Online family class spouse application police certificate "required" question

[Jacz32]

On the online application portal it has the *required in read next to police certificate.
From my understanding this is only needed when it is requested by immigration office,
but at the bottom of the page it says make sure all required files are uploaded.

the checklist says wait for the request.
the webpage says i must provide with the application.
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1328&top=14

so I'm confused do i need to get it now or apply and wait for it to be requested

 

[armoured]

so I'm confused do i need to get it now or apply and wait for it to be requested

You have to figure out yourself - short form is that it is required for all applicants (eg the spouse being sponsored) over 18. Some countries/jurisdictions will not provide a police certificate without a formal request - those are the ones that cannot provide when they apply.

Instead for those places you'll later get a formal request letter from IRCC that you use to get the police certificate; you should attach a small letter of explanation to your application ('cannot provide because [country] does not provide without request letter from IRCC'). The IRCC websites (search carefully) indicate which countries are in this situation.