If you were told to get a fingerprint for a background check in Mississauga, first confirm which document the requesting authority needs. You may need IRCC biometrics, an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check, or a fingerprint card for another country or organization. These are different processes, so check the request before you book an appointment.
Key facts
- IRCC biometrics include fingerprints and a photo. They generally apply to temporary residence, permanent residence, extensions of stay and refugee or asylum claims, subject to exemptions.
- IRCC biometrics cost CAN$85, or CAN$170 maximum for a family applying together.
- An RCMP fingerprint-based check may be requested when a name-based check cannot confirm your identity.
- For a Canadian police certificate, fingerprints must be submitted electronically to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS). Paper submissions are not processed.
- The RCMP federal fee is CAN$25 per criminal record check, plus any local fees. There is no federal fee for citizenship or immigration purposes.
Which type of fingerprinting do you need?
The wording in the request usually tells you which route applies. Ask whether the authority wants biometrics, an RCMP criminal record check, or a completed fingerprint card.
| What you need | Why it is used | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| IRCC biometrics | Identity confirmation for many immigration, refugee and temporary-residence applications | Fingerprints and a photo are collected for IRCC |
| RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check | A name-based check cannot confirm identity, or a Canadian police certificate is required | Fingerprints are submitted electronically to RCMP CCRTIS |
| Fingerprint card | Another country or organization specifies a card | Follow that authority’s exact card and submission instructions |
When do you need IRCC biometrics?
IRCC biometrics are fingerprints and a photo, not a police certificate. They are generally required for temporary residence, permanent residence, extensions of stay unless you are from a visa-exempt country, and refugee or asylum claims.
IRCC says the purpose is to confirm your identity. Canadian citizens and children under 14 are among the exemptions. The biometrics fee is CAN$85, with a maximum of CAN$170 for a family applying together. Check the IRCC biometrics rules for your application category and any exemption. For the applications themselves, see North Vista Immigration’s pages on work, study and visit permits and permanent residency.
When is an RCMP fingerprint-based record check required?
An RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check is different from IRCC biometrics. It may be required when a name-based check cannot confirm your identity, or when an authority asks for a Canadian police certificate.
The RCMP says fingerprints are the most accurate way to confirm identity. For a Canadian police certificate, fingerprints must be sent electronically to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services, or CCRTIS. A police service or an RCMP-accredited company submits them through the required process. Paper submissions are not processed. IRCC’s Canadian police certificate page also says you don’t need one when you apply for permanent residence in Canada, that citizenship applicants must have their fingerprints taken inside Canada, and that IRCC extends its deadline by 30 days if RCMP delays affect you. Read the RCMP criminal record check guidance before choosing the check requested by an employer, government authority or immigration process.
The federal fee is CAN$25 per check, plus any local fees collected by the police service or accredited company. The RCMP lists no federal fee for citizenship, immigration purposes, federal government jobs, joining a Canadian police force or volunteer work with a letter. Review the RCMP processing times and fees page for the applicable federal-fee rules.
When do you need a fingerprint card?
You need a fingerprint card when another country or organization specifically asks for one. Do not assume that an IRCC biometrics appointment or an RCMP electronic submission will satisfy a separate card requirement.
Follow the requesting authority’s instructions for the card, fields, signature, format and submission method. North Vista’s fingerprinting page lists digital and ink fingerprinting, record-check fingerprinting, and FBI and international fingerprinting services in Mississauga. The authority making the request remains the source for its acceptance rules.
What should you ask before booking?
Ask the requesting organization to identify the exact document and submission route. This prevents you from arranging the wrong type of fingerprinting.
Checklist for the requesting organization
- Ask whether you need IRCC biometrics, an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check, or a fingerprint card.
- Ask whether the fingerprints must be electronic, ink, or both.
- Ask who must receive the result: IRCC, the RCMP, an employer, a foreign authority or another organization.
- Ask whether you have a request letter, form or reference number that must accompany the fingerprints.
- Ask whether the authority has a specific accredited provider or submission route.
What to bring
- Acceptable identification requested for the appointment.
- The request letter, form or instructions from the organization.
- Any fingerprint card given to you by the requesting authority.
- Any reference number or details needed to identify your application or request.
Who receives your fingerprints decides the route
What matters is not how fingerprints are taken but who receives them and why. IRCC biometrics confirm identity for an immigration process, an RCMP check supports a Canadian criminal-record or police-certificate request, and a fingerprint card follows another authority’s instructions.
Keep the three routes separate when you compare instructions. A fingerprint appointment alone does not determine whether the result will be sent electronically to CCRTIS, collected as IRCC biometrics, or placed on a card. The request letter and the receiving authority control that choice.
These rules were checked on October 30, 2026, using canada.ca’s IRCC biometrics information, IRCC’s Canadian police certificate instructions and the RCMP’s criminal record check guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is an IRCC biometric appointment the same as a police certificate?
No. IRCC biometrics are fingerprints and a photo used to confirm identity for eligible immigration, temporary-residence, permanent-residence, extension, refugee or asylum processes. A police certificate is a separate document. For a Canadian police certificate, fingerprints are submitted electronically to RCMP CCRTIS under the RCMP process. Follow the exact document named in your request.
How much do IRCC biometrics cost?
IRCC biometrics cost CAN$85 for an individual, or CAN$170 maximum for a family applying together. The fee relates to IRCC biometrics, which include fingerprints and a photo. It is not the same as the RCMP federal fee for a criminal record check. Confirm the requirement and fee in your IRCC application instructions before arranging collection.
When does a Canadian background check need fingerprints?
Fingerprints may be needed when a name-based criminal record check cannot confirm your identity. They are also required for a Canadian police certificate under IRCC’s instructions. The fingerprints must be submitted electronically to the RCMP’s CCRTIS, and paper submissions are not processed. The requesting organization should confirm which RCMP check it wants.
What should I bring for fingerprinting in Mississauga?
Bring the identification requested for the appointment, the request letter or form, and any fingerprint card given to you by the requesting organization. Also bring the reference number or instructions connected with the request. Before attending, confirm whether the authority needs IRCC biometrics, an RCMP electronic submission, or ink or digital fingerprints on a card.
Can any fingerprint card be used for an international request?
Not necessarily. A foreign authority or organization may specify its own card, fields, format and submission method. Ask that authority exactly what it requires before booking. Do not substitute IRCC biometrics or an RCMP electronic submission for a card unless the requesting authority confirms that it accepts the alternative.
Next, read your request letter and note which of the three routes it names. To book digital or ink fingerprinting in Mississauga, see North Vista’s fingerprinting services page, and confirm with the requesting authority which provider and submission route it accepts.