Recent reports claiming that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has eliminated police certificate requirements for temporary residents are inaccurate, Maple News confirms.
Despite circulating headlines, IRCC has not changed its policy regarding police certificates for temporary visitors, students, temporary workers, or live-in caregivers. While not every applicant under these categories is automatically required to submit one, IRCC makes it clear that individuals may still be asked to provide a police certificate on a case-by-case basis.
According to official IRCC guidance, “When you apply as a visitor, student or temporary worker, we may ask you for a certificate.” Similarly, the agency states that a police certificate might be necessary if you’re entering Canada as a tourist, student, worker, or live-in caregiver. In contrast, the requirement is mandatory for those applying for permanent residency or citizenship.
A police certificate is an official document that proves whether or not a person has a criminal history. These certificates are issued by local police authorities in the applicant’s country of residence and may be labeled differently—such as “certificate of good conduct” or “judicial record.” If a certificate is issued in a language other than English or French, it must be accompanied by a certified translation.
IRCC uses police certificates as part of its screening process to ensure the safety and security of Canadians, especially in assessing potential risks posed by foreign nationals. The need for a certificate often depends on an applicant’s background, the duration of their stay, and the country or countries they’ve lived in for six months or longer in the past 10 years.
In short, applicants for temporary residence in Canada should not assume that this requirement has been dropped. Instead, anyone preparing a visa application should review IRCC’s latest documentation requirements and remain ready to obtain and submit a police certificate if asked.
Maple News encourages applicants to verify immigration procedural updates directly through trusted sources and prepare documentation well ahead of time to avoid delays.