A regular local police check only looks at records within a specific jurisdiction and is based on your name. An RCMP Background Check uses your fingerprints to search Canada's national criminal database, making it far more thorough — and it's accepted for immigration, federal employment, and international applications.

Often, yes. Many immigration departments and international agencies don't accept a local clearance letter on its own — they specifically require a fingerprint-based RCMP check since it provides a certified record recognized across Canada and abroad.