even if your stay was solely for travel purposes and exceeded six months in a single visit.
The PCC submitted at the time of application should not be older than six months. If you are submitting a PCC from another country where you have previously lived and it is older than six months, the issue date must be after your final departure from that country.
It is necessary to submit or scan the original police clearance certificate, as copies or attested copies are not accepted.
In rare instances where obtaining a Police Certificate is not possible or there is a delay, proof of your best efforts to acquire one can be submitted. This may include evidence of your application for a Police Certificate.