Criminal record? Try somewhere else.

If you have a criminal record you will most likely be refused entry into Canada. According to the following excerpt from Citizenship and Immigration Canada it is possible to overcome criminal inadmissibility. Based on the amount of times there are words such as depending and may I would not put much stock into it. If you have a passed conviction including DUI there is a very strong likelihood you will be refused entry to Canada. I recently had a client refused entry to Canada at the border which resulted in the client having to forget about Canada and poker dreams and me having wasted 2 days preparing for his visit. For more information please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/visit/conviction.asp or consult your local Canadian embassy.

Visiting Canada: Overcoming criminal inadmissibility

This information is intended for general guidance and reference only. A legal decision on your inadmissibility can only be made at the time you seek entry into Canada either through an application or at a port of entry.

Depending on the nature of the offence, the time elapsed and your behaviour since it was committed or since you were sentenced, you may no longer be considered inadmissible to Canada. You may be permitted to come to Canada if

• you are able to satisfy an immigration officer that you meet the legal requirement to be deemed rehabilitated; or
• you have applied for rehabilitation and your application has been approved; or
• you have obtained a pardon; or
• you have obtained a temporary resident permit.

Deemed rehabilitation

You may be deemed rehabilitated if you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Depending on the nature of your offence, at least five years and as many as 10 years must have passed since you completed the sentence imposed for your crime. Deemed rehabilitation also depends on whether you have committed one or more offences. In all cases, you may only be deemed rehabilitated if the offence committed would be punishable in Canada by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than 10 years.

You are not required to submit an application to be deemed rehabilitated. However, before arriving at a port of entry, we strongly advise you to contact a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate outside Canada to see if you qualify.