Police Certificate requirement for Express Entry applications is critical in determining a person’s admissibility to Canada. This means these certificates provide confirmation that applicants for several immigration programs will be admissible to Canada before they arrive here.
The Express Entry system has turned out to be the most prominent pathway, and its conception occurred in 2015. Launching Express Entry was to welcome more skilled workers to Canada. IRCC has worked immensely to enhance the Canadian workforce by providing eligible applicants with Canadian permanent residence. This is also an initiative to address the enormous labor market gaps in the country.
Canada’s federal government accesses the application management system of Express Entry to supervise immigration applications through three major programs. These include the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the FSTP.
Let us now understand the significance of Police Certificates with regard to Express Entry.
Police Certificate – What is it?
A Police Certificate is a type of document essential for the verification of either a permanent resident or Canadian citizen’s inadmissibility to Canada. These documents shall be able to offer the higher authorities a criminal record copy of an applicant, if applicable. If they don’t hold any criminal record, these authorities must validate it further.
These certificates are highly crucial because they determine a person’s ability to threaten Canada’s security or those with a criminal record. Moreover, these certificates make sure that such individuals don’t have permission to enter Canada or live in the country at any cost.
While applicants submit their permanent residence or citizenship applications, they will require police certificates.
Although these certificates are not mandatory in all cases, the IRCC might demand them from visitor visa, work, or study permit applicants.
Besides this, police certificates might be under varied names based on the country from which they request them. The countries might call them police clearance certificates, judicial record extracts, or good conduct certificates.
Typically, the chief immigration applications and family members beyond the age of 18 years might require a police certificate. However, this will primarily rely on the type of program you might be applying for.
Police Certificate requirement for Express Entry applications
All Express Entry applicants must go ahead with the submission of police certificates. Under the three chief Express Entry programs, applicants will get only 90 days for a police certificate submission.
Usually, IRCC suggests that Express Entry applicants start their police certificate process once they enter the pool. This is due to Express Entry’s competitive spirit and the time to obtain a police certificate generally.
Express Entry Draws – Category-Based Selection
IRCC was extremely curious to fix Canada’s acute labor market gap, so it introduced the Express Entry category-based draws. These are visibly different from the standard Express Entry draws because they focus on bringing skilled workers with relevant experience in in-demand occupations. Conversely, the standard draws focus on the PR and the candidate’s CRS scores.
The category selection draws have targeted candidates with strong French language skills and work experience in five main fields. These include STEM occupations, healthcare, agriculture and agri-food, and trade and transport sectors.
Attaining a Police Certificate – What is the process?
The police or the government holds the responsibility of offering the police certificates. These certificates might require individuals to submit their information, documents, or biometrics. These mean fingerprints, address, date of residency in a specific country, or fee payment.
Submission of Biometrics to attain a police certificate varies immensely from the biometrics submission for an immigration application.
What to do in case of not receiving a Police Certificate within time?
Typically, once candidates obtain an invitation to apply, they have just 60 days to apply for Canadian PR. Hence, in certain situations, an applicant might or might not request or receive their police certificate within the standard time.
In such scenarios, applicants must prove to IRCC that they have already applied for a Police Certificate, or they could decline an Invitation to Apply.
Withdrawal of ITA
If an applicant chooses this option, their Express Entry profile will return to the application pool. Therefore, they will be required to wait and assess if they receive an ITA for Canadian PR again.
Demonstration of your application for a police certificate
As an applicant, you might prove your attempt to obtain a police certificate to IRCC by writing a letter of explanation alongside the letter of request.
IRCC will validate the following proof provided by applicants:
- A tracking number of notice of delivery; and
- A confirmation or payment receipt
The final say in the decision will be of an IRCC officer. An Express Entry application might face rejection or denial if it is incomplete amidst the assessment of the IRCC officer.
The chief aspects of a police certificate requirement for Express Entry applications
The following is the crucial information concerning police certificates for PR in Canada:
- A police certificate’s validity period varies according to the software for which it is needed; this information is included in the instruction manual for each program.
- In most cases, applicants for immigration to Canada must provide a police certificate from each nation they have lived in for six months or longer during the ten years prior to filing their application.
- For the entire period that an applicant lived in Canada, police certifications are not necessary.
- Police certifications are only necessary for a limited period following the applicant’s 18th birthday.
Do you have any general queries or concerns regarding Canada Express Entry? Let our expert guides at Make Home Canada help you get all the answers. We are just a call away; stay connected at 1-800-979-0509 or simply email your concerns to [email protected].
