Canadian Pardons

Provincial and Federal statutes:

If you have been found guilty of a criminal offence, you then have a criminal record. If you want your criminal record removed, you must make an application to the National Parole Board under the Criminal Records Act of Canada for a pardon (also known as “Record of Suspension“), effective March 13, 2012. The National Parole Board is a Federal agency who has the ability to grant, deny or revoke pardons. The Act is intended to provide relief to persons who have rehabilitated themselves back into society, and helps persons access employment and educational opportunities more effectively. You can apply for a pardon if you were convicted of a crime in another country and you were transferred to Canada under the Transfer of Offenders Act, or International Transfer of Offenders Act. Before you apply for a pardon, you must have completed all of your sentences, which includes:

• all fines, surcharges, costs, restitution and compensation orders;
• all sentences of imprisonment, conditional sentences, including parole and statutory release;
• any probation order(s).