Fingerprinting Services

Sometimes a criminal record check cannot confirm your identity through your name alone, so you may have to provide fingerprints. This ensures that anyone who has been charged or convicted of a crime can’t hide it, but it also protects people from being associated to crimes that they did not commit.

The VPD provides this fingerprint service for immigration or citizenship purposes, foreign travel, visas, US waivers, legal name changes, record suspension (pardon) applications, and security applications. If you have applied to work with children or vulnerable adults, we can take your fingerprints as part of the Criminal Record Review Program.

You will need to come in person for our electronic fingerprints service. We are not doing traditional ink-and-roll fingerprinting at this time. We will then submit the fingerprints on your behalf to the RCMP in Ottawa, where they will complete a fingerprint-based certified criminal record check.

Please see the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services website for information on their policies and timelines. If you are checking on the status of your record check, you can also call them at (613) 998-6362 or email CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

VPD Fingerprint Services are located at 3585 Graveley Street. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment only (closed statutory holidays).

Fingerprinting Process

1. Fully complete the VPD Request for Fingerprint Service form. You can downloaded the form or pick one up in person at our public information counters.

2. Email fingerprints@vpd.ca to book an appointment.

3. Bring your completed form, two pieces of current, government-issued identification (at least one of which must have a current photo), and any related documentation and fees, with you to your appointment. We will accept documents that you have printed off the Internet. Please read all of your documents carefully before you come to our office.

Acceptable forms of identification

• valid driver’s licence (with photo)
• valid BC identification card (with photo)
• valid passport
• valid Permanent Residency card
• current student ID for youth applicants only (ages 12-17)
• birth certificate
• valid citizenship card
• valid Indian Status card
• valid Nexus card

*The BC Services Card, introduced in February 2013, combines the BC driver’s licence and Care Card. The card is considered one form of identification.

We do not accept S.I.N. cards, or credit or debit cards as identification.

Fingerprinting Fees

The Vancouver Police Department accepts debit, VISA, and MasterCard for payment of fees.

**Depending on your purpose for sending the fingerprints to Ottawa, there may be an additional $25 processing fee payable to the RCMP. We will collect this fee on the RCMP’s behalf.