A PCC also known as a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate is typically essential for the candidates that want to work, study or migrate to another country. It is mandatory to provide a clean criminal record certificate in many cases such as for visa, employment opportunity in another country, or if one has to shift to another country in view of one's job. Therefore, it is advisable for people applying through the PCC for the Canadian citizens and residents or people applying from another country to understand all the regulations involving this process.
In this guide, we will explain what is expected of applicants for a Canada PCC, the process of getting a Canada PCC, and advantages of going through a private accredited agency for the most convenient and worriless experience.
What is the Canada Police Clearance Certificate or PCC?
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a certificate, which has been issued by the police authorities; it states the applicant has no criminal record or contains information of the criminal record of the applicant. In Canada, a PCC may be required for various reasons, such as:
- It includes applications for immigration (as a permanent resident or citizens.).
- Occupations that involve the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon
- Adoption or the foster care procedures
- Tourist/ visitor’s passport, student visa
The PCC will confirm whether there is any criminal record of the applicant within Canada which the foreign authority needs for cases of sensitive purpose such as immigration or employment purposes.
Basic Procedures to Get Canada Police Clearance Certificate
While the process may vary slightly depending on where you are applying from, here are the general steps involved:
1. Learn about the Criminal Record Check Types
For a Canadian PCC, applicants typically have two options:
- Name-based criminal record check: It involves searching the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) through his/her name and date of birth. As you might expect, there are drawbacks to this particular strategy, namely, name matching produces false results where there are similar name strings.
- Fingerprint-based check: A more accurate one, this check involves providing fingerprints in order to ascertain the individuality. It is very much necessary for applications that need special attention and security. Such as immigration, adoption, or employment in high-security positions.
2. Seek a Fingerprinting Service
In case you are asked to make a fingerprint scan check, you will have to go to the digital fingerprint provider. To get digital fingerprints in Canada one has to visit an authorized service provider. If submitting the fingerprints from another country, then it is crucial to locate some agency that could provide the RCMP compliant fingerprints.
3. The following documents have to be submitted:
Along with fingerprints, you may need to provide various documents to support your PCC application, including:
- Passport/digital ID number/ alien ID number/ immigrant document number
- Background that specifies the PCC request (for immigration, employment or any other reason).
- Charges relating to the processing of the application
It may vary depending on the circumstances under which the PCC request is being made so it will be useful to double check which documents are required in each given case.
4. Receiving the Certificate
After application submission the request will be considered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or local police. The duration may take a few weeks, but in some cases, it may take as long as a few months especially if you are applying for a check from another country or from overseas.
Why People Prefer to Hire a Private Authorized Agency for PCC Services
It is not mandatory to apply for police clearance certificate Canada individually, but there are several reasons that are going to guarantee that working with a private authorized agency will be profitable. These agencies specialize in fingerprinting and submission procedures and provide considerable benefits to make sure that your application moves on without a hitch.
Accurate Digital and Manual Fingerprinting: Fingerprinting is one of the most sensitive stages in PCC, and a mistake results in either rejection or greatly delayed processing. An agency used by the RCMP that is private in nature has invested in the best equipment that captures the fingerprints using Canadian standards. This minimizes the chances of making mistakes hence when you submit your application it will be granted.
Expert Help with Papers: For immigration or International purposes, one must fill a PCC application form which takes a lot of documents. Lack of documentation or wrong ones quickly slows down the process. An authorized agency offers a roadmap; they get to inform you about the kinds of forms and papers required, which tremendously minimizes mistakes.
Faster Processing Times: Visas, jobs or immigration programs have time limitations and the last thing someone would expect is a holdup due to a PCC problem. A number of private agencies already have access to the RCMP and other authorities, so they can submit their fingerprints much faster than otherwise. For some, they can even follow the progress of your application and even give you a report which can be very helpful especially for international applicants.
Reduced Risk of Errors: It is usually a cumbersome process when you apply for a PCC since, if you are not tutored on the procedure or the expected Canadian authority standards, you might be overwhelmed. A private agency can help you avoid mistakes, from the right fingerprints to the right forms filled to your application. With them, you don’t waste time dealing with rejections or being asked for more documents.
Convenience: Regardless of whether Canadian applicants or from other countries, these agencies provide a professional means and end that involves all the procedures without the need for any interference from the applicants. This guarantees your work is done fast, efficiently to your expectations, and you are stress free throughout the entire process of application.
Need for the Canada Police Clearance Certificate
Immigration to another country: Most of the countries expect the applicants beyond a certain age to produce their PCC while applying for immigration. They usually accompany the client when moving to another country as a Canadian citizen or a resident.
Employment in sensitive sectors: Some occupations, especially security, child care and caregiving and anyone working with vulnerable persons, should be subjected to a Criminal Record Check to ensure the person employed was of clean conduct.
Visa and residency applications: Many overseas authorities demand the PCC for short term working or studying permits as well as for immigration permits.
Adoption or fostering: Prospective adoptive parents or foster parents must have no criminal record as the authorities have to ensure that the child will be safe in that home.
Conclusion
People, for various reasons such as employment, immigration, and others, need their Canada Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). What can be relatively easy for some might not be the same for those applying from overseas as it quickly becomes complex. That is where hiring a private authorized agency becomes beneficial. These agencies provide professional advice, make sure that the forms are filled in correctly and reduce the time you have to spend on it.
