Get your police check for Vancouver 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 Vancouver. 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 British Columbia 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 Vancouver residents receive results within 15 minutes during business hours.
Many Vancouver employers require background checks for new hires, especially in healthcare, education, finance, and security sectors.
Schools, sports organizations, and non-profits in Vancouver often require criminal record checks for volunteers working with vulnerable populations.
Landlords in Vancouver may request a criminal record check as part of the rental application process.
Many professional licensing bodies in British Columbia 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 Vancouver. An online name-based check like ours does not meet that requirement.
Many Vancouver residents order checks for their own peace of mind or to maintain personal records.
Skip the visit to VPD headquarters on Graveley Street. Get the same RCMP CPIC database search online in 15 minutes.
| Comparison | SafeHire (Online) | Vancouver Police Dept. (In Person) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $64.99 | $89 employment ($114 if fingerprints needed); free for volunteers |
| Processing Time | 15 minutes | Not published by the VPD |
| Availability | 24/7, any device | Online, or in person by appointment |
| Appointment Required | No | Only for in-person applications |
| Physical Visit | No — fully online | Not for an online application; 2120 Cambie Street by appointment |
| Database | RCMP CPIC | RCMP CPIC + VPD local records |
| Result Format | Digital PDF by email | Official letter (mail or pickup) |
| Accepted by Employers | Yes — most BC employers | Yes |
Skip the trip to Graveley Street and the 2-4 week wait.
SafeHire delivers your Vancouver criminal record check in 15 minutes — accepted by most BC employers, at a lower cost than VPD.
Vancouver's diverse economy spans film, tech, healthcare, and logistics. Background checks are required across all major sectors in Metro Vancouver.
Vancouver is known as "Hollywood North" — Canada's largest film and TV production centre. Major studios and production companies require background checks for crew members with access to sets, props, and talent. The BC film industry employs over 70,000 people, and productions frequently require checks for positions involving proximity to minors or vulnerable persons.
Vancouver's tech sector includes Amazon, Microsoft, SAP, Hootsuite, Slack, and hundreds of startups concentrated in Gastown, Yaletown, and the Mount Pleasant tech corridor. Companies handling personal data, financial information, or intellectual property routinely require criminal record checks. BC's tech industry employs over 120,000 people across Metro Vancouver.
Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care, and BC Children's Hospital employ thousands of clinical and non-clinical staff across Vancouver. The BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) requires criminal record checks for nursing registration. Long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and community clinics also mandate screening under the Criminal Records Review Act.
The Vancouver School Board (VSB), BC's largest school district, requires criminal record checks for all employees and regular volunteers. UBC, SFU, and BCIT require checks for student placements in education, nursing, social work, and counselling. The BC Teacher Regulation Branch mandates checks for teacher certification under the Criminal Records Review Act.
Vancouver's real estate sector — one of Canada's most active — requires background checks for licensed realtors, property managers, and building maintenance staff. The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) oversees real estate licensing and may require criminal record checks as part of the licensing process. Strata management companies and rental agencies also screen employees who access residential units.
The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest port and a major employer. Transport Canada requires Transportation Security Clearances for workers accessing restricted port areas, which include criminal record checks. Trucking companies, freight forwarders, and logistics firms operating in the Lower Mainland require screening for drivers and warehouse personnel.
Vancouver's tourism industry — including hotels, cruise terminals, ski resorts (Whistler), and attractions — employs tens of thousands of seasonal and permanent workers. Major hotel chains and tourism operators conduct background checks for front-of-house staff, concierge, and positions involving guest safety. The 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations are increasing screening demand.
British Columbia's legal cannabis sector requires criminal record checks for all licence holders and employees. The BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch mandates security screening for anyone associated with a cannabis business. This includes retail staff, cultivators, processors, and management. Some cannabis-related convictions may be eligible for record suspension.
Hiring across Metro Vancouver? SafeHire offers volume ordering and employer portal solutions for BC businesses.
Order checks for multiple employees across Metro Vancouver at once. Each applicant receives a secure link — no need to collect personal information yourself.
Track all employee checks from one portal. Download results, get notifications, and maintain compliance audit trails for BC's regulated industries.
API integration for high-volume employers. Ideal for Vancouver's film studios, tech companies, and staffing agencies with continuous hiring needs.
Common questions about getting a background check in Metro Vancouver and British Columbia.
You can get a criminal record check in Vancouver online through SafeHire (results in 15 minutes, $64.99) or in person through the Vancouver Police Department at 3585 Graveley Street. The VPD also accepts applications through their online portal. SafeHire's online check searches the same RCMP CPIC database and is accepted by most BC employers.
