What kind of background checks does IRCC do on family sponsorship applicants?

Federal immigration background checks for family class applicants have two main components: criminal background checks (primarily through police certificates) and security screening conducted by Canada Border Services Agency and federal security agencies.

The sponsored family member must provide police certificates from every country where they have lived for six months or more since the age of 18. Police certificates must be original or certified and recent — IRCC specifies how recent they must be, and certificates that are too old may need to be renewed during processing. Each country has its own process for obtaining police clearances, which can range from simple online requests to complex in-person applications requiring local legal assistance.

Security screening assesses whether the sponsored person may be inadmissible for security reasons, including membership in organizations that engage in terrorism, espionage, or violence. The sponsor is also checked, although sponsors are assessed under different criteria. Both checks must clear before the application can be approved. If a security concern is identified, the process can stall for an extended and unpredictable period. Speak with an immigration lawyer if your family member has lived in countries with complex or limited police certificate processes.