IRCC Has Not Removed Police Certificate Requirements for Temporary Residents

Recently, there have been claims by several news outlets suggesting that Canada has eliminated the police certificate requirement for temporary residents. However, this information is incorrect. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not made any changes to its policy regarding police certificates for temporary residents.

IRCC's Official Stance on Police Certificates

According to IRCC's website, when applying as a visitor, student, or temporary worker, applicants may be asked to provide a police certificate. Specifically, IRCC states:

• "When you apply as a visitor, student or temporary worker, we may ask you for a certificate."
• "You might need a police certificate if you’re coming to Canada as a tourist, student, temporary worker, or live-in caregiver."

This clearly indicates that while police certificates are not always mandatory for temporary residents—unlike for permanent residence or citizenship applications—they can still be required.

What is a Police Certificate?

A police certificate is an official document that confirms whether or not an individual has a criminal record. If the person has a criminal record, the certificate provides details about it. These certificates are issued by regional police jurisdictions and may be known by various names, such as "good conduct certificates" or "judicial record extracts." If the document is in a language other than English or French, it must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Why Might Police Certificates Be Required?

Police certificates help Canadian officials ensure that a person is not inadmissible to enter Canada due to criminality. All individuals seeking entry to Canada as temporary residents should be prepared to provide a police certificate if requested.

In summary, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise, IRCC has not removed the police certificate requirement for temporary residents. It remains essential for applicants to be aware that they may need to provide this document as part of their application process.