Required Identification
In order to fulfill any request for fingerprinting, individuals must present
two (2) valid government issued identification documents, at least one of which must include a photo. Examples of acceptable identification include Passports, Driver’s Licenses, Provincial Photo ID cards, Citizenship Cards, Immigration documents, Indian Status Cards, Military Cards, Birth Certificates, Firearms Possession Licences, Boating Licences, and Fishing Licences. Foreign Government issued identification, such as Passports, Driver's Licenses and Birth Certificates are acceptable. SIN Cards cannot be used as identification for fingerprints, and Health Cards cannot be used in some Provinces, including Ontario, Manitoba and PEI. This 2 document rule is an RCMP requirement and cannot be waived by the fingerprinting staff under any circumstances.
Fees:
- Electronic Fingerprinting and Submission - $55.00 plus applicable taxes and RCMP fees (see RCMP processing fees page)
- Ink & Roll Fingerprinting - $50.00 plus applicable taxes per fingerprint card (additional fees may apply for unusual country-specific requirements, such as Notarizations or raised seals)
Electronic Fingerprinting and Submission:
Using a system accredited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), your fingerprints, photograph and some basic biographical information are captured and submitted electronically to the RCMP for processing. Each session takes approximately 10-30 minutes. Although actual processing time is dependent on the RCMP, the ability to capture and submit fingerprints electronically means that Red Seal Notary’s clients can usually expect to receive their results much faster than results from ink & roll jurisdictions.
Ink & Roll:
For most foreign police checks, and for some Canadian security screenings, a set of ink prints on a physical fingerprint card is required. In these situations, Red Seal Notary also offers Ink & Roll Fingerprinting services. For ink & roll prints, no photo is taken, and you will leave our location with your fingerprint card to submit on your own. If there is only one card, each session takes approximately 15 minutes. Please ensure to contact the authorities for each country you are applying to for their specific requirements. For example, the FBI's fingerprint instructions for the USA are
here.
The Process:
In essence, no matter how the fingerprints are submitted and to which country or state, the process is basically the same. The authority to whom your are submitting your fingerprint file or card (usually the police for the relevant jurisdiction), simply compares your fingerprints to their fingerprint records. In most cases, the fingerprints will not match the fingerprints of anyone with a criminal record, and the police will issue a certificate stating this. If you do have a 'match' in their system, then any details will appear on the certificate. Exactly what details will be disclosed on the certificate will vary by the laws of each jurisdiction. If you have some kind of record and want to know if it will appear, you should contact the Police or a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction. Or, if you prefer, you could submit your fingerprints and see exactly what appears when you receive the results.