A Canadian Pardon (also known as a record suspension) is granted by the federal government of Canada and will seal your criminal record. All charges and all convictions will be removed and kept separate from active criminal records stored in the RCMP database (CPIC). No one can access this file without prior written permission from the Minister of Public Safety Canada.
Once your pardon is granted you should never be required to reveal that you ever had a criminal record.
Pardon Eligibility
Pardon Eligibility begins after all court demands have been met. This means that all fines have been paid, jail time (if any) has been served, community service performed, etc. Court outcomes can vary to a wide degree so it is difficult to know exactly when the probationary period is complete. This is something we can help with. If you are wondering if you are eligible for your pardon, give us a call and we will be happy to help you out.
However, regardless of the details of a criminal court record, once the demands have been met a waiting period of 5 years or 10 years is required before you may be eligible for your Canadian pardon.
How Long to Wait to Apply for a Canadian Pardon
A 5 year waiting period is required for summary offences while a 10 year waiting period must be met for indictable offences. However, it is always advisable to begin your application as early as possible.
The waiting period begins from the end of the sentence of your most recent offence. However, the good news is that a pardon will remove all charges at once. You do not need to apply for a separate pardon for each charge.
Advantages of Getting a Canadian Pardon
The benefits of obtaining a Canadian pardon cannot be denied. For most people the peace of mind which comes with knowing a criminal record has been removed is enough reward. However, the benefits extend into other areas of life as well. The most notable is the removal of employment restrictions. However, the ability to volunteer, adopt a child and many other things in life can be equally important.