How to Apply for an RCMP Criminal Record Check from India in 2026

If you reside in India and require an RCMP Criminal Record Check, you certainly will not be the only one. Every year, many people from major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad require this document for Canadian immigration applications, permanent residency, study permits, work permits, employment requirements, and international visa procedures. Applying from India involves specific submission requirements that can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with the process.

Keep reading this blog to understand the entire process from here in India, and how you can get it done smoothly!

Many people confuse the RCMP Criminal Record Check with the regular Indian Police Clearance Certificate. Both documents are completely different, and one cannot replace the other. Check the table below so you know exactly what you need.

So, if the requirement is coming from a Canadian authority or is linked to your time in Canada, you need the RCMP criminal record check. If it is for any other country and is based on your record in India, the Indian PCC is what you need.

Below are the most common cases we see among applicants in India:

• Ex-International Students who studied in Toronto, Vancouver, Brampton, or other Canadian cities and are now back in India, applying through the PGWP-to-PR pathway, Express Entry, or because a Canadian employer has asked for their background verification.
• Express Entry and PNP Applicants living in India who never worked/ studied in Canada but had a long visit/work permit stay for 6 months or more since turning 18, since IRCC requires a police certificate for every country where a person has lived that long.
• NRIs, Canadian PR Holders, or Canadian Citizens who came back to India for family, job loss, COVID-era return, and now need to renew their PR card, sponsor a family member, or re-enter Canada.
• IT and Tech Professionals based in India, who have received a Canadian work permit offer, and need this check as part of their onboarding.

• Fingerprint form C-216C.
• Two valid government issued IDs. At least one must have your photo, name, and date of birth. Common examples accepted in India include your Indian passport, driving license, Aadhaar card, voter ID, or PAN card.
• One recent passport size photograph. This is attached to your fingerprint form as part of your identity record.
• Proof of address. Some fingerprinting or coordination agencies ask for this separately. A recent utility bill, bank statement, or rental agreement is usually accepted.
• Consent and release form, which allows the RCMP accredited agency to submit your fingerprints and receive your criminal record check result on your behalf.
• Signed third party release form, if you want your final RCMP certificate sent directly to someone other than yourself, such as an employer or a visa office.

Also Check What Documents Do I Need for Fingerprinting?

Step 1: Choose an RCMP Accredited Agency

Individuals cannot send fingerprints directly to the RCMP. You must go through a private agency that is officially accredited to submit fingerprints to CCRTIS on your behalf. Check the agency's accreditation before proceeding.

Step 2: Request the Application Package

Once you contact an accredited agency, they will send you an application package. This usually includes the C-216C fingerprint form, a consent form, a third party release form if needed, and clear instructions.

Step 3: Get Your Fingerprints Taken in India

Visit a local police station or a private fingerprinting agency in your city, and get your fingerprints rolled in ink onto the official C-216C form. Carry your two valid IDs and photograph with you.

Step 4: Send Your Documents to the Agency

Mail or courier your completed fingerprint form, photocopies of your ID, photograph, and signed consent forms to the agency's office in Canada. Keep a copy of everything you send. The agency converts your paper fingerprint card into digital format and submits it electronically to CCRTIS.

Step 5: RCMP Processes Your Application

The RCMP checks your fingerprints against its records. If there is a clear match with no criminal history, this step is usually quick. If your name matches another record, a manual check is done, which takes longer.

Search for "RCMP criminal record check India" and you will find dozens of agencies, all claiming to be accredited. Most of these pages read the same and it becomes hard to tell who is genuine. This confusion is exactly what scammers count on.

The India to Canada immigration corridor sees a high number of applicants every year, which also makes it a target for fraud. You are being asked to send your fingerprints, passport copies, and other personal documents to a private company sitting in another country. It is completely fair to feel cautious before doing that, and you should never skip this step of checking who you are dealing with.

Below is a simple checklist you can use before sharing any document:

• Check RCMP's Official Accredited Company List - The RCMP maintains and updates this list every month on its own website. If an agency is genuinely accredited, it should be traceable to this list or confirmable directly with the RCMP. Check the list here!
• Confirm the Agency is Based in Canada - The RCMP does not accredit fingerprinting companies located outside Canada. Any agency claiming to be an accredited company operating from India itself should raise a flag.
• Look for a Verifiable Address and Phone Number in Canada - A real agency will list a proper Canadian office address and a working phone number, not just a contact form or a WhatsApp number.
• Ask For Their Accreditation Confirmation Directly - You can also write to the RCMP's own accreditation program email to confirm if a specific company is currently on their list. A genuine agency will not hesitate if you ask them how you can verify this yourself.
• Read Their Process For Handling Your Documents - A trustworthy agency will clearly explain how your fingerprint card and ID copies are stored, used, and eventually disposed of. Vague answers here are a warning sign.
• Be Careful With Upfront Full Payments Through Unusual Channels - Be cautious if an agency insists on a large upfront payment through personal bank transfers, unfamiliar payment links, or asks you to pay someone other than the registered company.
• Avoid Agencies That Guarantee Results or Speed - No agency, however experienced, controls RCMP processing time. Anyone promising a guaranteed number of days is either misinformed or not being honest with you.

