What police clearances do I need for an Express Entry application?

Express Entry applicants must provide police certificates from every country where they have lived for six months or more since turning 18, other than Canada. If you have lived in multiple countries, you will need a certificate from each one. This includes your home country if you have been abroad, and any country you lived in while on a work or study permit.

How to obtain a police clearance varies significantly by country. Some countries issue certificates through local police stations, others through national government portals, embassies, or third-party processing services. Processing times can range from a few days to several months depending on the country. Because this is often the most time-consuming document to obtain, it is strongly advisable to begin the process as soon as possible — ideally before you even receive your ITA.

Police certificates must typically be dated within a recent window — IRCC generally requires that they be no more than a certain number of months old at the time you submit your application (check the current IRCC requirement, as this can vary). If a certificate expires before your application is decided and IRCC requests an updated one, you will need to obtain a new one from the relevant country. Delays in obtaining clearances are a common cause of ITA expirations.