Record checks · By The MyCRC Support Team · October 28, 2026

How Long Does a Criminal Record Check Take in Canada?

Most people who come to MyCRC are on a deadline: a start date, a lease, a volunteer orientation. So the question we hear most is how long a criminal record check takes. Here is the honest answer, with each police service's own numbers.

The short answer

It depends on who runs the check and what kind it is:

A name-based check online through MyCRC: ready in as little as 15 minutes, about 4 hours on average.
A name-based check from a local police service: anywhere from 1 business day to 4 weeks, depending on the service and how busy it is.
A fingerprint-based (certified) check through the RCMP: 3 business days or less if there’s no possible match to a record, and up to 120 business days if there is.

Police turnaround times, city by city

These are the times each police service publishes on its own website. They change with demand, so check the service’s page before you apply.

Police service	What it says
Edmonton Police Service	Currently 1 to 2 business days
Saint John Police Force	10 days from submission, no same-day service
York Regional Police	Aims for 10 to 15 business days, currently longer
Halifax Regional Police	Usually 14 days
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary	At least 15 business days
London Police Service	Up to 2 to 4 weeks, no rush service
Calgary Police Service	Processed in date order, online or in person

Most of these services also only accept applications from people who live in their area, so the one you can use depends on your address. The locations page sets out the route in every province and territory.

Why some checks take longer

Queues. Police services process record checks in the order they arrive, so a busy season means a longer wait.
A possible match. If a name-based search finds a record that could be yours and you didn’t declare it, the RCMP’s policy is that you may have to submit fingerprints, and a fingerprint check with a possible match can take up to 120 business days.
Vulnerable sector checks. These add more searches. Halifax Regional Police, for example, allows a week for one, or two weeks if fingerprints are needed.
Identity verification. Online, the most common delay is an identity check that wasn’t finished, or an ID that takes longer to confirm.

How to get yours faster

Check which kind the organization needs. A name-based criminal record check is the fastest; fingerprint and vulnerable sector checks take longer and are done through the police.
Have your ID ready. A valid government photo ID, and for most police services a second piece of ID.
Declare any past convictions accurately. With a name-based check, convictions you don’t declare, or details that don’t match, can mean an Incomplete result or a trip for fingerprints.
Apply online. Whether it’s your police service’s online system or MyCRC, online is faster than mail or a counter visit.

Getting your own check, the simple way

If your start date is close, this is the fastest route we know of for a name-based check.

The outcome you want: your criminal record check in hand before a start date, a lease signing or a volunteer orientation, without taking time off.
A check you can rely on: a name-based search of the RCMP's national database, processed through accredited Canadian police detachments.
Fast: ready in as little as 15 minutes, about 4 hours on average.
Little effort: a photo of your ID and a selfie from your phone. No police station and no appointment.
One clear price: $68.23, tax included.

On average, 100+ checks are completed through MyCRC every day. Start your check.