Canadian Criminal Record Check From Spain: RCMP Criminal Record Checks and Police Information Check for Applicants Outside Canada
Need Canadian criminal records for immigration, citizenship, a visa or a job in Spain? Send us your ink fingerprints and we obtain your RCMP certified criminal record check through Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services — no travel to Canada required.
RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check Service in Canada and Outside Canada
The Legalization Service Centre is an RCMP-accredited private fingerprinting company in Canada. We digitize ink fingerprints taken in Spain and transmit them to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police through Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) in Ottawa, the unit responsible for the National Repository of Criminal Records.
As one of the first companies licensed by the RCMP to submit fingerprints electronically, we are recommended by immigration lawyers, employers and consulates for applicants in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga and the Canary Islands. Our fingerprint-based process is used for Canadian immigration and citizenship files as well as Spanish residency, work and adoption applications.
The service exists because Spanish authorities rarely accept a police information check based on name and date of birth. They ask for a certified Canadian criminal record check confirmed by fingerprint. Every applicant — a Canadian living in Spain or a Spanish national who once lived in Canada — gets the same secure, verified process from us.
Choose Us for Canadian Criminal Record Checks From Spain
- Select Your Processing Method: Apply from Spain by couriering your fingerprint forms to Ottawa, or come in person if you are within Canada. Both routes deliver the same certificate issued by the RCMP.
- Follow Detailed Guidelines: After you pick a route, you receive clear instructions on how to submit fingerprints, which forms need your consent and signature, and which pieces of government-issued identification to include.
- Receive Your Certificate Anywhere: When the RCMP releases the results, we courier the certificate to Spain or any other country. We can also add an apostille so the document is accepted by Extranjería, a Spanish employer, a notary or a court.
With over 15 years of success and practical experience in document services in Canada, we’re glad to help make your next international adventure one to remember for the right reasons.
Contact us today for more information!
Apply for an RCMP Criminal Record Check From Spain via an Accredited Fingerprinting Company
- Expertise You Can Rely On: More than 15 years of handling criminal record checks for applicants outside of Canada, including RCMP criminal record checks from Spain, with apostille and certified Spanish translation available when required.
- Help With Every Type of Check: Our team explains the difference between a police information check, a police record check, a vulnerable sector search and a fingerprint-based criminal record check, so you order the correct document for the residencia, the NIE process, a Golden Visa or nationality by residence.
- Speed and Reliability: Immigration purposes come with deadlines. We review your scans within a business day, digitize the ink fingerprints as soon as they arrive, and keep you updated on processing times until the certificate is in your hands.
Get Your Certified Criminal Record Check From Spain (Online or In Ottawa)
If you live in Spain and need a criminal record check from Canada, have your fingerprints taken on the RCMP C-216C form by a local police agency (Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil, where the service is offered), a notary, an embassy or consulate, or a private fingerprinting company that has an agreement with the local police service. The RCMP accepts fingerprint forms from other countries as long as they are rolled in ink and complete; we digitize them and submit electronically. If you are in Canada, in-person fingerprinting is available at our Ottawa, Ontario office.
Address: 440 Laurier Ave W, Suite 218, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X6
Don’t forget to bring two IDs (like your passport and driver’s licence) when you come for your appointment. Have questions? Just give us a call!
Get Your RCMP Criminal Record Check
You'll get a fingerprint-based certificate issued by the RCMP. We digitize your ink-and-roll fingerprints and submit them electronically — you can be anywhere in the world.
In order to process the RCMP CRC certificate we need to receive from the clients their fingerprints taken on C-216C form or similar and other completed forms provided in the Application Package below.
To get started, select the “General” tab for most countries and the “Personal Use” tab if you need the CRC Certificate for immigration to USA.
1. Application Package
Start here. The package contains the full document checklist, Form #2, Form #3 and the RCMP identification requirements.
Everything must be completed without errors — mistakes and missing information delay processing.
▼ Application Package (General)
2. Form #1 (C-216C)
Have your fingerprints taken on the official RCMP C-216C form using the ink-and-roll method only — digital or live-scan printouts are not accepted.
We need two (2) complete sets, with all fields filled in and the name, signature and stamp of the official who took them.
Fingerprints must be clear and high-quality — not smudged, faded, or blurred. All ridge details must be clearly visible on the form. Failure to provide clear, high-quality fingerprints may result in the RCMP rejecting the submission.
Fingerprints outside Canada can be taken by the following entities:
- Police Service
- Embassy / Consulate
- Government Department
- Notary Public
- Foreign private fingerprinting company with an MOU with a local police force or government department
Under "Reason for application", tick the option that matches your case — Visa/Waiver, Canadian Citizenship, Employment, Adoption, and so on.
▼ Example of Correct Impressions
3. Form #2 (Third Party Consent)
Found inside the Application Package.
