Criminal record checks in Quebec: employment, volunteering, vulnerable sector and record suspension
Understand which criminal record check is being requested, when fingerprints may be needed, how vulnerable-sector checks differ and what a record suspension does.
Criminal record check
A check may begin with name and date of birth. Some situations require a certified check using fingerprints. The RCMP explains the available types and when fingerprints are required.
Vulnerable sector check
This is a specific process for positions of trust or authority over vulnerable people. It is generally initiated for an organization and completed through the police service responsible for the applicant’s place of residence.
If your name matches someone else
A name-based match can lead to a fingerprint request to confirm identity. It does not automatically mean the applicant has that criminal record.
Record suspension
A record suspension, formerly called a pardon, is a separate federal process administered by the Parole Board of Canada. It does not erase history but can set the record apart in federal systems under the applicable rules.