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Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Federal Criminal Law Canada » Federal Pardons & Record Suspensions Canada » Page 14
⏱️In Canada, the legal waiting period for a Record Suspension is generally 5 years for a summary conviction and 10 years for an indictable offence. This waiting period officially begins…
💡In Canada, you are generally permanently ineligible for a Record Suspension if you have been convicted of a Schedule 1 offence involving a child, or if you have more than…
💡To start your Record Suspension application in Canada, you must obtain a Certified Criminal Record from the RCMP by submitting electronic fingerprints through an accredited agency. The federal processing fee…
❗If the Parole Board of Canada intends to refuse your application, they will mail you a formal “Proposal to Deny” letter. You generally have 90 days to submit written representations…
💰While the federal government fee for a record suspension is only $50 CAD, hiring a law firm to handle your application typically costs between $500 and $1,500 CAD. Reputable Canadian…
📄To get a Record Suspension in Canada, you must prove to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) that you have been of good conduct. You generally do this by submitting…
✍🏽The Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation Form is a mandatory part of a Record Suspension application in Canada. You must clearly explain to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) how the pardon…
👮In Canada, a Record Suspension for a summary conviction generally requires a 5-year waiting period, while a more serious indictable offence requires a 10-year waiting period. The Parole Board of…
⏱In Canada, once your complete application is officially accepted by the Parole Board of Canada, processing takes up to 6 months for a summary conviction and up to 12 months…
🚗Yes, you can get a Record Suspension (pardon) for an Impaired Driving conviction in Canada. The mandatory waiting period is generally 5 years for a summary conviction or 10 years…
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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.