Applying for a criminal record suspension (formerly a pardon) in Canada costs a mandatory $50 CAD processing fee payable to the Parole Board of Canada. Additionally, you should budget for electronic fingerprinting at an accredited private agency (ranging from $50.00 to $90.00 CAD, plus a $25 RCMP fee), local Ottawa Police record checks ($74.00 CAD), and legal or agency fees if you hire a professional, which range from $1,000 to $2,500 CAD.
Living with a criminal record in Ontario can create significant barriers in your daily life. It can prevent you from securing employment, volunteering in your community, getting approved for housing, or travelling abroad. 🚶 Fortunately, the Canadian justice system allows individuals who have completed their sentences and demonstrated good behaviour to apply for a “Record Suspension” (historically known as a pardon). This process keeps your criminal record separate and invisible from standard background checks. While the prospect of a clean slate is exciting, navigating the bureaucracy can be daunting. Many Ottawa residents wonder exactly how much the process costs and what steps are involved. In this guide, we will break down the exact fees, timelines, and procedures required to apply for a record suspension in the nation’s capital.
Step-by-Step Process for a Record Suspension in Ottawa
Obtaining a record suspension is a federal process overseen by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC), but it requires gathering documents locally in Ottawa. A single mistake on your application can result in it being returned or rejected, so attention to detail is critical.
Step 1: Getting Fingerprints for a Criminal Record Check
The very first step is obtaining a certified copy of your criminal record from the RCMP in Ottawa. To do this, you must have your fingerprints taken electronically. Because the Ottawa Police Service does not provide fingerprinting services for record suspension applications, you must use an RCMP-accredited private fingerprinting agency in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. 🖰 The results are usually mailed to you directly from Ottawa headquarters within a few weeks.
Step 2: Requesting Court Information
Once you have your RCMP record, you must obtain a “Court Information Form” for every conviction listed. You will need to take this form to the courthouse where your case was heard. If you were convicted in Ottawa, you will visit the criminal clerk’s office at the Ottawa Courthouse on Elgin Street. They will certify the details of your conviction, including exactly when your fines were paid and your sentence was completed.
Step 3: Local Police Records Check
Next, you must prove that you have not been involved in any recent criminal activity. You are required to submit a Local Police Records Check from the police service in every city or town you have lived in over the past 5 years. If you have been living in Ottawa, the Ottawa Police Service will process this background check for you.
Step 4: Submitting the Application to the PBC
After gathering all court documents, police checks, a copy of your ID, and filling out the extensive application forms, you must mail the complete package to the Parole Board of Canada in Ottawa. You must include the official government processing fee with your final submission.
How Much Does it Cost in Ottawa?
The cost of a record suspension involves a mix of mandatory government fees and optional professional fees. 💲 While you can complete the application yourself, many people prefer to hire a lawyer or a specialized pardon agency to ensure it is done correctly.
- Parole Board of Canada Fee: The federal government makes daily life pardons more accessible with an official processing fee of exactly $50 CAD (or $0 if your application is strictly for simple possession of cannabis).
- Fingerprinting Fees: Getting electronic fingerprints taken locally by an accredited private agency typically costs between $50.00 and $90.00 CAD, plus the mandatory RCMP federal processing fee of $25 CAD.
- Court and Police Document Fees: Under the 2026 Ottawa Police Service fee schedule, a local police record check for a record suspension application costs exactly $74.00 CAD. Elgin Street courthouse and court document fees generally range from $20 to $65 CAD per certified copy.
- Lawyer or Agency Fees (Optional): If you hire a legal professional to handle the complex paperwork, collect the documents, and communicate with the PBC on your behalf, expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 CAD.
| Expense Item | Is it Mandatory? | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| PBC Application Fee | Yes (Except for simple cannabis possession) | $50 |
| RCMP Fingerprinting | Yes | $75.00 – $115.00 ($50.00 – $90.00 agency + $25 RCMP) |
| Local Police Checks | Yes | $74.00 (Ottawa Police fee) |
| Legal / Agency Representation | No | $1,000 – $2,500 |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Patience is essential when applying for a record suspension. First, you must meet the mandatory wait times after completing your entire sentence (including paying all fines). Under standard rules, the wait time is 5 years for a summary conviction and 10 years for an indictable offence. 📅 Crucially, following a landmark March 2020 Federal Court ruling on retroactivity, if your first offence was committed before the 2010 and 2012 amendments to the Criminal Records Act, your application will be assessed under grandfathered rules, reducing wait times to just 3 years for summary convictions and 5 years for indictable offences. Once you are eligible and submit your application, the Parole Board of Canada usually takes between 6 to 12 months to review your file and grant the suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will a record suspension completely erase my criminal record?
No, a record suspension does not delete your history. It sets your criminal record aside, meaning a standard background check for employment or housing in Canada will show no record. However, the RCMP still keeps the file, and it can be reinstated if you commit a new offence.
Does a Canadian record suspension allow me to travel to the U.S.?
Not necessarily. The United States Customs and Border Protection does not recognize Canadian record suspensions. If the U.S. border guards already have your record on file, you may still be denied entry and will need to apply for a U.S. Entry Waiver.
Can I apply for a record suspension if I haven’t paid my fines?
Generally, no. Your sentence is not considered complete until every single fine, restitution order, and victim surcharge is paid in full, and your waiting period only begins on the date of final payment. However, a major exception exists under the federal Bill C-93 for simple possession of cannabis: if your application is strictly for simple cannabis possession, the waiting period is 0 years, the PBC fee is $0, and you can apply immediately after completing your primary sentence (such as probation or jail time) even if you have outstanding fines or surcharges related to that specific conviction.
Do I absolutely need a lawyer to apply?
No, the process is designed so that citizens can apply on their own without legal representation. However, because the paperwork is extensive and easy to mess up, many applicants choose to hire a law firm or agency to guarantee the application is accepted the first time.
Leave a Reply