Express Entry Applicant – Police Certificate for Citizenship?

[sidou]

Hi everyone,

I just submitted my Canadian citizenship application after living in Canada for 3 years through Express Entry (No AOR yet).

For police certificate, I answered “Yes” to the question about being outside Canada for 183+ consecutive days in the last 4 years.

My understanding was that I didn’t need to provide a police certificate because I was in my country of origin immediately before becoming a PR and then landed in Canada and I didnt travel during my time here, so I didn’t include one.

However, I’ve seen people say they were still asked to provide a police certificate in this situation!

Has anyone been in the same situation? Did IRCC (at least in 2026) ask to provide the police certificate later during processing?

Thanks!

 

[sidou]

any ideas ?

 

[armoured]

Hi everyone,

I just submitted my Canadian citizenship application after living in Canada for 3 years through Express Entry (No AOR yet).

For police certificate, I answered “Yes” to the question about being outside Canada for 183+ consecutive days in the last 4 years.

My understanding was that I didn’t need to provide a police certificate because I was in my country of origin immediately before becoming a PR and then landed in Canada and I didnt travel during my time here, so I didn’t include one.

However, I’ve seen people say they were still asked to provide a police certificate in this situation!

Has anyone been in the same situation? Did IRCC (at least in 2026) ask to provide the police certificate later during processing?

Thanks!

If you followed the instructions properly (I think the application has you indicate that your 183+ days was before you became a PR), shouldn't be an issue. While they do sometimes ask for police certificates for those that don't (by following those instructions) technically need to, it's not common. Don't overthink it, it's not common.