Yes. The Vancouver Police Department calls it a Police Information Check and serves Vancouver residents, telling non-residents to contact their local police first. Applications can be made online, or in person by appointment at 2120 Cambie Street. The VPD does not publish a processing time. SafeHire provides the same CPIC database search in 15 minutes.
Most Vancouver employers require a criminal record check as part of the hiring process, particularly in healthcare, education, childcare, financial services, real estate, and the public sector. The BC government and many Metro Vancouver municipalities require checks for all employees. SafeHire's online check meets the standard CPIC screening requirement.
The BC Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) requires criminal record checks for anyone working with children or vulnerable adults in British Columbia. This includes teachers, childcare workers, foster parents, and healthcare workers. CRRA checks are administered through the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP), a separate process from standard employer background checks.
As of 1 January 2026 the Vancouver Police Department charges $89 for an employment check, or $114 where fingerprints are required, and volunteering is free with a letter from the organization. The VPD does not publish a processing time. SafeHire's online check costs $64.99 and delivers results in 15 minutes. Both search the same RCMP CPIC national database. RCMP detachments in surrounding municipalities (Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond) have varying fees.
For more information about criminal record checks across British Columbia, visit the BC provincial page. Checks are also available in nearby Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, and Victoria. See also: Police Check Canada | What Is a CPIC Check?
Vancouver residents get their check from the Vancouver Police Department, which calls it a Police Information Check and charges $89 for employment, or nothing at all for volunteers who bring a letter from the organization. The VPD does not publish a processing time. The VPD serves Vancouver residents only and says non-residents should contact their local police first. Adoption and record suspension applications cannot be made online and have to be done in person at 2120 Cambie Street.
| Comparison | SafeHire (online) | Vancouver Police Department |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $64.99 | Effective 1 January 2026: free for volunteering, with a letter from the volunteer organization; $89 for employment where no fingerprints are needed; $114 for employment where fingerprints are required, being the $89 fee plus a $25 RCMP fee; $114 for adoption; and $89 for each part of a record suspension application. |
| Turnaround | Most results in 15 minutes | Not published by the Vancouver Police Department. |
| How to apply | Online, 24/7, from any device | Online through the VPD's online police check service, paying by debit, Visa or MasterCard, except for adoption and record suspension applications, which must be made in person. In-person applications are by appointment at 2120 Cambie Street, where the public service counters are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. |
| Who can apply | Anyone living in Canada | Vancouver residents. The VPD says non-residents should contact their local police first. |
| ID | Government photo ID, verified with your phone camera | Two original, valid, government-issued pieces of identification, one of which must carry a current photo. Accepted identification includes a driver's licence, BC Services Card, passport, permanent resident card, birth certificate, citizenship card, Indian Status card, Nexus card and firearms licence. |
| Vulnerable sector check | Not available — see below | Fingerprints are required when the applicant's gender and date of birth match a pardoned sex offender record, or when the search is otherwise inconclusive, and that is what moves an employment check from $89 to $114. A letter from the organization is required, naming the applicant, giving the agency's full name, address and phone number, naming the requester and their title, confirming whether the position is unpaid, and stating whether the applicant works with children or vulnerable persons. |
| Result | PDF emailed to you | The VPD says results are released directly to the applicant, who can then decide whether to share them with the hiring organization. |
Vancouver Police Department details from Vancouver Police Department — Police Information Checks and Vancouver Police Department — online police check service and Government of British Columbia — Criminal 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 British Columbia 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 Vancouver Police Department. Here is what they require.
Fingerprints are required when the applicant's gender and date of birth match a pardoned sex offender record, or when the search is otherwise inconclusive, and that is what moves an employment check from $89 to $114. A letter from the organization is required, naming the applicant, giving the agency's full name, address and phone number, naming the requester and their title, confirming whether the position is unpaid, and stating whether the applicant works with children or vulnerable persons.
From Vancouver Police Department, 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 1 January 2026 the Vancouver Police Department charges $89 for an employment check where no fingerprints are needed, and $114 where fingerprints are required. Volunteering is free with a letter from the organization.
The Vancouver Police Department does not publish a processing time.
Only if your gender and date of birth match a pardoned sex offender record, or the search is otherwise inconclusive. That is the difference between the $89 and $114 employment fees.
No. The Vancouver Police Department serves Vancouver residents, and says non-residents should contact their local police first.
Most criminal record checks for Vancouver 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 Vancouver, British Columbia, 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.
Vancouver employers across various industries require background checks. Find requirements specific to your field.
Also serving all of British Columbia
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