Last updated: July 23, 2026
Montreal has the most expensive police-counter record check in Canada, which makes the choice between routes unusually simple. A criminal record check is a name-based search of the RCMP's CPIC database; you can run it online in about 15 minutes for $59.97, or book an appointment with the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal and pay $121 for its police verification for civil purposes. This guide covers both, with every SPVM figure taken from the force's own services page in July 2026.
The Online Route: About 15 Minutes
An online criminal record check verifies your identity electronically, searches the same CPIC database a police counter does, and delivers a result you can download and share. It costs $59.97, works from anywhere on or off the island, and the Enhanced CRJMC at $66.97 covers roles that need the judicial layer. See how it works and current pricing.
SPVM Record Checks: Fees and Process
The SPVM's background check services run from its Background Check Unit at 4949 Molson Street, strictly by appointment booked through the force's online system, with cancellations required 48 hours ahead. Bring two valid pieces of identification, at least one with a photograph and one showing your current address; payment is cash, credit or debit.
The fee schedule, per the SPVM's own page in July 2026: a police verification for civil purposes costs $121 and covers employment, truck driving, meal delivery, practising law and business registration; the vulnerable sector check is $121; and the judicial-record check for taxi and rideshare drivers is $84.25, available only to island of Montreal residents. The SPVM publishes no processing timeline for any of them.
When Fingerprints Are Required
A name-based search sometimes cannot confirm identity on its own; in that case a certified check runs through the RCMP using fingerprints. Certified checks are also the standard stream for immigration, citizenship and record suspension applications, and they follow their own fees and timelines through accredited fingerprinting.
Vulnerable-Persons Screening in Montreal
Only a police service can screen for work with children or vulnerable persons. In Montreal that is the SPVM's $121 vulnerable sector check, by appointment like everything else at the unit; childcare roles use Quebec's absence-of-impediment verification through the same police channels. If your role is not a position of trust over vulnerable persons, most organizations accept a standard check instead. Our vulnerable sector check guide covers who qualifies and what is disclosed.
Your Rights Under the Quebec Charter
Section 18.2 of Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms protects you from being refused a job, or dismissed from one, solely because of a conviction that has no connection with the position, or one that has been pardoned. Employers can still require a check where the record is relevant to the role, which is why most Montreal screening requests are legitimate and routine. Province-wide detail lives in our Quebec guide, and employers screening at volume can use the business portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a criminal record check cost in Montreal?
Online, $59.97 with results in about 15 minutes, or $66.97 for the Enhanced CRJMC. At the SPVM, a police verification for civil purposes costs $121 and the vulnerable sector check $121, both by appointment; the judicial-record check for taxi and rideshare drivers is $84.25 and limited to island of Montreal residents.
How do I book an SPVM background check appointment?
Through the SPVM's online booking system for its Background Check Unit at 4949 Molson Street. Appointments are mandatory, cancellations need 48 hours' notice, and you bring two valid pieces of identification, at least one with a photograph and one with your current address. Payment is cash, credit or debit.
How long does a criminal record check take in Montreal?
About 15 minutes online, including electronic identity verification. The SPVM publishes no turnaround time for counter applications; between booking the appointment, attending in person and processing, plan for weeks rather than days.
Do Montreal employers accept online criminal record checks?
Yes, for name-based CPIC checks, which cover most employment, housing and licensing requests. Vulnerable-persons screening stays with the police, and certified fingerprint checks for immigration run through the RCMP. Section 18.2 of Quebec's Charter also protects you from refusal solely over a conviction unrelated to the job.
Can I get a vulnerable sector check in Montreal online?
No provider can sell one, ours included. The SPVM issues vulnerable sector checks for $121, by appointment. If your role is not a position of trust over children or vulnerable persons, a standard criminal record check usually satisfies the request.
Instant Record Check Editorial
Writing on criminal record checks and background screening in Canada.
