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Criminal Record Check
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BCFSA verifies the criminal record history of licensing applicants in order to provide appropriate consumer protection. Criminal record checks provide assurance to consumers that they are not at risk in their dealings with a real estate professional.
If an applicant has a criminal record, it does not mean their application will be automatically refused. We will look carefully at the circumstances of the individual case and how the crime committed relates to the responsibilities of holding a real estate licence.
In order to protect consumers, BCFSA requires the following applicants to obtain a criminal record check and submit it with their application:
- First-time licence applicants.
- Re-licence applicants (those who have been unlicensed for more than 90 days after licence expiry).
- Reinstatement licence applicants (those who have been unlicensed for more than 90 days within licence period).
- Director/officer or partner applicants who are not currently licensed or who have not been licensed or registered as a director/officer or partner under the Real Estate Services Act in the last 90 days.
BCFSA may require a criminal record check from any licence applicant.
You can apply for a criminal record check online using Triton Canada. To obtain a criminal record check using Triton online, please use the link below. BCFSA will not be able to accept criminal record check that are obtained using any other link, or through any other online criminal record checks provider. The cost of a Triton criminal record check is $24.95.
Triton Online Criminal Record Check
You may also obtain a local criminal record check (also called a Police Information Check) from either the municipal police department or RCMP detachment where you live, or by a division of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. If using the Commissionaires you must request the type of criminal record check that includes Judicial Matters.
Online Criminal Record Checks using Triton CanadaPermanent link to this section
- Please use the following link to access Triton: Triton Canada Online Criminal Record Check. Ensure that you enter your full legal name, including any middle name(s), in your Triton request that matches your government issued identification. If the name on your criminal record check does not match your identification, you will be required to obtain an updated criminal record check in your full legal name.
- BCFSA cannot accept criminal record checks obtained from Triton where you have not used the link provided, or through any other online criminal record check provider.
- Once you have completed the online process, your results will be sent to you via email. BCFSA will receive access to your results directly through Triton. You do not need to send your results to us.
- If you obtained your criminal record check via the Triton link on the BCFSA website you will be prompted to indicate that in the requirements step of your licence application submission.
In-Person Criminal Record ChecksPermanent link to this section
- Before you visit the police, RCMP or Commissionaires office, contact them to confirm their hours of operation, fees, and the methods of payment accepted.
- If the criminal record check has a section requiring you to authorize the disclosure of your personal information, enter “BC Financial Services Authority” in this section.
- If you obtained your criminal record check from your local police or RCMP detachment, upload a copy of the criminal record check document in the requirements step of your licence application submission. We do not require the original criminal record check to be forwarded to BCFSA’s office.
If you are aware of a conviction, charge, or incident with the police on your record, please obtain your criminal record check from your local RCMP or police department. Commissionaires and Triton criminal record checks may not provide the full disclosure required, and will not be accepted by BCFSA for licensing purposes if they are incomplete.
- Please use the following link to access Triton: Triton Canada Online Criminal Record Check. Ensure that you enter your full legal name, including any middle name(s), in your Triton request that matches your government issued identification. If the name on your criminal record check does not match your identification, you will be required to obtain an updated criminal record check in your full legal name.
Criminal record checks must be from Canada unless otherwise requested or approved by BCFSA.
- If you live in a province other than BC, follow the procedures above to obtain an electronic criminal record check using Triton Canada. Criminal record checks obtained using any other link or from any other online criminal record check provider will not be accepted.
You may also obtain a criminal record check from the municipal police agency or RCMP detachment in your community, or a division of Commissionaires. The criminal record check must provide search results for both convictions and charges before the courts.
A certified criminal record check obtained via fingerprints is not required. If you are aware of a conviction, charge, or incident with the police on your record, please obtain your criminal record check from your local RCMP or police department. The Commissionaires and Triton Criminal record check results may not provide the full disclosure which is required by BCFSA and won’t be accepted if they are incomplete. Before ordering your criminal record check from the police or RCMP, ensure that the search will be conducted for both convictions and charges before the courts (Judicial Matters) and that the search results will provide full disclosure of the incident. - If you have lived in a country other than Canada for a significant period within five years of the date of your application, you may be required to provide BCFSA with a criminal record check from that country.
- If you live in a province other than BC, follow the procedures above to obtain an electronic criminal record check using Triton Canada. Criminal record checks obtained using any other link or from any other online criminal record check provider will not be accepted.
Make sure your criminal record check is completed within 90 days of the date BCFSA receives your application.
If the criminal record check is more than 90 days old, you will be required to have a new check completed before you can be licensed.
If you are aware of a conviction, charge, or incident with the police on your record, please obtain your criminal record check (also called a Police Information Check) from your local RCMP or police department.
The Commissionaires and Triton criminal record check results may not provide the full disclosure which is required by BCFSA and won’t be accepted if they are incomplete.
Before ordering the criminal record check from the police or RCMP, ensure that the search will be conducted for both convictions and charges before the courts (Judicial Matters) and that the search results will provide full disclosure of the incident.
If the search indicates that you have a conviction or current charge against you, you must provide full details of the incident and include court documentation with your licence application form.
A certified criminal record check obtained via fingerprints is not required.