Get Your Criminal Record Check in 3 Simple Steps

Step 1: Fill In Your Personal Information (3 Minutes)

Getting your criminal record check starts with a simple online form. You'll need to provide:

• Full legal name — exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID
• Date of birth
• Current address and previous addresses (if you've moved in the past 5 years)
• Purpose of the check — employment, volunteering, licensing, personal, or other

The entire form takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. There are no trick questions and no information that isn't standard for any background check application in Canada.

What you do NOT need to provide at this stage:

• A Social Insurance Number (SIN) — this is never required for a criminal record check
• Your employer's name
• Any information about your criminal history — this is what the check is determining

Step 2: Verify Your Identity and Pay Securely ($64.99)

After completing your application form, you'll complete a quick digital identity verification. This step confirms you are who you say you are — it's the same function as showing your ID at a police station, done digitally.

What you'll need for identity verification:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, passport, or provincial photo ID)
• A smartphone or webcam to capture your ID and take a selfie for comparison

The verification process uses secure identity verification technology and takes approximately 2–3 minutes. Your ID images are used for verification purposes only and are handled according to Canadian privacy law.

Payment:

After verification, pay securely by credit card or debit card. SafeHire uses SSL encryption and PCI-compliant payment processing. The cost is:

• Standard check: $64.99
• Rush check (priority processing): $74.99

Step 3: Receive Your Results by Email (15 Minutes)

Once your payment is processed, SafeHire searches the RCMP Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database — the same national database used by police stations across Canada. For applicants with clear records, results are delivered to your email inbox in as little as 15 minutes.

What you receive:

• An official PDF criminal record check document
• Clear timestamp showing the date and time of the search
• Indication of whether a criminal record was found
• The document is accepted by employers, volunteer organizations, and licensing bodies across Canada

If manual review is required:

A small number of checks require manual review — typically when an applicant's name partially matches an existing database record. If this applies to your check, you'll receive an email confirmation and results within 3–5 business days. This is a normal part of the process and does not mean you have a criminal record.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Gather the following before beginning your application to complete everything in one session:

Government-issued photo ID (one of the following):

• Canadian driver's licence
• Canadian passport
• Provincial photo ID card (health card, BCID, etc.)
• Permanent resident card

Payment method:

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Interac Debit

Access to email:

• Results are delivered to the email address you provide during registration

What You'll Receive

Your completed criminal record check from SafeHire includes:

Official CPIC Search Result: A search of the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre database — the national database of criminal convictions, outstanding warrants, and judicial orders.

Clear Documentation: Your results are presented in a professional PDF format clearly indicating whether a criminal record was found, along with the search date and your identifying information.

Accepted by Employers Across Canada: SafeHire's checks are accepted by employers in healthcare, education, construction, financial services, transportation, technology, and virtually every other Canadian industry. The results are also accepted by volunteer organizations and licensing bodies.

Secure Digital Delivery: Your results are sent to your email as a secure PDF. You can forward this directly to your employer or share it via a secure link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a criminal record check without going to the police station?

Yes. SafeHire's online process is entirely digital — no appointment, no travel, and no police station visit required. You complete the entire application from any device with an internet connection and receive results by email.

Is the online criminal record check the same as one from the police station?

Yes. Both search the RCMP CPIC national database — the same database. The result is functionally equivalent and accepted by the vast majority of Canadian employers. The only exception is immigration applications to IRCC, which require an RCMP-certified fingerprint check.

What if my employer requires a police-issued letter specifically?

The majority of Canadian employers accept online criminal record checks from accredited providers. If your employer specifically requires a letter issued by a local police service, you would need to apply in person at your local police station. Ask your employer or HR department to confirm what format they accept before applying.

How quickly can I share my results with my employer?

Immediately. Once you receive your results by email, you can forward the PDF directly to your employer, share the file, or provide a download link. There's no waiting period and the results are valid from the moment they're issued.

What is the criminal record check used for?

Criminal record checks are used for employment, volunteering, rental applications, professional licensing, adoption, and immigration (though immigration requires a different, fingerprint-based check from the RCMP). Most Canadians get a check when starting a new job or volunteer position.

Is my personal information secure?

SafeHire uses SSL encryption for all data transmission, PCI-compliant payment processing, and secure data storage practices compliant with Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA). Your personal information is used solely to process your criminal record check and is not shared with third parties.