Getting your fingerprints taken is the first physical step in this entire process. In India, you have a few different options for this:

Option 1: Nearest Police Station (Thana)

Your local police station can take your fingerprints in ink. Keep in mind that most police stations do not keep the C-216C form in stock. You will need to bring your own printed copy of the form with you, along with your valid ID. The officer will simply roll your fingerprints onto the form you provide.

Option 2: Government Fingerprinting Bureaus

Many states in India have their own fingerprinting wing under the police department, such as the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) or the Fingerprint Bureau in cities like Mumbai and Chennai.

These offices are more experienced with foreign fingerprint requirements. Just like at a police station, you will need to carry the fingerprint form yourself, since they will not have the RCMP's specific card ready for you.

Option 3: Private Fingerprinting Agencies

Several private agencies across India specialise in fingerprinting for overseas purposes, including RCMP, FBI, and other country specific checks. These agencies are used to handling ink and roll fingerprints correctly and usually already stock the C-216C form, so you do not have to source it separately. You can usually find them online by searching “RCMP fingerprinting near me” or related terms.

Option 4: Mobile or Doorstep Fingerprinting Services

If travelling to an office is difficult, some private providers offer mobile fingerprinting, where a trained technician visits your home or office to take your fingerprints. This is useful for people with tight work schedules, elderly applicants, or anyone who just wants the process done without stepping out.

Option 5: Fingerprinting Providers with RCMP-Accredited Connections in Canada

This is the option we recommend. These are fingerprinting providers in India that work directly with an RCMP-accredited agency in Canada. Since the same provider handles your fingerprinting and your submission to CCRTIS, there is no unnecessary handover of your documents between different parties.

Because every time your fingerprint card changes hands, from a police station to a courier, then to an unrelated agency, then to the RCMP, there is a higher chance of delays or lost paperwork. Working with a provider that has direct RCMP-accredited connections means your fingerprints and other important documents move through one coordinated system.

Metro Cities vs Smaller Towns in India

Where you live in India also affects which of these options are realistically available to you. Private and RCMP connected fingerprinting agencies are mostly concentrated in India's larger cities, since that is where the demand for Canadian or other international criminal record checks is highest.

You will usually find these specialised agencies in cities such as:

• Delhi NCR, including Noida and Gurugram
• Mumbai
• Bengaluru
• Chennai
• Pune
• Hyderabad
• Kolkata
• Chandigarh
• Ahmedabad

In smaller towns, semi-rural areas, or places that are not as well connected, these specialised agencies are harder to find. In those cases, the local police station or thana remains the most practical choice for getting your fingerprints taken in ink. It may take a little more effort on your part, since you will need to carry the fingerprint form yourself, but it still gets the job done reliably.

Once your fingerprints are taken, the rest of the process, including submission and coordination with an accredited agency, can still be done by post or courier, regardless of which city or town you are applying from.

Once you receive your RCMP Criminal Record Check, you might need to use it in India, or you might need it for a country other than Canada or India altogether. Where you plan to use this certificate decides what kind of authorization you need next.

Using it in India or other Hague Convention member countries

You will need to get it apostilled by Global Affairs Canada. This apostille is a single certificate that confirms your document is genuine and is accepted directly by the receiving authority in any member country, without any further steps.

Using it in non member countries

If the country where you plan to use this certificate is not part of the Hague Convention, an apostille alone will not be enough. You will need to go through a layered attestation process in addition to it.

For example, if you need to use your RCMP certificate in the UAE, you will first need an authentication certificate from Global Affairs Canada. After that, you will also need legalization or attestation from the UAE embassy, which can be done either through their embassy in Canada or through their embassy or consulate here in India, depending on what is more convenient for you at that point in the process.

Using it in a country where English or French is not spoken

Your RCMP certificate is issued only in English or French, since these are Canada's official languages. If the country you are submitting it to does not use these, the receiving authority there may ask for a certified translation of the certificate into their local language, along with the original apostilled or attested document.

There is no single fixed timeline for this process, since it depends on your fingerprint result, courier speed, and whether you need an apostille or attestation.

Read About How Long Does Fingerprinting Take

If your fingerprints come back clear with no match, the entire process can realistically be completed in about 3 to 5 weeks from India, once you factor in courier time on both sides.