This form authorizes the RCMP to release your results to us.
Complete it, sign and date it, and place one fingerprint in the box — the form is not valid without it.
4. Form #3 (Applicant Information)
Found inside the Application Package.
Print clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS and double-check your name, date of birth and address — any typo here can delay or invalidate the search.
5. Consent Form
This is the official RCMP consent form that authorizes CCRTIS to search the National Repository of Criminal Records and release the results.
Read each section, tick every checkbox, then sign and date it.
Select the application type that matches your case — for most travel and work purposes this is Visa / Border Crossing / Foreign Travel / Work.
Without this consent the RCMP cannot process your application.
▼ Consent for Certified Criminal Record Checks – Immigration and Travel (RCMP 6674e)
6. LSC Order Form
This is our service order. Fill in your contact details, tick "Canadian Criminal Record Check/Background Check Certificate" under Services Required, and sign the form to confirm you agree to the terms.
Please print clearly and include a working email address and phone number — we use them to send your invoice and any updates.
7. Send
First, email us scans of all completed forms plus PDF scans of your two government-issued IDs (at least one with a photo) and photographs of those IDs taken from different angles. The full list of acceptable ID is on the last page of the Application Package.
We'll review everything and confirm it meets RCMP requirements. Ship the originals only after we approve your scans.
Include two recent passport-size colour photos with your name and the date written on the back.
Courier to:
Legalization Service Centre Canada, 440 Laurier Ave W, Suite 200, Office 218, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X6
When your originals arrive, we'll digitize your fingerprints and submit them to the RCMP electronically.
8. Pay and Receive
Upon receiving your documents, we will email you the invoice for payment.
The fee is $125CAD per certificate + $25CAD RCMP fee (if applicable). Return shipping (as selected in the Order Form) and applicable taxes are extra.
We accept payments by credit card / PayPal (+3.5%), Interac e-Transfer, money order or certified cheque.
After we receive the CRC certificate from RCMP we will courier it to the address you provided in the LSC Order Form.
Processing time to obtain the CRC certificate from the RCMP is approximately 5–20 business days. This is an estimate and may change at any time without prior notice. If there is a criminal record found, the processing time can be longer.
We can also arrange an apostille for your RCMP CRC certificate in Canada for an additional fee.
1. Application Package
Start here. The package contains the full document checklist, Form #2 and the RCMP identification requirements.
Everything must be completed without errors — mistakes and missing information delay processing.
▼ Application Package (Personal Use)
2. Form #1 (C-216C)
Have your fingerprints taken on the official RCMP C-216C form using the ink-and-roll method only — digital or live-scan printouts are not accepted.
We need two (2) complete sets, with all fields filled in and the name, signature and stamp of the official who took them.
Fingerprints must be clear and high-quality — not smudged, faded, or blurred. All ridge details must be clearly visible on the form. Failure to provide clear, high-quality fingerprints may result in the RCMP rejecting the submission.
Fingerprints outside Canada can be taken by the following entities:
- Police Service
- Embassy / Consulate
- Government Department
- Notary Public
- Foreign private fingerprinting company with an MOU with a local police force or government department
Under "Reason for application", tick Privacy Act.
▼ Example of Correct Impressions
3. Form #2 (Applicant Information)
Found inside the Application Package.
Print clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS and double-check your name, date of birth and address — any typo here can delay or invalidate the search.
This is the address the RCMP will mail your certificate to — make sure it's correct and that you can reliably receive regular mail there.
4. Consent Form
This is the official RCMP consent form that authorizes CCRTIS to search the National Repository of Criminal Records and release the results.
Read each section, tick every checkbox, then sign and date it.
Select Criminal Record Check for Personal Use – Other.
Without this consent the RCMP cannot process your application.
▼ Consent for Certified Criminal Record Checks – Other Purposes (RCMP 6676e)
5. LSC Order Form
This is our service order. Fill in your contact details, tick "Canadian Criminal Record Check/Background Check Certificate" under Services Required, and sign the form to confirm you agree to the terms.
Please print clearly and include a working email address and phone number — we use them to send your invoice and any updates.
You can leave Sections 5 and 6 (return shipping) blank — the RCMP mails your certificate directly to you.
6. Send
First, email us scans of all completed forms plus PDF scans of your two government-issued IDs (at least one with a photo) and photographs of those IDs taken from different angles. The full list of acceptable ID is on the last page of the Application Package.
We'll review everything and confirm it meets RCMP requirements. Ship the originals only after we approve your scans.
Include two recent passport-size colour photos with your name and the date written on the back.
Courier to:
Legalization Service Centre Canada, 440 Laurier Ave W, Suite 200, Office 218, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X6
When your originals arrive, we'll digitize your fingerprints and submit them to the RCMP electronically.
