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Each applicant for a Canadian Immigrant Visa, aged 18 or over, is required to prove that he or she has no criminal record. Police clearance certificates or certificates of non-criminal activity, as they are sometimes referred to, must be obtained from the country of current residence and from each country in which the applicant has resided for more than 6 months since his or her 18th birthday. Police clearance certificates are considered valid for a period of 6 months and they usually can be obtained through law enforcement offices or other government agencies. In extenuating circumstances Canadian visa offices will waive the requirement to submit police clearance certificates.

The background check is conducted by Canadian security agencies, independently from the immigration authorities, with the cooperation of proper agencies and authorities in all countries you have resided for 6 months or more. This tasks is to find out if you have at any time involved in criminal activity, organized crime, espionage, terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity or any other activity that may pose a threat to the security of Canada and Canadians. The check also extends to ascertain if you were part of or working for any government or organization involved in war crimes, human rights abuse and crimes against humanity.

Depending on your nationality, background and countries you have resided in, this process may take from few months to well over a year to conclude.

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, applicants originating from the Arabic speaking world and other Moslem countries would be subjected to intensive scrutiny by CSIS before receiving final clearance. Some applicants would require to attend a "Security Interview" whenever more details are needed with respect to their activities and background.

The procedure, sources and conclusions are strictly classified. Immigration authorities are only getting a "positive" or "negative" result.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) background check for applicants of Canadian citizenship is more comprehensive and involves targeting and monitoring past and present activities of suspected individuals in accordance with the "CSIS Act" and the "CSIS Mandate". 

Please note that there is a clear distinction between the police clearance certificate, which the applicant is required to obtain, and the background clearance, in which the applicant for the most part is not actively involved.

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