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Record suspension (pardon) in Canada: how to apply

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

A record suspension, once called a pardon, keeps your criminal record separate so it no longer shows in the national police database. Apply to the Parole Board of Canada after you finish your whole sentence and wait 5 to 10 years for offences committed since March 2012. The fee is $50, and you can apply without a lawyer.

Who handles it

Parole Board of Canada

Handles it everywhere in Canada.

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Who can apply

  • A record suspension keeps your criminal record separate from other records and removes it from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database. It sets the conviction aside but does not erase it.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • You can apply if you were convicted as an adult of an offence under a federal law. You do not need one if you only received an absolute or conditional discharge or were only convicted in youth court.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • You must first finish every part of your sentence: fines, surcharges, restitution, prison time, parole and probation. The waiting period starts after that.

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  • Under the current rules, you are not eligible if you were convicted of a Schedule 1 offence (a sexual offence involving a child), unless an exception applies, or of more than three indictable offences each with a sentence of two years or more.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

What you need

  • Your application includes the application form, your RCMP criminal record (from electronic fingerprints), court information forms, local police records checks for everywhere you lived 3 months or more in the last 5 years, a copy of your ID and a measurable benefit form.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Cost

  • The application processing fee is $50. Pay by credit card, certified cheque, money order or bank draft. Fingerprints, court documents and police checks cost extra.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • If your first offence was on or after March 13, 2012, the waiting period is 10 years for an indictable offence and 5 years for a summary conviction. Earlier first offences have shorter waits under the rules in place at the time.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Where to go

  • Mail the originals to the Parole Board of Canada, Clemency and Record Suspension Division, 410 Laurier Avenue West, 5th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R1.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Good to know

  • You can apply directly to the Parole Board. You do not need a lawyer or a paid third-party company.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Questions people ask

How much does a pardon cost in Canada?

The Parole Board's application fee is $50. You also pay any costs for fingerprints, copies of your criminal record, court documents and police checks.

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How long do I have to wait to apply for a record suspension?

It depends on when your first offence happened. For offences since March 13, 2012, it is 10 years for an indictable offence and 5 years for a summary offence, counted from the end of your sentence.

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Does a record suspension let me travel to the United States?

Not necessarily. A record suspension does not guarantee entry or a visa for another country. Check with that country's authorities before you go.

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Can a record suspension be taken away?

Yes. It can be revoked if you are convicted of a new offence, are no longer of good conduct, or gave false or misleading information when you applied.

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Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Record suspension (pardon) in Canada: how to apply", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/record-suspension