Criminal Record Check Vancouver

Last updated: July 9, 2026

Criminal record check in Vancouver

Last updated July 9, 2026

There are two ways to get a criminal record check in Vancouver. You can apply online through Instant Record Check, which searches the same RCMP and CPIC databases police use and usually returns results in about 15 minutes, from $59.97. Or you can apply through the Vancouver Police Department, which charges $89 for a police information check (the rate in effect since January 1, 2026) and requires an in-person visit by appointment. Volunteers with a letter from their organization pay nothing at VPD.

VPD police information checks are done by appointment at the 2120 Cambie Street headquarters, which is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are not accepted; appointments are booked through VPD's online platform. If you live elsewhere in BC, your local RCMP detachment or municipal police service handles in-person checks; the online route works from anywhere in the province. See our British Columbia guide for the provincial picture, including the Criminal Records Review Program for work with children and vulnerable adults.

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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 in Vancouver

A vulnerable sector check is required for work or volunteering with children, seniors, or people with disabilities. It adds a search of the pardoned sex offender database to the standard check, and no online provider can process one.

Through the VPD, an employment vulnerable sector check costs $89 plus a $25 RCMP federal processing fee. Volunteer checks are free with a letter of proof from the organization, including any fingerprints. If your name, gender, and date of birth match a record, you will be asked to submit fingerprints so the RCMP can confirm your identity, which adds weeks or months to processing. The fingerprints are used only for identity confirmation and are destroyed 90 days after the check completes.

Before booking, check whether you actually need one. If the requesting organization's letter does not specifically name the vulnerable sector, a standard criminal record check or Enhanced CRC, both available online, usually satisfies the requirement. Our guide to vulnerable sector checks in Canada covers who needs one.

Application process

• Book an appointment through the VPD police information checks page; walk-ins are not accepted.
• Bring two pieces of valid government-issued ID, one with a current photo, to 2120 Cambie Street.
• Pay the $89 fee (plus the $25 RCMP fee for employment vulnerable sector checks; free for volunteers with an organization letter). Extra embossed originals are $10 each if requested at the same appointment.
• Wait for processing; timing varies with volume, and checks requiring fingerprint verification take substantially longer.

Or skip the appointment entirely: verify your identity online with Instant Record Check and receive an RCMP-based result in about 15 minutes. Most BC employers accept electronic results; see pricing or the FAQ if you are not sure which check your situation calls for.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Related Pages

• Criminal Record Check British Columbia
• Criminal Record Check Surrey
• Criminal Record Check Victoria BC
• Criminal Record Check Canada
• Police Record Check Canada

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