Field investigation and security clearance
As part of your application to become an RCMP officer, we'll conduct a thorough background check into your activities during the past 10 years. This investigation will help us determine your reliability and suitability for the job. The investigation concentrates on, but is not limited to:
- Previous employment
- Education
- Neighbourhood inquiries
- Friends and associates
- Character references
- Personal finances
- Drug and alcohol use
- Online activities
- Criminal activities
Time spent outside of Canada
If you're a Canadian citizen and you've been outside of Canada for more than six months in a row during the past 10 years, you'll need to provide details of your activities during that time.
In some cases, we may ask you to provide details of your activities even if you've been outside of Canada for less than six months.
Accounting for your activities does not guarantee that you'll receive a security clearance. We'll assess time spent outside of Canada on a case-by-case basis.
Examples of documents to help you provide details of your activities include:
- Letters of reference or referral from foreign embassies and missions in Canada
- Letters of reference or referral from Canadian embassies or missions in the country in which you lived while abroad
- Security screening information from countries with which Canada has security information exchange agreements
- Letters or police clearance certificates from law enforcement agencies in the country/countries in which you lived while abroad
- Credit summaries from established foreign financial institutions
- Letters of reference from foreign educational institutions/universities
If you were away from Canada working for the Government of Canada or with the Canadian Armed Forces, you may not need to account for your activities.
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