You apply for a pardon in Canada by making a Record Suspension application through the Parole Board of Canada. This is the government body that reviews and approves applications. In order to have your case assessed by the Parole Board of Canada, you must follow several specific steps. Since the steps are technical, you may want to get help from an agency that specializes in helping people with their criminal records.

First, you must wait the prescribed amount of time before you are eligible for a pardon. This waiting period is 10 years for an indictable offence or five years for a summary offence. The period begins after you’ve finished your sentence, including payment of any fines. During that waiting period, you must have demonstrated “good conduct” by not having any additional convictions.

You must obtain your criminal record from your current city and any city you’ve lived in over the past five years, and from the RCMP. You must get fingerprinted and fill out the application form provided by the Parole Board of Canada. The government of Canada also charges an application fee for the process.

Depending on your circumstances, the Parole Board may also require your court information, military conduct sheet, court information or immigration documents. If these documents are necessary, you may be charged an additional fee by the government to obtain copies.

The process may seem complicated, but it’s worth it when weighed against the burden of having a criminal record. You don’t have to do it alone; contact us to find out how we can help.