7. Pay and Receive
Upon receiving your documents, we will email you the invoice for payment.
The fee is $125CAD per certificate + applicable taxes.
We accept payments by credit card / PayPal (+3.5%), Interac e-Transfer, money order or certified cheque.
The certificate for Personal Use will be sent by RCMP directly to your address provided in the Form #2 by regular mail only.
Processing time to obtain the CRC certificate from the RCMP is approximately 5–20 business days. This is an estimate and may change at any time without prior notice. If there is a criminal record found, the processing time can be longer.
RCMP Criminal Record Checks Available From Any Location Worldwide
We assist Canadian citizens and foreign nationals living in Spain or anywhere else in the world. Wherever you are, you can start the process online with our guidance, and our team is ready to answer questions in plain language.
The Legalization Service Centre is officially accredited to collect digital fingerprints in Ottawa or convert international ink fingerprints, and to transmit them securely to the RCMP through Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services.
The result is a search of the National Repository of Criminal Records — the national database, not the local databases of a single police service. We then deliver the certificate to any destination worldwide as a designated third party, by Canada Post or courier.
Cabo Verde
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Eswatini
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Testimonials from Clients on Our Expert Document Services
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Fingerprint-Based Canadian Criminal Record Check, and Why Does Spain Require It?
A fingerprint-based criminal record check is the only Canadian criminal records document certified by the RCMP. Instead of a name and date of birth search in police databases, CCRTIS compares your fingerprints against the national repository, so the result is tied to your identification rather than to a spelling of your name. Spanish immigration offices, employers and courts ask for it because a name-based clearance cannot confirm, with certainty, that no record exists under another name.
The certificate will disclose criminal convictions in line with the Criminal Records Act and RCMP policy. A pardon or record suspension removes a conviction from the report, and discharges are purged after a fixed period. A vulnerable sector search goes further and looks for pardoned sexual offences when the applicant will work with children or vulnerable adults. For Spanish residency, nationality and employment files, the standard certified check is normally what is required.
How Does the Process Work When I Apply From Spain?
Download the Application Package and complete the applicant information form, the RCMP consent form and our order form. Then have your fingerprints rolled in ink on the C-216C card — two complete sets, with the name, signature and stamp of the person who took them. Email us scans of the forms and two pieces of government-issued ID; we verify every field before you courier the originals to Ottawa.
When the package arrives, we digitize the prints and submit them to CCRTIS electronically. Each file receives a Document Control Number for tracking. The RCMP searches the National Repository of Criminal Records, issues the certificate and we forward it to you. Our team makes sure the stated purpose — immigration, citizenship, visa, employment or adoption — matches the consent form, because a mismatch is the most common reason applicants are asked to provide fingerprints a second time.
What Is the Difference Between an RCMP Certificate and a Police Information Check?
A police information check from a municipal police service in Canada is name-based: the officer runs your name and date of birth through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and local records. It is quick, but it is not certified by the RCMP, it usually requires in-person attendance, and most police services will not process requests from people no longer living in their jurisdiction.
The RCMP certified criminal record check is national, fingerprint-based and issued in Ottawa. It is the version Spanish authorities recognize, and the only one that can be apostilled for use in Spain. Both documents confirm whether you were charged or convicted, and both may note outstanding charges and warrants or judicial orders — but only the fingerprint-based certificate carries the RCMP seal.
Who in Spain Typically Needs Canadian Criminal Records?
The most frequent applicants are:
- Canadians applying for a residence permit, a digital nomad or non-lucrative visa, a Golden Visa, or Spanish nationality by residence, where a police certificate from every country of prior residence is required
- Spanish nationals who lived in Canada and need proof of no criminal background for employment, professional licensing or a public-sector position
- Parents completing an international adoption file
- Applicants for Canadian immigration or citizenship who are currently living in Spain and have been asked to provide fingerprints
Every applicant must sign the RCMP consent form and provide personal information exactly as it appears on their identification. If you were ever convicted of an offence in Canada, the certificate will show it; a clean result confirms that nothing disclosable exists in the national repository.
What Are the Processing Times for a Criminal Record Check From Spain?
Processing times depend on the quality of the ink fingerprints, the accuracy of your personal information and whether your prints match a record. When no record is found, the RCMP typically returns the result within a few business days of electronic submission. Including courier transit from Spain, plan for roughly five to twenty business days in total. If a record exists, verification takes longer.
Rejected fingerprint cards are the main cause of delay — smudged ridges, a missing officer stamp or an unsigned consent form all force a resubmission, which is why we check your scans first. If Spanish authorities need an apostille on the RCMP certificate, allow a few additional business days for authentication in Canada. From the first email to the finished certificate, the Legalization Service Centre keeps every Canadian criminal record check compliant, secure and on schedule.