Iran police certificates for Canadian applications

Which applications need a police certificate

IRCC's instructions for Iran say you must provide a police certificate when you apply for permanent residence, for citizenship, and for some temporary residence programs. The exact requirement is in your application package or instructions.

IRCC's general rule is that you and any family member aged 18 or older may need a certificate, depending on the program. Permanent residence, citizenship and International Experience Canada require one. If you have a prior criminal record, you may need one for other programs as well. Check the program's document checklist and any visa office requirements for your case.

For Express Entry, IRCC asks for a certificate from every country where you or a family member aged 18 or older stayed for 6 months in a row or longer during the last 10 years. An officer may also ask for certificates covering any period since you turned 18.

The document IRCC asks for

IRCC names the Iranian document a certificate of no criminal record. Some countries call the same kind of document a police clearance certificate, a good conduct certificate or a judicial record extract.

If you are asked for fingerprints when you request this certificate, that is not the same as giving biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for your Canadian application. The two are separate steps.

How to apply, depending on where you live

If you live in IranIRCC says you can apply in person at a police+10 centre, or online through the Sana System. The online system does not work from outside Iran.
If you live outside IranApply at your nearest Iranian embassy.
If you are an Iranian living in CanadaThe Iranian embassy in Canada is closed. IRCC says Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided an alternative way to apply for the certificate, and links to it from its Iran page. That page is in Persian only.

IRCC refers applicants to the Iranian police website (epolice.ir, in Persian only) for the current list of documents needed. IRCC's page does not give a fee or a processing time, so check those with the Iranian authorities when you apply.

How recent the certificate must be

IRCC's rules on validity depend on where you live now:

Country where you currently reside: the certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application.
Any other country: the certificate must be issued after the last time you lived there for 6 consecutive months or longer since age 18. A certificate with an expiry date on it can still be accepted if it meets this condition and is not from your current country of residence.

So if you have lived in Canada for several years and are applying for permanent residence, Iran is not your current country of residence. The Iranian certificate must be dated after your last stay of 6 months or more in Iran. If you live in Iran and apply from there, it must be no more than 6 months old when you submit.

You do not need a certificate for any period before age 18 or for time spent in Canada. IRCC may ask for updated certificates at any time during processing.

Express Entry has its own timing: after an invitation to apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit. IRCC advises starting your police checks as soon as your profile is in the pool.

Submitting the certificate

IRCC asks for colour scans of the original certificate. It does not accept certified true copies or unauthorized copies, and says these will cause the application to be rejected.

Some countries issue certificates only after receiving an official request letter from IRCC. IRCC's Iran page does not mention a request letter for Iran.

If you cannot get the certificate

If you cannot get a certificate from Iran, IRCC asks for two things: proof that you requested it from the correct authorities, and a letter explaining everything you did to try to get it. IRCC states that it cannot guarantee it will accept the application even if you send both.

For Express Entry, if a certificate is still missing when the 60-day deadline arrives, include the letter of explanation and proof of your best effort, such as receipts, tracking numbers or the issuing agency's explanation of the delay. IRCC may reject an application as incomplete if the proof is not enough.

Translations

The Iranian certificate will usually be in Persian. When a document is not in English or French, IRCC asks for the original (or a certified copy) together with an English or French translation by a certified translator.

Certified translator: a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad, confirmed by a seal or stamp showing the membership number. A translator still in the process of certification does not qualify.
If a certified translator does not do the translation: it must come with an affidavit in which the translator swears to the accuracy of the translation and to their language proficiency. In Canada, the affidavit is sworn before a notary public, a commissioner of oaths or a commissioner for taking affidavits. Outside Canada, it is sworn before a notary public or equivalent.
Who cannot translate: the applicant, members of the applicant's family (including a parent, spouse, child, sibling or cousin, even if they are a translator), and the applicant's representative or consultant.
Stamps and seals: any stamp or seal not in English or French must also be translated.

IRCC can return an application as incomplete if required translations are missing.

Police certificates and civil documents from Iran: what IRCC asks for.