A work-permit holder in Canada applying for PR had a Pakistani PCC issued 2 years earlier when leaving the country, and hadn't returned since. Can the old certificate be reused?
What group members advised:- Get a fresh PCC — don't reuse the old one. Although IRCC's rule for countries you've left is that the PCC be issued after your last stay, members' unanimous practical advice was 'don't take the risk': a 2-year-old certificate invites a document request or delay, and members applying for PR obtained new ones regardless of travel history.
- You can obtain it remotely. You don't need to fly home. Home-country PCCs can be arranged from abroad (through the relevant issuing process or with family assisting locally), and one member confirmed doing exactly this the previous year.
- A scanned copy is what IRCC gets anyway. Since the application only takes an uploaded scan, having the certificate issued at home and receiving a scanned copy works fine in practice — though keep the original accessible in case it's ever requested.
- The requirement applies at PR stage specifically. Members noted PCCs are demanded for PR applications (they may not have been needed for earlier permits), so plan for fresh certificates from every country you've lived in 6+ months.
Budget the issuance time into your post-ITA 60-day document window — home-country police certificates can be slow.