If your name matches an existing record and a manual review is triggered, this single step alone can take up to 120 days. So, plan well ahead if your visa, job, or immigration deadline is fixed.

Local Fingerprinting Fee: Usually ₹500 to ₹2,000, depending on where you go.

RCMP Federal Processing Fee: This is a fixed fee of CAD 25, charged by the RCMP itself.

Accredited Agency Service Fee: Usually in the range of CAD 100 to 150, on top of the RCMP's own fee.

Courier Fee From India to Canada: You will need to pay around ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 for international courier or speed post charges.

Return Courier: Approx ₹2,000 to ₹3,500, same courier service, sometimes bundled into the agency fee.

Apostille Fee, if required: Global Affairs Canada does not charge a fee for issuing the apostille itself, but if you use a private service to manage this step for you, they will charge their own service fee, of around CAD 60 to 150.

How to Pay in CAD From India

Since the RCMP and the accredited agency are based in Canada, you will need a way to pay them in Canadian dollars from India. This is how you can do it:

• International Wire Transfer Through Your Bank: Most Indian banks, such as SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank, allow you to send an international wire transfer in CAD through the SWIFT network. You will need the agency's bank details, including their account number and SWIFT code.
• Online Forex Transfer Platforms: Services like Wise allow you to send CAD directly from India at a transparent exchange rate.
• Paying Directly by Credit or Debit Card: Many accredited agencies accept payment directly through their website using an international credit or debit card, which handles the currency conversion automatically at your card's exchange rate.
• Forex Cards: If you already hold a forex card loaded with CAD or USD, some agencies accept payment through this method as well.

Since this payment counts as money leaving India, it falls under the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, which allows resident individuals to send up to USD 250,000 per financial year abroad for permitted purposes.

For an amount as small as an RCMP or agency fee, this limit is rarely a concern, but your bank may still ask you to fill a basic LRS declaration form and mention the purpose of the transfer, since this is standard for any outward remittance from India. Keep your PAN card handy, since it is usually required for this step.

Getting an RCMP Criminal Record Check from India involves more moving parts than most applicants expect and Globeia India is built to manage every one of them.

Step 1: Simple Online Booking

Applicants complete Globeia India's secure SmartForm online and undergo Face ID verification. This step digitally confirms their identity before any fingerprint collection takes place. This step ensures every appointment is tied to a verified individual, adding a layer of security.

Step 2: Fingerprint Capture and Quality Check

A trained Globeia India associate  then visits your preferred location across India with the correct official fingerprint forms. Ink fingerprints are collected accurately. Reviewed there and then and if any unclear impressions found then fingerprints are retaken immediately before the forms leave your hands.

Step 3: Letter of Identity Certification Issued

Every fingerprinting appointment includes Globeia India's exclusive Letter of Identity Verification. This is a document with a unique encrypted QR code certifying that fingerprints were collected following Globeia India's rigorous identity verification protocols.

Step 4: Submission Coordination to RCMP

Once your fingerprints are collected, the original C-216C forms begin their journey to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, the RCMP-accredited Canadian office authorized for electronic submissions. Applicants can monitor key progress milestones through Globeia’s SmartPortal, providing clear visibility from doorstep collection to RCMP submission coordination.

Step 5: Document Authentication Services

For applicants who also need Canada apostille, authentication, or translation support, Globeia coordinates these through the appropriate government authorities in parallel so your complete documentation package moves forward without unnecessary delays.

Already Have Your Fingerprints?

If you have already had your fingerprints taken elsewhere, on the correct fingerprint card, you do not need to start over. Simply send your completed fingerprint card to our office in Toronto, Canada, and our team will digitize it and submit it to the RCMP on your behalf, the same way we would for an applicant fingerprinted through us.

Start your RCMP criminal record check application now!

Why Applicants Choose Globeia?

• Fingerprint collection appointments coordinated across multiple cities in India.
• Submission coordination through Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada.
• Assistance with required documentation and consent procedures.
• Coordination for apostille, authentication, and translation coordination requirements.
• 30,000 Clients served internationally with 4.9 google ratings.
• High accuracy and fingerprint card acceptance rate.

Most paperwork in India comes with an unspoken shortcut. A contact at the passport office, someone who "knows someone" at the RTO, a small push that gets a file moved faster. The RCMP Criminal Record Check does not work that way, and that is actually the most useful thing to understand about it before you start.

For applicants used to the Indian systems through relationships and follow ups, this can feel unfamiliar at first. But it also means the process is entirely in your control in a different way. Get your documents right, choose a genuine agency, and there is nothing standing between you and your certificate except time.