RCMP Background Check: What They Investigate

The RCMP background check covers 10 years of your history, including employment, finances, criminal record, drug use, driving record, online activity, and references. It is the longest single stage in the hiring process, typically taking 3 to 8 months. Honesty at this stage is the single most important factor.

What the RCMP Background Check Covers

The RCMP runs a Field Investigation and Security Assessment that goes back 10 years. According to RCMP recruitment guidance, the investigation examines:

Previous employment and education verification
Neighbourhood inquiries
Friends and associates interviews
Character references
Personal finances and credit checks
Drug and alcohol use history
Online activity review
Criminal record examination

This is not a quick database pull. RCMP investigators speak to people who know you. They visit neighbourhoods where you lived. They check records across multiple systems. The guidance puts it directly: “Thoroughness takes precedence over speed.”

For context on how this stage fits into the full hiring timeline, see the RCMP application guide.

How Long the RCMP Background Check Takes

The background check is the longest single stage in the RCMP hiring process. RCMP recruitment documentation gives these timelines:

Simple reliability status: 7 business days (applies to rare, uncomplicated files)
Standard complex request: 120+ business days, roughly 4 months
Enhanced screening (domestic background): 3 to 8 months
Enhanced screening (international background): 12 to 24 months

International experience is the main factor that extends the timeline. If you lived abroad for more than six consecutive months in the past decade, the RCMP requires foreign police clearances from those countries. That adds significant time.

The recruitment guidance notes: “Extended silence during the background investigation phase is normal and does not indicate rejection.” Hearing nothing for weeks at this stage is expected.

For a full breakdown of how long the overall process takes, see how long the RCMP hiring process takes.

What Can Disqualify You at This Stage

Several issues can end your application during the background investigation. Some are absolute; others depend on timing or context.

Criminal history

Any conviction without a pardon or record suspension disqualifies you. The RCMP also rejects applicants with serious criminal behaviour, whether charged or not. Criminal activity within one year of your application date is disqualifying, even without an arrest or charges.

Financial issues

Pending personal bankruptcies and consumer proposals are disqualifying. So is intentional tax evasion. Two or more incidents of child support conviction or wage garnishment for unpaid child support within the past three years also disqualify you.

Driving record

The RCMP looks at patterns, not isolated incidents. A hit-and-run conviction within the past three years is grounds for rejection. So is driving while impaired.

Drug use

You must wait at least 12 months after your last marijuana use before applying. For all other illegal drugs, the waiting period is three years from your last use.

Dishonesty during the process

Falsifying information at any stage causes immediate removal. This applies to the background check, the RMAQ, and every other part of the application. The RCMP guidance states: “Discovered deception disqualifies you; disclosed imperfections may not.”

For the full list of disqualifying factors across all stages, see the RCMP disqualification guide.

Security Clearance Requirements

The background check feeds into the security clearance decision. Standard RCMP constable positions require reliability status or enhanced security screening. The RCMP recruitment guidance notes that certain positions requiring top-secret security clearance may be limited to Canadian citizens rather than permanent residents.

If you have spent extended time outside Canada, or have close ties to foreign governments or organisations, expect additional scrutiny at this stage.

The One Thing That Speeds This Stage Up

RCMP recruitment guidance is consistent on this: transparency. The guidance states: “Complete transparency: Be completely honest about your personal history, including past mistakes. Discovered deception disqualifies you; disclosed imperfections may not.”

And directly: “Honesty and transparency accelerate this stage.”

Applicants who disclose issues upfront and provide complete documentation move through faster than those whose investigators have to dig for information. If something in your background is complicated, disclose it and explain it. Hiding it almost always makes things worse.

If your file is paused at this stage rather than closed, it may be a deferral. See how RCMP deferrals work for what that means and what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the RCMP look for in a background check?

Employment, education, finances, criminal record, drug use, driving history, online activity, and character references over 10 years.

How long does the RCMP background check take?

Typically 3 to 8 months for domestic backgrounds; 12 to 24 months for files with extended international history.

How many references does the RCMP require?

The official guidance does not specify a fixed number. The RCMP contacts references and neighbours as needed.

Can drug use disqualify an RCMP application?

Yes. Marijuana use within 12 months disqualifies you. Other illegal drug use within 3 years disqualifies you.

Disclaimer: This article is based on hours of research of RCMP recruitment guidance. It is general information, not legal or professional advice. Requirements and timelines can change. Contact RCMP National Recruiting for decisions specific to your file.