Preparing Criminal Record Checks (B.C. Notarized Documents) for Authentication

These include documents issued by the RCMP or by a police station.

Before the notarized copy can be authenticated, all Criminal Record Checks must:

• First be photocopied
• Then be notarized

Notaries sometimes refer to these as Certified True Copies. Do not include the original when mailing the notarized copy in to be authenticated.

See B.C. Notarized Documents for instructions on how to prepare these documents for authentication.

When to send your Criminal Record Check for federal apostille

B.C. can only verify the B.C. notary or lawyer, not the federal RCMP signatory on the original Criminal Record Check that was notarized. You are responsible for contacting the embassy or consulate to find out what they require. If the foreign jurisdiction only accepts apostilled originals (requires verification of the federal RCMP signatory), you must send the original Criminal Record Check to Global Affairs Canada for a federal apostille.