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Fingerprint and Photo Destruction

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Who can apply?

An applicant for fingerprint and photograph destruction must be at least 18 years of age or older and meet the following criteria: 

  • Have no criminal convictions with any police agency
  • Have no outstanding charges before the courts
  • Must not be the subject of any Peace Bond
  • The application cannot be made within one year of an Absolute Discharge
  • The application cannot be made within three years of a Conditional Discharge
  • The application cannot be made within one year of a stay of proceedings (other than a judicial stay)
  • If the charges were withdrawn, dismissed, quashed, discharged, or if you were acquitted or given a judicial stay, there is no waiting period

Please note there is a 30 day waiting period from the date of disposition (completed in court) before you can submit an application.  The waiting period is to ensure all documents are processed and accessible.  Applications submitted prior to the 30 day waiting period will not be held and you must reapply.

It is our procedure to deny fingerprint destruction if there are mitigating circumstances such as a risk to public safety, if the charges are of a serious nature or if the applicant is part of an ongoing investigation.

Partial destruction is not considered.

The applicant will be notified in writing if the request has been approved or denied, including the reasons for denial of the request.

If the applicant is a youth, fingerprints may be destroyed once the charges have met non-disclosure requirements under the Youth Criminal Justice Act/Young Offenders Act. If the charges have met with a conviction, the youth's fingerprints will not be destroyed, but will be sealed upon meeting the non-disclosure date.

When a request for destruction has been approved by York Regional Police, notification will be sent back in writing advising the date fingerprints and photographs were destroyed. Further, a request will be sent to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to purge their file and remove the record of disposition from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).

Fingerprint and photograph destruction does not remove the event from the York Regional Police database. All investigative files are maintained in accordance with our Records Classification and Retention Schedule.

Application process

Online application

Applicants or their legal representatives are now able to apply for fingerprint and photograph destruction online. 

Apply for fingerprint and photograph destruction

Application by mail

If you would like to have your fingerprints and photographs destroyed, please complete the Fingerprint and Photograph Destruction Form and mail the application to York Regional Police, to:

York Regional Police Information Management Bureau
47 Don Hillock Drive
Aurora, ON  L4G 0S7 

York Regional Police Headquarters
47 Don Hillock Drive
Aurora, ON

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday: Closed

Application fee

Effective January 1, 2024, applicants will not require a fee to apply for fingerprint and photograph destruction.

How long will it take?

The processing time for fingerprint and photograph destruction is approximately six to 12 months.

Contact us

Questions? Contact the Information Request Processor at 1-866-876-5423 ext 7749.