HOW TO GET A CANADIAN POLICE CERTIFICATE FOR VISA PURPOSES?!

Hello!

I am a Canadian living in Sydney, Australia. I need to get a Canadian Police Certificate from the RCMP for my Australian visa application. I have read a lot of information on different website but still have a few questions in regards to the procedures and how to get this as quickly as possible.

So I know I need to go to the police station and get them to take my fingerprints, etc, and they will then send it out to the RCMP. I was wondering though, do I need to include a certified cheque or money order with this? I haven't been able to find any specific information regarding that matter... I am afraid that it'll take ages for them to get back to me if I don't send the money with my fingerprints!

Has anyone been through that process before? How does it work?

Thanks anyone for your help!
Cheers

Yes you need to send a certified cheque or money order in Canadian funds. If you don't they will send it back to you, unprocessed.

It will take ages to get it back regardless though. They say 4 months, mine took 6. (and I have no record at all, absolutely nothing, nor do I have a particularly common name that might trigger other people's records or anything.)

Where did you get the information about the record check?
I want to start the visa process too, and I'm wondering how you knew where to start

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website:
http://www.immi.gov.au/

Specific to penal clearance requirements:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/charact ... -penal.pdf

From that document:
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 0R2Website: http://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
Note: Canadian embassies and consulates may not have adequate resources or facilities to provide this service.
Fee payable

I've highlighted in bold the sections relevent to you if you apply for a certificate by mail, from Australia.

You should know that if you apply from within Canada, you can get your certificate within 2 weeks by going to your local police station and applying in person. So if you are planning to be in Canada at all in the next 6 months, that will likely be faster than applying by mail.