Fingerprinting Services

Go to FINGERPRINTING for Business

Digital fingerprinting results processed and in the mail in 72 hours.

Commissionaires Speedy Digital and Ink and Roll Fingerprinting Services

 

Commissionaires Great Lakes offers cutting-edge digital fingerprinting services for the fastest, most reliable results available. Commissionaires has clearance from the RCMP to capture fingerprints and submit them directly to the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services for processing. This reduces the RCMP processing time to as little as 72 hours, which means your fingerprinting results will be in the mail to you in as little as three business days after your submission. In addition to offering digital fingerprinting, we still offer traditional ink & roll fingerprinting with a processing turnaround time of approximately 120 days.

Fingerprinting services from Commissionaires Great Lakes:

  • are delivered by friendly, professional, and knowledgeable commissionaires;
  • are competitively priced, efficient and quick;
  • use the latest digital technology for reliable capture and RCMP processing in as little as 72-hours
  • are also available using the traditional ink and roll method;
  • are offered in multiple languages;
  • are available at one of our eight convenient locations in Toronto, Barrie, London, Mississauga, Sarnia and Scarborough;
  • include a convenient and cost-effective mobile service option for group processing of fingerprints - we can come to your location.

How to Get Your Fingerprints

We want to make sure your experience is a pleasant one. Our respectful and friendly staff members are the experts in providing fingerprinting services. To speed up the fingerprinting process, please ensure you have all the necessary materials in hand before you visit our office.

Identification required

You should bring two pieces of valid government issued identification and one must be a photo ID. The following are types of acceptable identification. Please check with your local office for additional types of identification which may be accepted:

  • Passport
  • Driver's Licence
  • Birth Certificate
  • Canadian Citizenship Card
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Certificate of Indian Status
  • Immigration Documents i.e. work or study permits
  • Military Family ID card (MFID)
  • Record of Landing for Citizenship Applicant
  • Certificate of Live Birth
  • Nexus card
  • Ontario Identification Card

Notes:

  • It is recommended you bring with you a letter or file number from the requesting source, if applicable;
  • All identification must be current and not expired;
  • All digital fingerprinting requests for Canadian Citizenship must include a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This letter must include the address for third party results and should have a CIC file number, which will be included in your transaction. Please ensure this letter is available during the fingerprinting application session.

Our experienced staff will be happy to assist in answering any questions.

Fees

We accept major credit cards, debit or cash at all of our locations.

Locations

Commissionaires’ identification services are available at one of our eight convenient locations in Toronto, Barrie, London, Mississauga, Sarnia and Scarborough.

Appointments

No appointments are necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fingerprinting

What is digital fingerprinting?

Digital fingerprinting is the electronic capture of a person’s fingerprints via an optical scanner at a capture station. The scanned fingerprints, along with the application details, are then formatted into a standardized electronic package that is attached and emailed, via a secure link, direct to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Information System (CCRTIS).

CCRTIS compares the fingerprint package against the RCMP’s criminal record database. If no record is present, the RCMP will issue a certificate indicating a clear record. If the applicant does have a criminal record this will be indicated in the results.

Will the results of my fingerprints include a transcript?

Yes, fingerprint results will include a transcript. A transcript is a record of the applicant's criminal record and will clearly indicate either a clean record or it will list convictions. The transcript also details the nature of the conviction(s). This transcript is released to the applicant, or it can be released to third parties if the applicant provides consent at the time of fingerprinting.

Who needs fingerprints?

  • Employment with Corporations and Agencies
    With the need for greater security, many corporations and agencies are now requiring both employees and volunteers to be fingerprinted;
  • Applicants for Foreign Travel, Passports, Work Permits, Visas and US Waivers
    Those wishing to visit or work in other countries may be required to provide a criminal record check. While some countries accept criminal record checks done with only your name and birth date, others require that the process be done through fingerprinting. Obtaining a 192 waiver to travel to the United States will require fingerprints;
  • Citizenship, Permanent Resident & Immigration Applicants
    Applicants for Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or those immigrating to Canada may require to provide a criminal background check with fingerprints;
  • International Adoption Applicants
    Prior to completing adoption proceedings applicants who wish to adopt a child from a foreign country are required to provide a criminal background check with fingerprints;
  • Security Licence Applicants
    Regulations in some provinces require individuals in security related positions to provide a criminal background check with fingerprints for the application process.

How long will it take for digital fingerprints to be processed by the RCMP?

If the applicant does not have a criminal record and has never been fingerprinted for a criminal offence in Canada, the RCMP will make every effort possible to process the request within 72 hours of receiving the electronic submission. (This means that the RCMP will put the results “in the mail” for mailing back to the applicant or third party within 72 hours.) In view of this, please ensure sufficient time is allowed for receipt of the results in the mail before commencing inquiries about the status of fingerprints. If a criminal record is encountered during the verification process, processing will be increased to 120 days.

How long will it take for traditional ink and roll fingerprints to be processed by the RCMP?

Paper-based fingerprint submissions for a criminal record verification take an average of 120 days to complete for individuals that do not have a criminal record and have never been fingerprinted for a criminal offence in Canada. If a criminal record is encountered during the verification process, the turnaround time may exceed 120 days.

Can all applicants choose digital fingerprints?

Digital fingerprinting is available to most applicants for most applications. However in some cases, e.g., submissions to FBI, applicants may not choose digital fingerprinting. For these situations we offer traditional ink and roll fingerprinting. Our fingerprinting professionals can advise you on whether you may choose digital fingerprinting or if you must choose traditional ink and roll fingerprinting.

How can I find out about the status of a submission once it has been sent to the RCMP?

Commissionaires provides the best service to all our clients. Clients are advised that once the RCMP informs Commissionaires that the electronic submission has been received and is successfully processing, the RCMP will not release any further transaction status information to Commissionaires. Clients (e.g., applicant or authorized third party) may inquire about the status of their electronic and/or traditional ink and roll submission by contacting the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services at 613 998 6362 or civilnps@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Do applicants need an appointment?

No appointments are necessary for our fingerprinting service.

How long will it take to get fingerprints taken?

Our digital process is fast, efficient and clean and normally takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Our traditional ink and roll methods take approximately ten minutes to complete.

How are results obtained?

Each applicant’s criminal record verification results can be sent directly to the individual or to a designated third party, such as an employer or immigration or pardons agency. If an applicant is under the age of 18, results must be returned directly to the home address. Please ensure that all the address information for the applicant and third party are ready during the application process.

May applicants get a copy of application?

All applicants can receive a true copy of the digital submission to the RCMP of a copy of ink and roll submission. An additional charge may apply.