Record Suspension Canada (Formerly Called a Pardon): Application Help
A record suspension (pardon) from the Parole Board of Canada sets your Canadian criminal record apart from most background checks. GBWS helps you prepare your fingerprints, court documents, and application, and check your eligibility first.
What is a record suspension, and is it the same as a pardon?
A record suspension is the current name for a pardon in Canada. The Parole Board of Canada can order one under the Criminal Records Act once you finish your sentence and wait the required time. Your record is kept apart from most background checks. It is set aside, not erased.
What it does
- Sets the suspended record apart so it is kept out of most checks
- Can help with jobs, volunteering, housing and some applications
- Is decided by the Parole Board of Canada
What it does not do
- Erase the record or the conviction
- Guarantee entry to another country
- Remove a court-ordered prohibition, such as a driving or weapons ban
You may still hear people say “pardon” or “criminal record pardon”. They mean the same process. This page uses “record suspension” because it is the official term.
Waiting periods
For offences committed on or after March 13, 2012:
| Offence type | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Summary conviction | 5 years |
| Indictable offence | 10 years |
Who can apply for a record suspension in Canada?
You can usually apply once you have finished every part of your sentence and waited the required time. The wait depends on the type of offence and the date of the first offence. What “finished your sentence” means:
- Any jail time or probation is complete
- All fines, surcharges and restitution are fully paid, and you can show proof
- No new convictions during the waiting period
Older offences can have shorter waits, so the date of your first offence matters. If the court cannot confirm how the offence was prosecuted, the longer wait applies.
You may not be eligible if
- Â You have a prison term of two years or more for more than three indictable offences (offences committed on or after March 13, 2012)
- Â You have a conviction for certain serious offences listed in the Criminal Records Act that do not meet the exceptions
- Charges that were withdrawn, stayed, or ended in an acquittal are handled differently. See police file destruction for non-conviction records.
- A record suspension covers Canadian convictions. If your conviction is from another country and you want to enter Canada, see criminal rehabilitation.
- Waiting periods are different for every case. A short chat with us can confirm yours.
Step by step: how to get a record suspension in Canada
Here is the process in order, with what GBWS does at each step.
Check eligibility
We confirm your waiting period, your sentence status, and whether any exception applies. The Parole Board makes the final decision.
Get fingerprinted
Have fingerprints submitted for the record suspension purpose. Read more about fingerprinting for a record suspension.
Collect your records
Request the RCMP criminal record, court information, proof of payment and required police checks. See RCMP background checks.
Prepare the application
We help you complete the Parole Board forms, check each page against the checklist, and avoid common mistakes that get applications returned.
Send it to the Parole Board
Applications are mailed with the $50 fee and original documents to the Parole Board's Clemency and Record Suspension Division in Ottawa.
Wait for the decision
The Board reviews your file and decides. If it is granted, you receive a notice in writing.
You apply to the Parole Board of Canada directly. The Board states you do not need a lawyer or a third-party service to apply. Our role is to help you prepare a complete, accurate application. Based in the Greater Toronto Area? Visit our RCMP fingerprinting office in Mississauga.
Documents for a record suspension application
- Completed Parole Board application forms, signed where required, on both sides of each page
- A legible copy of your government-issued ID
- Electronic fingerprints sent to the RCMP, clearly marked as for a record suspension
- RCMP criminal record with all convictions reviewed
- Court information for every conviction, including how it was prosecuted
- Proof that all fines, surcharges, restitution and compensation are paid, with the date of the final payment
- Local police record checks where required
- The $50 fee by certified cheque, bank draft, money order or credit card (no personal cheques or cash)
- A forwarding address, and an updated address if you move
Mistakes that get applications returned or delayed
- A wrong or missing fee
- Missing convictions on the RCMP record
- Missing court information or proof of payment
- Missing signatures or official stamps
- Copies sent in place of original documents
- Unclear ID
- Incomplete or untruthful answers, which can lead to a refusal or a later revocation
How much does a record suspension cost, and how long does it take?
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Parole Board application fee | $50 (verify at publication) | Receiver General for Canada |
| Fingerprinting | Varies by provider | Fingerprinting provider |
| RCMP record, court documents and police checks | Varies by source | Relevant agencies |
| GBWS preparation service | Call for a quote | GBWS |
Reported Board timeline targets
For accepted complete applications, the PDF cites these Parole Board targets:
- Summary offences: around 6 months.
- Indictable offences: around 12 months.
- Cases involving a possible refusal: up to 24 months.
No decision-date promises
These figures are targets, not guaranteed completion times. The Parole Board processes applications and determines their outcomes independently of GBWS.
After a record suspension: work, travel and what stays the same
Our office is in Mississauga. Contact us to confirm the right process for your location and application.
Work and volunteering
A suspended record is kept out of most checks run through the national police database, so many employers will not see it. Some roles, especially those working with vulnerable people, may still require extra screening.
Immigration
A Canadian record suspension can matter for later applications. See our page on Canadian immigration applications for what each application asks.
Travel to the United States
A Canadian record suspension does not guarantee entry to the United States or another country. Border authorities make their own decisions; answer application and border questions truthfully. If you have previously been refused entry, read do I still need a waiver to enter the US?
A record suspension may also be revoked in certain circumstances, including misleading application information or certain subsequent convictions.
How GBWS helps with your record suspension application
You can apply to the Parole Board yourself. Many people choose help because the package has many parts, and one missing item can send it back. Here is what we do.
1
Eligibility check
You know your waiting period and any exceptions before you spend money.
2
Fingerprints
Taken in the format the Board requires, marked as for a record suspension.
3
Record retrieval
We help you request RCMP, court, and police records
4
Form preparation
Forms are checked for signatures, stamps, and missing pages.
5
Submission
The package is checked against the Board’s checklist before it is sent.
6
Follow-up
We help you respond if the Board asks for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who cannot apply for a record suspension, and how do I check if I qualify?
You may be unable to apply if you received a prison term of two years or more for more than three indictable offences, or if you have a conviction for certain serious offences listed in the Criminal Records Act. Your waiting period and whether you finished your sentence also matter. Contact us, and we will help you check.
What papers do I need before I send in an application?
You need the Parole Board forms, a copy of your ID, electronic fingerprints marked for a record suspension, your RCMP criminal record, court information for each conviction, proof of payment of fines and surcharges, any police checks required, and the $50 fee. See the checklist above.
Why do applications get sent back, and what mistakes should I avoid?
Common reasons are a wrong fee, missing convictions on the RCMP record, missing court information, missing signatures or stamps, copies instead of originals, and unclear ID.
What costs should I plan for besides the application fee?
The Parole Board fee is $50. You also pay for fingerprints, your RCMP record, court documents, and any police checks, plus any service fee if you use help. We confirm the full cost before we start.
What happens after a record suspension is granted, and can it be taken away?
The Board notifies you in writing. Your record is kept apart from most background checks. It can be revoked, for example, after a new indictable conviction or if false information was given. A record suspension does not guarantee entry to other countries.
Ready to check your eligibility?
Tell us about your conviction and when your sentence ended, and we will tell you whether you may be able to apply and what to prepare. There is no pressure to proceed.
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