Canadian Pardon

Our Service

If you have a criminal record a Canadian pardon will give you back your personal freedom. Immigroup Inc. processes all of the essential documents necessary for you to obtain your pardon in Canada. We carefully check your application and ensure that it is correctly filed with the right supporting documents. If you are unsure as to whether you need to apply for a Canada pardon, fill out our free pre-assessment questionnaire. We guarantee 100% money back if your application is denied.

Canadian Pardon Fees

• Immigroup service fee: $262.50 CDN. We give a 50% discount off a second application e.g. if you need to obtain a US Waiver as well.
• Government fee: $50 USD
• Finger print fee: $25.00
• RCMP fee: $25.00
• Cancellation fee: $42.50 CDN
  

Canadian Pardon FAQ’s

1. Who can grant or issue a pardon in Canada?
Only the National Parole Board (NPB/Board) has the authority to issue, grant, deny, or revoke them. They are governed by the Criminal Records Act (CRA).

2. When can I apply for a Canadian pardon?
You must have completely served your sentence and a waiting period of either three years for summary convictions or five years for indictable convictions (criminal offences).
For example, if you only received a fine, the waiting period begins the date you paid that fine in full. For any court-imposed surcharge, restitution or compensation orders, term of imprisonment or probation, the waiting period is calculated from the date you completed the entire sentence, including any part of the sentence you may have served in the community.

3. What is the process for summary offences?
The Board will issue a pardon after it has confirmed that you have completed your 3 years waiting period after having completed your sentence of your conviction(s), and determined through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that you have not been convicted of any other offences since your last conviction.

4. What is the process for indictable offences?
The Board will confirm that you have completed your waiting period, verify through the RCMP that you have had no further convictions and have been of good conduct. The Board will investigate your behavior since your last conviction.  The Board will then evaluate your application based on your good conduct. Good conduct means you have no further convictions or suspicions or allegations of criminal behavior.

5. What is the effect of a pardon in Canada?
If granted or issued, the effect is that your criminal record will be kept separate and apart from other criminal records and any information pertaining to your convictions and will be taken out of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). It is important to realize that a pardon is only kept separate and apart from other criminal records in Canada. If foreign authorities have information about your criminal record in their system, they will not remove it. For example, if the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service has entered information about your record into their computer, it continues to remain available.

6. Does a Canadian pardon erase a conviction?
It does not erase a conviction. It does not allow a person to say that they do not have a criminal record. The correct response is: "Yes, I have been convicted of a criminal offence for which I have received a pardon."

7. Who can divulge a criminal record?
Under the CRA, only the Solicitor General of Canada has the authority to disclose information from a pardoned record. He would only do so in very exceptional circumstances if he is satisfied that the disclosure is desirable in the interests of the administration of justice or for any purpose related to the safety or security of Canada or any state allied or associated with Canada.

8. When asked if I have a criminal record after obtaining a Canadian pardon, what should I say?
You cannot deny the fact that you were once convicted of an offence. However, you may choose to disclose that you have obtained a pardon, which is proof you are a law-abiding citizen. The correct response would be: "Yes, I have been convicted of a criminal offence for which I have been pardoned."

9. Is a Canadian pardon recognized outside Canada?
No. Many foreign countries, including the United States (U.S.), do not recognize a Canadian pardon. If you have a criminal record and are interested in going to the US. you may want to apply for an "American Immigration and Naturalization Service waiver" (American INS waiver).

This procedure may entail the disclosure of your pardoned criminal record for review by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization officials. An American INS waiver package can be obtained at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa or at any U.S. consulate or port of entry.

10. How long does it take to obtain a pardon in Canada?
Processing  is something that is taken very seriously. It may take 12 - 18 months to obtain your pardon depending on the type of offence and the documentation that is required. The processing time will vary in each case. Some have taken longer than 18 months to process. There are numerous elements to consider in processing an application, especially if it is for an indictable offence. This will require a review and decision by a Parole Board member and may involve a lengthy investigation and a number of reports. These reports will have to carefully be reviewed and examined before a decision can be made. Summary conviction cases however, especially for minor offences committed many years ago may not require as extensive investigation and could be processed much more quickly.

11. Can a Canadian pardon be revoked?

Yes, it can be revoked if: