Requesting a Pardon, Rehabilitation

I have been convicted of a crime. Can I enter Canada?
I have previously been directed to leave Canada. Can I re-enter Canada? I have been convicted of a crime. Can I enter Canada?

If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence in any country, you may be inadmissible to Canada as a result of your criminal record. Even if you do not ordinarily require a visa to enter Canada, you may still be refused entry to Canada if you are a member of an inadmissible class.

Minor offences, such as shoplifting, can give rise to a criminal inadmissibility. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offence in Canada, and persons with convictions for this offence are inadmissible to Canada. Although Canada is similar to other countries in preventing the admission of convicted offenders, Canada does make provision to allow people with criminal records into Canada under certain circumstances.

Convictions within Canada

If you were convicted of an offence in Canada and you wish to re-enter Canada, you must first apply for a pardon from the Clemency and Pardons Division of the National Parole Board. A pardon will permanently erase your Canadian criminal record, and any consequences of inadmissibility resulting from it. If you are unable to obtain a pardon, you may request consideration for a Minister's permit. For more information on pardons contact:

Convictions outside Canada

If you were convicted outside Canada and five years or more have elapsed since the termination of the sentence imposed, not the sentence served, you may apply through a visa office for the approval for rehabilitation. The approval for rehabilitation will permanently remove the inadmissibility caused by your conviction.

I have previously been directed to leave Canada. Can I re-enter Canada?

If you have been asked to leave Canada, you may have been subject to a deportation order or a deemed deportation order, and you will likely require a Minister's consent before you can re-enter Canada. You should inquire at a visa office regarding your eligibility for a Minister's consent.

PLEASE NOTE:

In general, applications for an approval for rehabilitation, a pardon, a Minister's consent or a Minister's permit take into consideration the nature of the offences, the number of offences on the applicant's record, the length of time since the last offence, reports from parole or probation officers, the purpose for which entry is sought to Canada, and the applicant's standing in the community.

Because these applications take into account so many individual circumstances, you should contact a visa office directly and request an application kit. The visa office will be able to indicate what specific documents are required, and the length of time the application will take. Some applications for approval of rehabilitation or Minister's permit must be approved at the Headquarters of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the application process may be very time consuming.

You can also consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website for further information: www.cic.gc.ca