Get your police check without visiting a police station. Same RCMP CPIC national database search — delivered by email in 15 minutes, 24/7. No appointment needed.
A police check is a search of the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database — the national database of criminal records maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It reveals criminal convictions, outstanding warrants, and active judicial orders associated with your name and date of birth.
Across Canada, this check goes by many names depending on the province and organization requesting it:
Regardless of the name, the underlying search is identical: a name-based query of the RCMP CPIC database. SafeHire's online police check is conducted by Bridgewater Police Service and delivers the same results as visiting your local police station — without the wait.
Four steps. Fifteen minutes. No police station visit needed.
Complete the secure form with your name, date of birth, and address. Takes 3–5 minutes from any device.
Securely verify your identity through our digital ID verification process. No in-person visit needed.
Pay $64.99 by credit or debit card. Your payment is SSL-encrypted and PCI compliant.
Get your police check results by email in as little as 15 minutes. Download the PDF and share it with your employer.
Results in 15 minutes · Accepted by employers across Canada
There are three ways to get a police check in Canada. Here is how they compare on speed, cost, and convenience.
| Feature | Online (SafeHire)Fastest option | Local Police Station | RCMP Certified (Fingerprint) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnaround Time | 15 minutes | 1–8 weeks | 4–12 weeks |
| Cost | $64.99 | $25–$85 | $25 + fingerprinting fee |
| Process | 100% online — no visit required | In-person visit, sometimes appointment required | Fingerprinting at accredited location, mailed to RCMP |
| Availability | 24/7, any device | Business hours only | By appointment |
| Accepted By | Most employers, landlords, organizations | All employers and organizations | Required for immigration, some federal positions |
Police checks are required in virtually every sector across Canada.
Most Canadian employers require a police check as part of the hiring process. This applies to full-time, part-time, and contract roles across all industries.
Coaches, mentors, church leaders, and non-profit volunteers need police checks. Positions with vulnerable populations may require the enhanced vulnerable sector check.
Landlords across Canada commonly request police checks as part of rental applications. An online check provides fast proof of a clean record.
Security guards, real estate agents, insurance brokers, healthcare professionals, and teachers all need police checks for provincial licensing.
"Police check" and "criminal record check" are functionally identical — the CPIC database search is the same. Only the vulnerable sector check is meaningfully different.
Skip the trip to your local police station. Get your police check online in 15 minutes from anywhere in Canada.
Skip the 2–3 week wait at Toronto Police Service
Online alternative to CPS Westwinds Campus
No appointment at VPD needed
Skip the Edmonton Police Service queue
Instant vs. 5–10 day wait at Ottawa Police
Online alternative to Winnipeg Police
Accepted by Montreal employers
Skip Peel Regional Police wait times
Available 24/7 for Hamilton residents
Skip the RCMP Surrey Detachment wait
Faster than Peel Regional Police
Online across all of Nova Scotia
Skip London Police Service wait
Online for Waterloo Region
Skip VicPD in-person visits
Skip Guelph Police Service wait
Results in 15 minutes
Online alternative to Kingston Police
Available in every Canadian city and town. Results in 15 minutes anywhere in Canada.
Province-specific requirements, terminology, and processing times.
Step-by-step guide covering all 4 methods available in Canada.
Full cost breakdown: online vs. police station vs. RCMP certified.
Detailed breakdown of what appears — and what does not.
How the RCMP CPIC database search works and who needs it.
The Alberta term for a police check — same search, different name.
When you need a VSC instead of a standard police check.
A police check is a search of the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database for criminal convictions, outstanding warrants, and judicial orders associated with your name and date of birth. It is the standard background check used for employment, volunteering, licensing, and rental applications across Canada. Different regions may call it a criminal record check, police record check, police clearance certificate, or police information check — all terms refer to the same CPIC database search.
Visit SafeHire.ca and complete the online application (3–5 minutes). You will verify your identity digitally, pay $64.99, and receive your police check results by email in as little as 15 minutes. The entire process is 100% online — no police station visit, no appointment, no fingerprinting required. SafeHire's check is conducted by Bridgewater Police Service and searches the same national RCMP CPIC database.
SafeHire's online police check costs $64.99 (standard) or $74.99 (rush processing). In-person checks at local police stations cost $25–$85 depending on the city. RCMP-certified fingerprint checks cost $25 (RCMP fee) plus the fingerprinting agency fee ($20–$80). The online option offers the best combination of speed and price.
An online police check through SafeHire takes as little as 15 minutes for applicants with clear records. Cases requiring manual review typically take 3–5 business days. In-person checks at local police stations take 1–8 weeks. RCMP-certified fingerprint checks take 4–12 weeks. Online is consistently the fastest option.
Yes. The majority of Canadian employers, staffing agencies, volunteer organizations, and professional licensing bodies accept online police checks from accredited providers like SafeHire. The check searches the same RCMP CPIC database as an in-person police station check. Some federally regulated positions or government security clearances may require a specific check type — your employer will specify if so.
A standard police check searches the RCMP CPIC database for criminal convictions, warrants, and judicial orders. A vulnerable sector check (VSC) performs the same search plus checks a registry of pardoned sexual offences. The VSC is required when you will work with children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities. The VSC must be done in person with fingerprinting — it cannot be done online. SafeHire provides standard police checks.
A police check reveals: criminal convictions (summary and indictable offences), outstanding charges currently before the courts, active warrants for arrest, and judicial orders such as probation or conditional sentence orders. It does not show: pardoned records, withdrawn or dismissed charges, absolute or conditional discharges (after the applicable waiting period), youth records, provincial offences, or traffic violations.
Yes. "Police check," "criminal record check," "police record check," and "police information check" are all names for the same thing: a search of the RCMP CPIC database. The terminology varies by province — Alberta uses "police information check," Ontario often says "police record check," and "criminal record check" is used nationally. SafeHire's online check is accepted under all these names.
No. In Canada, a police check can only be initiated by the individual named on the check, or by an authorized party with the individual's written, informed consent. You cannot run a background check on another person without their knowledge. Employers typically send applicants a link to complete their own application.
There is no official expiration date for a police check in Canada. However, most employers, landlords, and organizations accept checks completed within the past 3–6 months. Some have policies requiring checks dated within 90 days. SafeHire results are timestamped with the date of completion.
Join over 1 million Canadians who have trusted SafeHire for their police checks. Results in 15 minutes, 24/7.
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