If you need fingerprints for immigration, a job, or a record suspension, you may be wondering where to get fingerprinted in Ontario. The answer depends on your local police service and the reason you need fingerprinting. Some police services offer civil fingerprinting, while others do not.
Quick answer: In Ontario, you can be fingerprinted at a police service that offers the service you need, or at a private company accredited by the RCMP. Police services differ. York Regional Police takes civil fingerprints, Peel Regional Police does not, and Halton and Toronto Police fingerprint for vulnerable sector checks. Check what your request asks for before you book.
This guide shows each option, which one fits your purpose, and what to bring. It is general information, not legal advice.
Why people need fingerprints
Fingerprints give police a way to match you to your own record, not to someone with a similar name. That is why some checks require them. The most common reasons are:
- Immigration. Some applications ask for a police certificate, and for Canada that is usually a fingerprint-based check. See our page on Canadian immigration and citizenship.
- Work or volunteering. Employers, schools, and licensing bodies may ask for a certified criminal record check.
- A record suspension. Fingerprints are part of the application. Read about a record suspension application before you book.
- The United States. An FBI Identity History Summary needs fingerprints too. Our page on an FBI clearance certificate explains the routes.
Digital or ink?
Most Ontario providers take digital fingerprints and send them electronically. Some foreign agencies and some FBI routes ask for a paper or ink card. Ask the organization that requested your fingerprints which format it accepts. For a full comparison of fingerprint types, read our guide to fingerprinting services in Canada.
Where to Get Fingerprinted in Ontario: Your Options
Not every police service offers the same service. Here is what the services we checked say on their own pages.
| Option | What it fingerprints | Good to know |
| Peel Regional Police (Brampton, Mississauga) | People charged with an offence. Not employment, immigration or other civil purposes | Refers people to RCMP-accredited private providers |
| York Regional Police | Civil purposes, including citizenship, permanent resident status, record suspension, visas, work and name changes | By appointment. The page lists $77, plus an RCMP fee where it applies. Digital prints are sent to you |
| Halton Regional Police (Oakville headquarters) | Vulnerable sector fingerprints only | $25 for paid jobs, waived for volunteers. Book online or by phone. Other types go to an accredited agency |
| Toronto Police Service (40 College Street) | Vulnerable sector fingerprints, by appointment | $25. The vulnerable sector check is for Toronto residents with an M postal code |
| RCMP-accredited private companies | Civil purposes, sent electronically to the RCMP | Fees set by each company. They do not handle vulnerable sector checks |
Fees and rules change, so check each page before you book. Other services, such as Ottawa, Hamilton and the OPP, set their own rules.
What “RCMP-accredited” means
The RCMP says accredited companies are authorized to take fingerprints for civil purposes and send them to the RCMP electronically. Its list of accredited companies is updated at the start of each month, and companies can be added or removed at any time. Many Ontario companies are on it, in cities from Toronto and Mississauga to Ottawa. Check the list before you pay a company.
Vulnerable sector checks are different
If you work or volunteer with children or vulnerable people, you may need a vulnerable sector check. The RCMP says accredited companies do not handle them. You must go to your local police service. RCMP: where to go.
How to choose the right place
Start with the request you received, then match it to the list below.
- Immigration, record suspension, FBI, or a civil work check. Use a police service that offers civil fingerprints, such as York, or an RCMP-accredited company.
- A vulnerable sector check. Go to your local police service. Halton and Toronto, for example, list their own appointments.
- You live in Peel. Peel Regional Police does not fingerprint for non-criminal matters, so use an accredited company. If you live in Brampton, see fingerprinting in Brampton. If you work in Toronto, see fingerprinting in Toronto.
- You were fingerprinted but not convicted. Some services run a separate request process to destroy fingerprints. Ask your police service.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the company on the current RCMP list?
- Does it take the type of check my request asks for?
- Does it use digital or ink, and which does my agency accept?
- Is the price, address, and appointment policy clear?
Global Background and Waiver Services appears on the RCMP list at its Mississauga address. If that is closer to you, see RCMP fingerprinting in Mississauga for our address and how to book.
What to bring and how to prepare
Bring what the requesting organization told you to bring, and these basics:
- Valid government-issued photo ID. Many providers refuse expired ID. Halton Police asks for two pieces of ID, one with a photo, and says a SIN card is not valid ID. Check your provider’s rules.
- Your request letter or form, if you have one, and any reference or file number.
- Payment. Fees differ by provider, and some do not accept cash.
- The names you have used, if they apply to your file.
Tips for clear prints
Unclear fingerprints can be rejected, so wash and dry your hands first and tell the technician about any cuts, dryness, or medical conditions. If you fill in a card by hand, the FBI recommends against red or purple ink.
Where to Get Fingerprinted in Ontario: Common Questions
Where can I get fingerprinted in Ontario if my local police do not do it?
Use an RCMP-accredited private company. Peel Regional Police, for example, does not fingerprint for non-criminal matters and refers people to accredited providers. Check the RCMP list first.
How do I avoid rejected fingerprints with dry or worn hands?
Wash and dry your hands, skip lotion right before your appointment, and tell the technician about dryness or worn fingertips so they can plan for it.
Can I be fingerprinted with a cut, a missing finger, or a medical condition?
Tell the provider before you go. A cut, a bandage, or a condition can affect print quality, and the provider can say what they need. If you are unsure, ask the agency that requested your prints.
What is the difference between digital and ink fingerprints, and which will my agency accept?
Digital prints are sent electronically. Some foreign agencies and FBI routes want a paper or ink card. The agency that asked for your fingerprints decides, so ask before you book.
The short version
- Ontario police services differ, so check your own service’s page first.
- Vulnerable sector checks go to local police. Most other civil fingerprints can go to an RCMP-accredited company.
- Confirm the RCMP list and the format (digital or ink) before you book.
Not sure which check your file needs? Contact GBWS and bring your request letter. We will tell you what we can do and what you should take to someone else.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Fees, rules, and lists change, so check each organization’s current page. Every case is different.
