Short answer: one police certificate per country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer since you turned 18 — for you and for every family member 18 or older. Time in Canada and any period before you turned 18 are excluded. The certificate for the country where you currently live must be issued no more than 6 months before you submit the application.
When you do not need one
- Nothing from before you turned 18. Eight months in the United States at age 16 is not asked for.
- Nothing for time spent in Canada.
- Nothing for stays under 6 consecutive months. Several 4-month study terms in Spain do not trigger a request, though an officer may still ask later.
- Old stays still count if they were 6 months in a row. The online system will not ask a 45-year-old for a certificate covering 7 months in Turkey at age 25, but an officer may request certificates from any time since age 18.
- Sponsors are outside the requirement. In spousal and common-law sponsorship, police certificates are required from people 18 or older who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens — which excludes the sponsor.
Express Entry uses a 10-year window
The Express Entry online system asks for a certificate from every country you or a family member stayed in during the last 10 years for 6 months in a row or longer. Stays outside that window are not requested automatically — but after you apply, an officer may ask for additional certificates from any time since you were 18.
Which applications require one
| Application | Police certificate |
|---|---|
| Permanent residence | Required |
| Citizenship (adult 18+, resuming citizenship) | Required |
| International Experience Canada (IEC) | In most cases, submitted with the work permit application |
| Other programs (study permits, work permits) | Check the program's instruction guide and local visa office requirements. A prior criminal record may trigger a request |
Validity — only two rules
- Country where you currently live: issued no more than 6 months before you submit. If processing runs long, IRCC may ask for an updated certificate.
- Every other country: issued after the last time you stayed there 6 consecutive months or longer. Some countries print an expiry date; an expired certificate is still accepted if it was issued after that last stay and it is not for your current country of residence.
Format failures that get applications rejected
- Submit colour scans of the original certificate. Certified true copies and unauthorized copies are not accepted and will result in rejection.
- If the original is not in English or French, include the copy plus a certified translation.
- Some countries issue a certificate only with an IRCC request letter. Upload a document in the police certificate field stating: "I am applying from a country that requires an official request letter from IRCC to get a police certificate." If the rest of the application is complete, IRCC will send instructions.
When it will not arrive within 60 days (Express Entry)
After an invitation you have 60 days to submit. If a certificate is missing at the deadline, upload both:
- a letter of explanation, and
- proof of best effort — a confirmation receipt, payment receipt, delivery notice, tracking number, or a statement from the issuing agency explaining the delay or why it cannot be issued.
If the officer is not satisfied that you made your best effort, the application may be rejected as incomplete. Start the police check as soon as your profile enters the pool.
FAQ
Exactly 6 months — does that count? Yes. The rule is "6 months in a row or longer", so exactly 6 months is included.
Do accompanying children need one? Every family member 18 or older does; under 18 does not. For how sponsorship checklists differ, see spouse vs common-law.
Where do I get one for my country? Country-by-country issuing bodies and procedures are listed in IRCC's "How to get a police certificate" pages. Processing times vary widely by country.
Official sources
- IRCC — Police certificate: Who needs a police certificate (modified 2026-02-19)
- IRCC — Police certificate: When to get a police certificate (validity, request letters, format, modified 2026-02-19)
- IRCC — Express Entry: Police certificates (10-year and 6-month rules, 60-day deadline, modified 2026-06-22)
- IRCC — Guide 5289: Sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child
