A number of news outlets have recently reported on changes to police certificates for temporary residents, with some outlets claiming that Canada has eliminated the police certificate requirement for temporary residents. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made no changes to its policy regarding police certificates, and people seeking entry to Canada as temporary residents should be aware of that they may be asked to provide one.IRCC’s website states, “When you apply as a visitor, student or temporary worker, we may ask you for a certificate.”

On another page, IRCC writes, “You might need a police certificate if you’re coming to Canada as a:
tourist
student
temporary worker
live-in caregiver.”

IRCC makes abundantly clear that while police certificates are not always necessary for temporary residents—unlike for applicants for permanent residence or citizenship—they may very well be required.