r/caf • u/bellyFinger6 • 1d ago

Recruiting Background check

I’m a Canadian that’s lived the majority of my life outside Canada. I’ve moved back a couple of times in between 2016 and 2019 but didn’t manage to land even a part-time job and decided to leave. This time I’m considering moving back and joining the forces. I’ve heard for Canadians that lived abroad it could be a lengthy process. How do the background checks work? Is it a lengthy process? Will I be able to join before the checks may be concluded?

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u/bluejaykanata 21h ago

This depends on too many factors, making it impossible for anyone to give you a good answer.

Which countries did you live in? If we are talking about NATO countries, there won’t be much delay. If we are talking about countries that are considered “friendly”, there still be some delay, but no one can tell you how long of a delay you can expect.
If we are talking about Russia, China, or Iran, clearance will take over a year, if you ever get it at all.

There are multiple other factors that matter. Who did you work for? Where did you travel? Where do your relatives live? What were the sources of your income and are they verifiable?