- What is a Pardon?
- How many Pardons do I need?
- Can I pick and choose which convictions to be Pardoned?
- What are the limitations of a Pardon?
- Can I travel to the United States with a Pardon?
- When I am asked do you have a criminal record? How do I answer this?
- How long does it take?
- Why does it take so long?
- Do you offer an expedited service?
- Why should I choose your company?
- Are there any other fees?
- Who can apply for a Pardon?
- I am not a Canadian citizen can I still apply?
- How do I find out if I am eligible for a Pardon?
- What is a summary or indictable offence?
- Can I apply for a Pardon even though I have a driving or firearms prohibition order?
- I have an outstanding warrant. Can I still apply for a Pardon?
- Can a pardon be revoked?
- Can a pardon granted or issued to a person that is deceased?
- Can sexual offenses be Pardoned?
What is a Pardon?
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.
How many Pardons do I need?
You will only require one Pardon for all your convictions.
Can I pick and choose which convictions to be Pardoned?
No, all convictions must be Pardoned at the same time.
What are the limitations of a Pardon?
A pardon does not erase the fact that person was convicted of an offence.
Can I travel to the United States with a Pardon?
A Canadian Pardon is not recognized by the United States.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States. All foreigners with a criminal record are deemed inadmissible into the United States.
Individuals with a criminal record in Canada, but have never been refused entry into the US, can obtain a pardon to have their record removed before traveling.
It is up to your discretion on which application you must apply for to cross the United States border. Pardon Granted will not be held liable for any refusals at the border. Legally, you will require a Waiver to enter the US.
When I am asked do you have a criminal record? How do I answer this?
You must answer “Yes, but I have been pardoned “. Most applications will ask “Do you have a criminal conviction for which you have NOT been pardoned for?” At this point you can answer NO.
Please keep in mind that the Canadian Human Rights Act forbids discrimination based on a pardoned conviction.
How long does it take?
A Pardon could take between 10 – 24 months.
Why does it take so long?
Timeframes vary depending on your last date of conviction, the work load of the courts, RCMP, police station and Parole Board.
Do you offer an expedited service?
Yes we do. Pardon Express
Why should I choose your company?
There are many reasons why you should choose our company. Too many reasons to list here so we created a seperate page here.
Are there any other fees?
Besides our service fee you are required to pay for a fingerprinting fee which ranges between $25-75 and a Local Police Check fee of $25-80. These fees will range depending on the city or town you live in.
Who can apply for a Pardon?
Anyone who was convicted of an offence under a federal act or regulation of Canada can apply.
I am not a Canadian citizen can I still apply?
Yes.
How do I find out if I am eligible for a Pardon?
Before a person is eligible to apply for a pardon, he/she must have 1) completed all sentences and 2) waited a certain period from the completion of all sentences.
1. When is a sentence completed?
- When a person has paid all fines, surcharges, costs, restitutions and compensation orders in full;
- When a person has served all of his/her time, including parole or statutory release; and
- When a person has satisfied his/her probation order.
2. What is the waiting period?
a. Under the Criminal Code of Canada and other federal statutes:
- Three years for summary convictions; and
- Five years for indictable offences.
Still unsure? Use our Eligibility Calculator p>
What is a summary or indictable offence?
Summary offenses are considered minor offenses. Please contact us to determine what type category your conviction falls under.
Can I apply for a Pardon even though I have a driving or firearms prohibition order?
Yes, but it will not remove the ban.
I have an outstanding warrant. Can I still apply for a Pardon?
Yes, but it will not remove the warrant.
Can a pardon be revoked?
Yes. The NPB may revoke a pardon if:
- You are later convicted of a summary offence under a federal act or regulation of Canada;
- The NPB finds that you are no longer of good conduct; or
- The NPB learns that a false or deceptive statement was made, or relevant information was concealed at the time of the application.
In the above-mentioned circumstances, the records of the pardoned offences will again be kept with the other conviction records.
Can a pardon granted or issued to a person that is deceased?
Yes, if a person is subsequently convicted of:
- an indictable offence under a federal act or regulation of Canada;
- an offence punishable either on indictable or summary conviction; and
- If the NPB is convinced by new information that the person was not eligible for a pardon at the time it was granted or issued.
In the above-mentioned circumstances, the records of the pardoned offences will again be kept with the other conviction records.
Can sexual offenses be Pardoned?
Yes. Your record will be kept separate and apart, but your name will be flagged in the CPIC computer system. This means that you may be asked to let employers see your record if you want to work with children or with groups that are vulnerable because of their age or disability.