Criminal Record Check Vancouver

The Vancouver police department accepts applications for a criminal record check in Vancouver through appointment only. It is a measure to protect the health and safety of customers and employees due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

To book an appointment for police information checks, applicants have to send an email to the police service together with the following information:

• Email address
• Name of the applicant
• Phone number 
• City of residence
• Name of the employer or the volunteer organization requesting the criminal record checks.
• The purpose of the background check

You can also visit the RCMP detachment or police agency near you. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us.

Police information checks or criminal record checks are conducted at the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) at 2121 Cambie street. The services are available throughout the week, including holidays and weekends by appointment only. The police service offers the following services.

1. Police information check
2. Vulnerable sector check

Police Information Check

Police Information Check or criminal record check refers to the background search for applicants seeking employment or volunteer positions with organizations that require reviewing police and court information about their applicants. This type of search is not intended for applicants seeking to work or volunteer with vulnerable people.

Vulnerable Sector Check

A vulnerable sector search is a background search intended for applicants seeking to work as volunteers or employment jobs involving vulnerable people. The search looks into the police and court information. It also searches for record suspensions of sexual offenses.

If the applicant’s name, gender, and date of birth give a match, the applicant will be required to submit fingerprints for RCMP to confirm the applicant’s identity. Such a match is not construed as an accusation of criminality.

The fingerprints will be used only to confirm your identity, and will be destroyed 90 days after the check is complete. When the fingerprints are taken for volunteer purposes, the VPD will not ask for an additional fee. However, there is a $25 fee for RCMP, and the Vancouver Police Department collects them on behalf of RCMP.

Application Process

1. The first step in your application process is to send an email to Vancouver Police Department to book an appointment at recordchecks@vpd.ca.  
2. Fill your details in the VPD Criminal record check form, which you can obtain from the police station or you can download online.
3. Email back the completed form and take the necessary documents with the application fees to the VPD.
4. You have to be present in person to submit your record search, and you must have two identification documents issued by the government. One of the documents must have your current photo.

Accepted Identification Documents

The following are the accepted valid (non-expired) documents.

• BC ID card
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s licence
• Permanent residency card
• Student ID card
• Citizenship card
• Native status card/Nexus card

The BC services card that combines BC driver’s licence and care card is considered one form of identification. Similarly, SIN and financial institutions’ credit and debit cards aren’t accepted documents.

If your ID document does not provide your address, you have to submit a utility bill or a bank statement to prove your residency.

Instant Record Check is an authorized company that provides criminal record searches. Talk to us and we’ll process your application as you do other things. You don’t have to take your time travelling back and forth because you didn’t carry with you the necessary documentation.