Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Federal Criminal Law Canada » Federal Pardons & Record Suspensions Canada » Page 2
💡If you need to stop your Record Suspension process because of new criminal charges or a permanent move out of the country, you must formally withdraw your application by sending…
💡To apply for a federal pardon in Quebec, you must extract your criminal records from the provincial Plumitif system. You will need to visit the Cour du Québec to get…
🌿Violations of provincial environmental laws, such as the Environmental Protection Act in Ontario or Alberta, are classified as provincial offences. They are not federal crimes, do not appear on your…
📄To apply for a federal Record Suspension in Canada, you must obtain a certified Court Information Form from the Alberta Court of Justice for every conviction on your record. You…
🕑In Canada, the mandatory 5-year (for a summary conviction) or 10-year (for an indictable offence) waiting period for a Record Suspension does not start on the day you go to…
💡To complete a federal pardon application in Ontario, you must obtain court records for every past conviction. For historical files, you may need to submit a formal archive retrieval request…
📞If your Record Suspension application has exceeded the official processing timeline, you can check its status by contacting the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) directly via their toll-free number (1-800-874-2652)…
💡To complete your Record Suspension application in Manitoba, you must obtain a “Court Information” document from the Provincial Court of Manitoba or the Court of King’s Bench where your case…
💡To get a federal record suspension in British Columbia, you must obtain certified court documents. You can use the BC Court Services Online (CSO) to track down your file numbers,…
💡Once the Parole Board of Canada grants your record suspension, your criminal record is sealed. Under Canadian law, you can legally and honestly check ‘No’ on a job application when…
💡In Canada, a record suspension for an indictable offence takes longer to process because the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) must conduct a subjective ‘good conduct’ review. While a summary…
💡While the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has recently reduced their federal processing fee to $50 CAD, the total out-of-pocket cost for a Canadian record suspension usually ranges from $300…
💡In Canada, the Local Police Records Check (LPRC) is a mandatory step for a record suspension, but fees vary drastically across the country. Because local municipal bylaws and provincial regulations…
👮You are legally required to obtain a Local Police Records Check from every police detachment in any municipality where you have lived for 3 months or more during the past…
💡If you legally change your name in Canada after receiving a Record Suspension (pardon), your sealed criminal record remains completely protected. There is no requirement or official process to notify…
💡The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) will immediately return your Record Suspension application if you use outdated forms. To avoid severe delays, you must download the most current PDFs directly…
💡When upgrading to a Secret Security Clearance in Canada, you are legally not required to disclose criminal convictions for which you have been granted a Record Suspension (Pardon). However, while…
💡In Canada, human rights laws generally protect individuals from discrimination based on a pardoned criminal record (now known as a Record Suspension). If an employer illegally asks about or discriminates…
💡A conviction for careless storage of a firearm (Section 86 of the Criminal Code) is usually a non-violent administrative offence, but it still leaves a permanent mark on your federal…
💡To get a Canadian record suspension (pardon) in a remote northern community, you do not need to fly to a major city. Local RCMP detachments can take traditional ink fingerprints,…
💡If your $50 CAD Record Suspension fee is declined due to an incorrect payment method, an expired credit card, or an improperly filled-out money order, the Receiver General for Canada…
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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.
