You are legally required to obtain a Local Police Records Check from every police detachment in any municipality where you have lived for 3 months or more during the past 5 years. These mandatory background checks typically cost between $50 and $120 CAD each and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
When applying for a federal record suspension in Canada, proving that you have maintained a clean lifestyle is the cornerstone of your application. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) needs absolute assurance that you have not been involved in any recent criminal activity, domestic disturbances, or suspicious behaviour that might not show up on a standard national RCMP database search. To verify this, they rely heavily on local municipal police forces.
Gathering these Local Police Records Checks is often the most frustrating and time-consuming part of the entire pardon process. 📍 If you have moved around frequently for work or family reasons over the last five years, you will need to coordinate with multiple police stations across different cities or even different provinces. Understanding how to properly request these documents-and timing them perfectly so they do not expire-is crucial to avoiding a rejected application.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Whether you recently lived in Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Montreal, or a rural town patrolled by the RCMP, the requirement remains exactly the same under the federal Criminal Records Act. You must use the official Local Police Records Check form provided in the PBC application guide to complete this step.
Step 1: Mapping Out Your Past 5 Years of Addresses
Before contacting any police station, you must sit down and carefully list every single address where you have lived for the past five years. 📝 However, you only need to obtain a Local Police Records Check for municipalities where you resided for 3 months or more. If you lived in three different cities for at least three months each, you will need three separate police checks. Make sure your dates are completely accurate, as the PBC will cross-reference this information with your CRA tax filings and credit reports.
Step 2: Finding the Right Police Detachments
Next, identify which police service has jurisdiction over each of your previous addresses. If you lived in downtown Vancouver, you will contact the Vancouver Police Department. However, if you lived in a smaller suburb like Surrey or Burnaby, you will likely need to contact the local regional RCMP detachment. If you are unsure, a quick internet search or a brief phone call to the local non-emergency line will confirm the correct station.
Step 3: Submitting the Official Request
You must provide the police service with the official PBC Local Police Records Check form (Section C of the application). 🖨 Along with the blank form, you must present two pieces of valid government-issued ID and a copy of your current RCMP criminal record check. Most local stations require you to drop these documents off in person, though some progressive municipalities now offer secure online portals for background check requests.
Step 4: Assembling Your Final Package
Once the local police station completes their internal database search, they will stamp, sign, and return the form directly to you. You must include the original, physical copy of this completed form in your final application package to the Parole Board of Canada. Never send a photocopy unless explicitly instructed by a legal professional.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Local Police Records Checks are a mandatory step, but unfortunately, they are not free. 💵 Because local police forces are funded by municipal or provincial budgets, they each set their own administrative fees for conducting these searches:
- Local Police Fees: Ranging anywhere from $50 to $120 CAD per police service. (If you lived in 4 different cities, you must pay this fee 4 separate times).
- Parole Board of Canada Fee: A flat $50 CAD to process the overall application.
- RCMP Fingerprinting: Usually $25 to $100 CAD to obtain the baseline national record check required by the local stations.
- Law Firm Fees: Many applicants hire a lawyer (costing $500 to $1,500 CAD) simply to manage the headache of coordinating with multiple police detachments across Canada.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Timing is the most critical element of this step. ⌛ When you submit your request to a busy municipal police station, it can take them anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to process the paperwork and return it to you. The PBC mandates that all Local Police Records Checks are valid for 12 months from the date of issue when your final application is received in Ottawa. However, if you take too long to gather the rest of your documents and a police check expires past this 12-month window, you must pay for a brand new one.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Many applicants make simple administrative errors during this phase. Here is what you need to watch out for to ensure a smooth process.
| Common Mistake | The Correct Approach |
|---|---|
| Using a generic background check | You must strictly use the official PBC “Local Police Records Check Form”. Generic employment checks are not accepted. |
| Skipping short-term addresses of 3+ months | List every address from the past 5 years. You must get an LPRC for any municipality where you resided for 3 months or more. |
| Letting the document expire | Ensure your entire application is mailed to the PBC well before the 12-month expiry date of the police check. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I lived outside of Canada during the past 5 years?
If you lived in another country, you must still try to obtain a police certificate from the local authorities in that jurisdiction. If that is impossible, a Canadian law firm can help you draft a sworn legal affidavit explaining the situation to the Parole Board of Canada.
Will a speeding ticket show up on my local police check?
Standard provincial traffic infractions, like speeding or illegal parking, do not affect a pardon application. However, local police checks will reveal any serious interactions, such as domestic dispute calls or mental health apprehensions, which the PBC may question.
Can I speed up the police check processing time?
Generally, no. Local police detachments process administrative background checks on a first-come, first-served basis. You cannot pay an expedite fee to jump the queue, which is why starting early is so important.
Do I need a local police check if I only have a summary conviction?
Yes. Regardless of whether you are applying for a minor summary conviction or a major indictable offence, the requirement to provide local police checks for the past 5 years of your residency is strictly mandatory for all applicants.
What happens if the local police refuse to sign the form?
Local police cannot legally refuse to conduct the search if you provide the correct ID and fees. However, if they note an ongoing investigation or recent suspicious behaviour on the form, the PBC will likely delay or refuse your record suspension.
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