Get your criminal record check for Ottawa online — no appointment, no trip to the station. Results in 15 minutes or less.
Average processing time
CPIC database search
No in-person visits
No need to visit a police station or wait in line. Complete your criminal record check from anywhere in Ottawa. Most checks are processed in 15 minutes or less during business hours.
Your personal information is protected with bank-level encryption. All data is stored in secure Canadian data centers and handled in full compliance with federal and provincial privacy laws.
Bridgewater Police Service searches the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database to provide accurate and comprehensive results. Same quality as in-person checks from local police services.
Our criminal record checks are accepted by employers, landlords, volunteer organizations, and licensing bodies across Ontario and all of Canada.
Click "Start Your Check Now" and fill out your personal information. Takes about 3 minutes. You'll need a valid government-issued ID.
Pay with your credit card through our secure payment system. Add rush service for $10 to skip the queue during busy periods.
Bridgewater Police Service searches the CPIC database on your behalf. Our system works 24/7 to deliver fast results.
Your criminal record check arrives in your email inbox. Most Ottawa residents receive results within 15 minutes during business hours.
Many Ottawa employers require background checks for new hires, especially in healthcare, education, finance, and security sectors.
Schools, sports organizations, and non-profits in Ottawa often require criminal record checks for volunteers working with vulnerable populations.
Landlords in Ottawa may request a criminal record check as part of the rental application process.
Many professional licensing bodies in Ontario require criminal record checks for certification and renewal.
Immigration applications usually need an RCMP-certified check based on fingerprints, taken by an accredited fingerprinting company in Ottawa. An online name-based check like ours does not meet that requirement.
Many Ottawa residents order checks for their own peace of mind or to maintain personal records.
Ottawa residents get police record checks from the Ottawa Police Service, which offers all three Ontario check types (Criminal Record Check, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, and Vulnerable Sector Check) for $74 for employment, with online applications generally processed in 7 to 10 business days. You apply online and must show proof of a current Ottawa address. Roles in a position of trust with children or vulnerable people may need the police's Vulnerable Sector Check, which only your local police service can do. The Ottawa Police Customer Service Desk is at 2670 Queensview Drive and is open by appointment only; the service contacts you if you need to come in.
| Comparison | SafeHire (online) | Ottawa Police Service |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $64.99 | $74 for an employment check at all three levels (Criminal Record Check, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, Vulnerable Sector Check), as of January 1, 2026; volunteer checks are $0 with a letter from the sponsoring organization or $74 without; fingerprinting, where required, is $56 for employment or other reasons and free for volunteers with a letter. |
| Turnaround | Most results in 15 minutes | Online applications are generally processed in 7 to 10 business days; checks needing information from another police service can take longer, as the service allows seven business days for the outside agency to respond. |
| How to apply | Online, 24/7, from any device | Online at olbc.ottawapolice.ca; the Customer Service Desk at 2670 Queensview Drive is open by appointment only, and Ottawa Police will contact you to book one if you need to attend for payment, identity verification or fingerprints. |
| Who can apply | Anyone living in Canada | Current Ottawa residents only, with proof of an Ottawa address; people living elsewhere must apply to their local police service, youth aged 12 to 17 can only apply for checks for government agencies, and people living outside Canada are referred to the RCMP. |
| ID | Government photo ID, verified with your phone camera | Online identity is confirmed through Electronic Identity Verification using Equifax (requires a bank account and credit history) or by submitting a selfie and photos of valid government ID; in person, bring two original pieces of ID with your name and date of birth, one with a photo and one showing your current Ottawa address (Ontario Health Cards are not accepted). |
| Vulnerable sector check | Not available — see below | Offered as the Level 3 Vulnerable Sector Check for Ottawa residents aged 18 and over seeking work or volunteering in a position of trust or authority over vulnerable persons in Canada, at $74 for employment; fingerprinting is only done if Ottawa Police notifies you it is needed to confirm identity. |
| Result | PDF emailed to you | Results are returned by email as a digitally signed PDF that must stay electronic to remain valid, or as a paper copy by mail or in person at 2670 Queensview Drive. |
Ottawa Police Service details from Ottawa Police Service — Police Record and Background Checks and Ottawa Police Service — Fees and Ottawa Police Service — Police Record Checks and Ottawa Police Service — Common Questions and Government of Ontario — Police record checks, checked September 2026. Fees and times change — confirm with the police service before you apply there.
Ask whoever requested the check which type they need before you order. The difference matters: an online check is a standard criminal record check, and some roles in Ontario require a vulnerable sector check that only the police can do.
SafeHire can’t issue a vulnerable sector check, and neither can any other online provider. It has to come from Ottawa Police Service. Here is what they require.
Offered as the Level 3 Vulnerable Sector Check for Ottawa residents aged 18 and over seeking work or volunteering in a position of trust or authority over vulnerable persons in Canada, at $74 for employment; fingerprinting is only done if Ottawa Police notifies you it is needed to confirm identity.
From Ottawa Police Service, checked September 2026. Confirm before you apply.
Not sure which one you need? Compare a vulnerable sector check with a standard criminal record check.
As of January 1, 2026, the Ottawa Police Service charges $74 for an employment check at any of its three levels, including the vulnerable sector check. Volunteer checks are $0 with a letter from the sponsoring organization. SafeHire's online criminal record check costs $64.99, with rush service $10 more.
Ottawa Police says online applications are generally processed in 7 to 10 business days. Checks that need information from another police service, for example if you lived outside Ottawa in the last five years, can take longer. Most SafeHire results come back in about 15 minutes.
No. Ottawa Police only does record checks for current Ottawa residents with proof of address, and says people living elsewhere must apply to their local police service. SafeHire is available online 24/7 to anyone living in Canada for a standard criminal record check.
If your job or volunteer role puts you in a position of trust or authority over children or vulnerable people, the organization may require a Vulnerable Sector Check, which must come from your local police service. Ontario child care centres, long-term care homes and school boards are required to collect vulnerable sector checks for many roles. SafeHire provides a standard RCMP CPIC criminal record check conducted by Bridgewater Police Service and is not a vulnerable sector check.
Most criminal record checks for Ottawa residents are completed within 15 minutes during business hours. Some checks may take up to 24 hours depending on database availability. Rush service is available for priority processing.
Standard criminal record checks are priced competitively. Rush service is available for an additional $10. We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees. See our pricing page for current rates.
No. Our standard criminal record checks cannot be used for vulnerable sector screening. Vulnerable sector checks require fingerprinting and must be done in person through local police services.
Yes. Our criminal record checks are conducted by Bridgewater Police Service using the CPIC database and are accepted by employers, landlords, and organizations across Ottawa, Ontario, and all of Canada.
The check shows any convictions without pardons as of the search date. It does not include juvenile records, pardoned convictions, absolute or conditional discharges, or outstanding charges that haven't resulted in conviction.
Ottawa employers across various industries require background checks. Find requirements specific to your field.
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