If you have committed an offense in Canada, then you may be inadmissible if:

• You were convicted of an offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least ten years, or of an offense for which a term of imprisonment of more than six months was imposed;

• You were convicted of an offense punishable by way of indictment, or of two summary conviction offenses not arising out of a single occurrence; or

• You committed a summary offense on entering Canada.

An exception is if the offense(s) was pardoned, of if there was an acquittal.

Our Service – Rehabilitation Applications

We routinely act for people who have been convicted of an offense in Canada, and apply for what is called rehabilitation.

Another approach is to apply for a Ministerial exemption. A person who is nevertheless inadmissible to Canada may nevertheless be able to satisfy the minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness that being in Canada would not be detrimental to the national interest. This decision is at the discretion of the minster, and may not be delegated.

We routinely act for people who do not need help with their application, and only retain us to address a criminal inadmissibility.