Viewing 21 posts 43 – 63 of 283
×
Legal AI
Assistant
Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Federal Criminal Law Canada » Federal Pardons & Record Suspensions Canada » Page 3
💡If your third-party pardon agency suddenly closes, your record suspension file at the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) belongs entirely to you. You must immediately contact the PBC to revoke…
💡No, pardons granted before the 2012 Safe Streets and Communities Act remain permanently valid. You do not need to renew them or reapply for a Record Suspension, provided you maintain…
💡Using a courier service like FedEx provides delivery tracking, but it does not speed up the internal processing times at the Parole Board of Canada. Once your package arrives, it…
💡Becoming an armed security guard in Canada requires both a provincial security licence and a federal Authorization to Carry (ATC) from the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO). A federal Record Suspension…
💡It is a common misconception that your DNA profile is destroyed after receiving a federal Record Suspension. Under the DNA Identification Act, your biological samples are legally sealed and kept…
⚖If your criminal court records have been purged due to standard retention limits, the Parole Board of Canada requires a formal "No Record" letter from the courthouse accompanied by a…
💡Applying for a federal Record Suspension with an ‘X’ gender marker requires you to disclose all previous names and gender identities used. Because your CPIC file is permanently tied to…
💡A conviction for animal cruelty under Section 445 of the Criminal Code is a serious offence that can haunt you for years. To seal this record, you must wait either…
💡Clearing a conviction for trafficking Schedule I narcotics (like cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl) under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act requires a 5 or 10-year waiting period. The Parole Board…
💡No, you do not need to translate your French court documents or police checks from Quebec into English. Because the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) is a fully bilingual federal…
💡To apply for a federal Record Suspension (Pardon) in Canada without a permanent residence, you can use a P.O. Box, a trusted friend’s address, a shelter, or a lawyer’s office…
💡To get a record suspension for criminal harassment in Canada, you must wait 5 years for a summary conviction or 10 years for an indictable offence after completing your sentence.…
🔍If your biometric fingerprint submission for a Canadian record suspension is lost or significantly delayed, your 20-digit Document Control Number (DCN) is your lifeline. Do not immediately pay to redo…
💡Status Indians living on a First Nations reserve must obtain their Local Police Records Check from the specific police service holding jurisdiction over their community, such as a Band police…
💡As a Canadian resident, you have the constitutional right to submit your Record Suspension application in either English or French. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) processes bilingual applications without…
💡To apply for a Record Suspension (formerly a pardon) across provincial lines, you do not need to travel back to the province of conviction. You can request your court documents…
💡If your Certificate of Conviction contains clerical errors regarding your sentencing date, you must contact the specific local courthouse to amend it before applying for a Record Suspension. Submitting incorrect…
💡To successfully apply for a Record Suspension in Canada, you must disclose every single alias listed on your CPIC record to the Parole Board of Canada. Failing to include a…
💡If you are arrested or face new charges while your Record Suspension is processing, the Parole Board of Canada will immediately halt your application. You will generally face a refusal…
💡Generally, the Parole Board of Canada does not actively seek out or contact victims during a standard Record Suspension application. The process is primarily administrative, though local police may review…
💡If you forgot where you were convicted in Canada, your first step is to get your fingerprints taken and sent to the RCMP. The resulting certified criminal record will list…
🎯 Specialization: Criminal Litigation, Immigration Visas, Residential Real Estate, Notary Public
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 291 King St, London, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Civil Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Family Mediation, Estate Planning
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 108 John St N, Hamilton, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Child Protection, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Matrimonial Disputes
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1240 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Aboriginal Law, Criminal Defence, Impaired Driving, Civil Litigation
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1141 Fort St, Victoria, British Columbia
🏢 Est: 1985
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Homicide Defence, Youth Court Cases, Domestic Assault, Drug Trafficking
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 20 Hughson Street South, Hamilton, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1988
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Domestic Violence Defence, Criminal Harassment, Traffic Tickets, Drug Offences
🗣️ Languages: English, French, Arabic
📍 Address: 20 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, Quebec
🎯 Specialization: Hidden Defects, Construction Law, Criminal Defense, Co-ownership Disputes
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 6300 Av. Auteuil, Brossard, Quebec
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Contested Divorce, Child Custody Disputes, Domestic Assault Defence, Separation Agreements
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi
📍 Address: 6832c King George Blvd, Surrey, British Columbia
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Domestic Assault Defence, DUI Defence, Sexual Assault Defence
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 140 Fullarton St, London, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Traffic Tickets, Stunt Driving, Careless Driving, Commercial Vehicle Offences
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 4370 Steeles Ave W, Vaughan, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Fingerprinting (By Appointment)
📍 1445 Regent St, Fredericton, New Brunswick
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: PAL Possession and Acquisition Licence, ATT Authorization to Transport, Shooting Range Approvals,…
📍 1405 Albert St, Regina, Saskatchewan
⚙️ Services: Federal Policing, National Security, International Policing, Specialized Policing Services
📍 73 Prom. Leikin Dr, Ottawa, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: social-insurance-number, canadian-passport, biometrics
📍 9700 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Alberta
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Police Certificates, Accident Reports
📍 520 Main St, Moncton, New Brunswick
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Fingerprinting
📍 925 9e Rue de l'Aéroport, Québec City, Quebec
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Court Records, Judgments, Orders, Writs
📍 2425 Victoria Ave, Regina, Saskatchewan
⚙️ Services: Citizenship Certificates, Permanent Residence Confirmation
📍 29 Duke St E, Kitchener, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks (referral), Police Information Checks (referral)
📍 500 Talbot St, London, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Fingerprinting Records, Pardons and Suspensions
📍 1200 Vanier Pkwy, Ottawa, Ontario
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.