Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Federal Criminal Law Canada » Federal Pardons & Record Suspensions Canada » Page 13
💡When applying for a Record Suspension, you must list your employment history to demonstrate sustained rehabilitation. While the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has the legal authority to call your…
💡If you committed an indictable offence prior to March 13, 2012, you may be exempt from the current 10-year waiting period for a Canadian Record Suspension. Due to recent Charter…
💡Private fingerprinting agencies cannot speed up the internal RCMP processing queue for your Record Suspension. While they can transmit your fingerprints to Ottawa electronically in seconds, if you have a…
💡When filling out the Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation form for a Record Suspension, you must take 100% accountability for your actions without making excuses. Focus heavily on how you have changed…
💡To get a Record Suspension in Canada with multiple assault convictions, you must prove sustained rehabilitation to the Parole Board of Canada. Because multiple convictions show a pattern of violent…
💡Applying for a Record Suspension in Canada is vastly different depending on the firearms charge. Simple possession of a weapon is often treated as a summary conviction (requiring a 5-year…
💡Perjury and fabricating evidence are classified as crimes against the administration of justice. Because these indictable offences involve lying under oath, proving your “good character” to the Parole Board of…
💡If the Parole Board of Canada officially grants your Record Suspension, the RCMP is legally required to seal your criminal record in the CPIC database. However, administrative glitches and delays…
🚫You cannot obtain a federal Record Suspension in Canada if you have an active, outstanding warrant-even for a minor municipal by-law infraction like an unpaid parking ticket or a dog…
💬A civil restraining order from a provincial family court does not automatically disqualify you from getting a Record Suspension in Canada. However, if you were issued a criminal Section 810…
💡You absolutely cannot apply for a federal Record Suspension while currently serving on parole or statutory release in Canada. Under the Criminal Records Act, your mandatory 5-year or 10-year waiting…
💡A CPIC purge is the process of permanently deleting police records and fingerprints for charges that were stayed, withdrawn, or dismissed. Unlike a Record Suspension (pardon), a purge is handled…
💡In Canada, a Record Suspension (formerly a pardon) for a strict liability offence-such as severe federal environmental or regulatory breaches-follows the same general timeline as standard criminal charges. However, because…
💡To get a Record Suspension in Canada, you must pass the Local Police Records Check (LPRC). Even if you were never charged with a new crime, recent 911 calls for…
🔍Before spending money on a Record Suspension (pardon) application in Canada, you must run a certified CPIC criminal record check on yourself. This requires submitting digital fingerprints to the RCMP…
📄If your original courthouse closed or records were destroyed, you cannot just skip the court document requirement for a Record Suspension. You must obtain an alternative Proof of Conviction from…
💡After receiving a Record Suspension, the RCMP seals your criminal record in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). However, if you legally changed your name (due to marriage or identity…
💡In Canada, a Conditional Sentence Order (CSO) is legally treated as a jail sentence actively served in the community. Your mandatory 5 or 10-year wait time for a Record Suspension…
💡Yes, a probation violation (Breach of Probation) is legally considered a brand new criminal conviction under the category of Administration of Justice offences. It absolutely resets your mandatory 5-year or…
💰The official government filing fee for a record suspension at the Parole Board of Canada is currently $50 CAD. However, when you factor in mandatory RCMP fingerprinting, court documents, and…
🚨A Canadian Record Suspension (pardon) clears your record within Canada, but US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not recognize it. To legally cross the border with a past criminal…
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Welcome to the Canada Federal Pardons & Record Suspensions guide centre. Here you will find comprehensive resources covering everything from navigating waiting periods to dealing with the Parole Board of Canada, based on current federal regulations.
A criminal record can be a heavy burden, affecting your ability to find employment, secure housing, or volunteer in your community. In Canada, a “record suspension” (formerly known as a pardon) allows people who were convicted of a criminal offence, but have completed their sentence and demonstrated they are law-abiding citizens, to have their criminal record kept separate and apart from other criminal records.
This process is entirely federal and governed by the Criminal Records Act. Once granted by the Parole Board of Canada, your record is removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database, meaning a standard background check will no longer show your past convictions.
Navigating the post-conviction landscape involves several complex steps. Our resources address many common topics, including:
Even though applying for a record suspension is a federal process managed in Ottawa, you will need to interact with several local and provincial agencies to gather your necessary documentation. For instance, you must obtain court documents directly from the courthouse where your matter was originally heard, whether that was the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, the Court of King’s Bench in Alberta, or the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Additionally, local police checks are a mandatory step in the application. You will need to request Local Police Records Checks from every municipality you have lived in over the past five years, meaning you might need to interact directly with the Calgary Police Service, local RCMP detachments, or other regional police departments.
The application process for a record suspension is rigorous, demanding strict attention to detail and precise documentation. Attempting to navigate the paperwork and legal requirements on your own can lead to costly mistakes, returned applications, or even a denial by the Parole Board of Canada. We always recommend seeking the guidance of a qualified legal professional to ensure your application is flawless and your rights are protected.
You can find a list of relevant local lawyers and government agencies at the top of this page. Working with an experienced lawyer or legal representative can give you peace of mind, simplify interactions with local courts, and significantly reduce the stress of clearing your past.
In 2012, the Canadian government officially changed the term “pardon” to “record suspension.” They generally mean the same thing, but the new term was introduced to reflect that a criminal record is set aside from public databases, rather than erased or forgiven entirely.
The waiting period depends on how the Crown proceeded with your charges. Typically, it is five years for a summary conviction offence and ten years for an indictable offence. This waiting period only starts after you have fully completed all parts of your sentence, including paying fines and finishing probation.
No, it will not. US Customs and Border Protection does not recognize Canadian record suspensions. If you have a criminal record on file, even if it has been suspended in Canada, you may still be denied entry and will likely need to apply for a US Entry Waiver to cross the border legally.
Yes. The Parole Board of Canada has the authority to revoke your record suspension if you are convicted of a new criminal offence, if you are found to no longer be of good conduct, or if it is discovered that you provided false or misleading information on your application.
The Parole Board of Canada charges a standard federal application fee to process your file. However, you must also budget for the costs of mandatory RCMP fingerprinting, obtaining certified court records, requesting local police checks, and any legal fees if you choose to hire a lawyer to assist you.
If you were never formally convicted, you do not need a record suspension. However, the arrest record, photographs, and fingerprints may still exist in the RCMP and local police databases. To have these removed, you will need to apply for a file and fingerprint destruction, which is a different process.
