Canadian Police Check for Australian Parnter Visa

I am in Sydney now and will apply for the defacto visa soon. I got a bit confused with the police check section in Form 47P. Do you need to get the fingerprinting servicefrom Ottawa even if you don't have a criminal record, or can you just obtain a police certificate from RCMP based on a name and date search? Will the Australian immigariton accept only a name and date search (provided you don't have a criminal record)?

Any help would be great, thanks!

I'm pretty sure you will need to get the fingerprinting done, regardless of your record being clean. You can email immigration services if you want a definitive answer but they take up to a week to respond. Better just to get on to it. I'm in Melbourne, so Sydney might be different but I had to book my appointment to get the fingerprinting done 3 weeks in advance, then I couriered off the fingerprints to the RCMP. The processing time there is anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months, unfortunately However, you can submit the rest of your application, so that Australian immigration here starts processing that, and then submit your criminal clearance when you receive it.

I agree with CharR you should just go ahead and do it. I'm fairly certain you need the fingerprints as well. I'm in Brisbane and to get it done I walked into my local police station and asked them to do it. It took 5 minutes and the officer there said they do it all the time- no appointment needed.

Getting it back from the RCMP took FOREVER. I think I waited up to 4 months before I got it back. Also there is no point in phoning them because you get nowhere and when you final get to speak to someone they tell you you just have to wait.

Good luck with the Defacto Visa

From the immi gov site:

CANADA
Relevant document – Police Certificate for Visa
Purposes (for residents with no prior record), OR
Certified Criminal Record Verification (for residents
with prior record or non-residents with or without
prior record)
Apply Residents with no prior record in person to
local police or provincial police station.
Residents with prior record and Non-Residents
By mail to:
RCMP
Civil Fingerprinting Services
PO Box 8885
Ottawa, ON K1G 3M8
By courier to:
RCMP
National Police Services Building
Loading Dock #1
Information and Identification Services
Civil Fingerprinting Services
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2
Website: (www)rcmp-grc.gc . ca
Provide : In Canada, you must have your fingerprints
taken on form C-216C at your local police station or
private accredited fingerprinting agency. Depending on
the police jurisdiction, a fee may be required.

Outside Canada, contact the nearest police force which
offers fingerprint forms from foreign countries that
contain the following:
-rolled and flat impression of all ten fingers taken with
black ink
-full name, date of birth and sex of the applicant
-the name and address of the police agency
-the signature of the official taking the fingerprints

Hi Peaches,

Could you please tell me how a resident and a non-resident are defined? (for example, are they residents or non-residents of Canada or Australia?) I am a Canadian Citizen with no prior record, so do I have to get a certified criminal record certificate for aussie visas? Or just a Police certificate?

Thanks a lot
C.

You have to get a certified criminal record check regardless of your past prior record, or lack thereof. It can take anywhere between 2 weeks to 4-5 months. I sent mine off in July and still have not received it. (I also have no criminal record).

The "resident" thing only applies if you were still in Canada, you would be a resident with no prior record and you could just go into any police station and get it done, it would only take a week. As you are already out of Canada, it's not applicable to you and you will have to send them by mail.

Hi Peaches,

Could you please tell me how a resident and a non-resident are defined? (for example, are they residents or non-residents of Canada or Australia?) I am a Canadian Citizen with no prior record, so do I have to get a certified criminal record certificate for aussie visas? Or just a Police certificate?

Thanks a lot
C.

Hi,

Sorry for the delay, Chaturi. You did address me by name, so I thought I would respond out of courtesy.

I presume you are still in Canada? This is your first post thus I'll presume you are posting this from there.

If I am correct AND you don't have a rap sheet, then go to your local Canadian police department municipal or RCMP detachment (depending if you are serviced at a local or federal level) and they can cross-reference with CPIC (RCMP national database); the results will be sent to your address in Canada. There is usually a nominal fee for this. I was charged 26.75$ cad. You will be issued a certificate.

If you are indeed writing this from Australia, then go to the nearest state-based police station whether it be metropolitan or country and have your prints taken there. Best to send it to Canada via registered mail when you get the results to the Vanier Parkway address.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

Hi guys,

I rang the immigration dept and they said that you can still be a resident of Canada if you are outside Canada. My Canadian partner is on a working holiday visa in Australia so that would still make him a resident of Canada. So all he has to do is obtain a police certificate (with no fingerprints) from Canada whilst in Australia.

Hi all,

This thread has been very useful, but I have another question to ask:

I called my local police station to ask about availability to get my fingerprints taken and the officer told me I can't get any fingerprints taken unless I have a letter from the Canadian Gov't explaining why I need the prints. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
I explained to her that its actually the Australian gov't that needs my prints (for the penal clearance, for the visa etc.etc.) and she seemed confused.

I was hoping she was just mistaken. Can anyone give advice?

Thanks

Hey Matt or anyone reading this,
Im about to be in the same situation as you.How is it going so far? Any advice for someone who is about to start the process? Thanks