Applying for a Record Suspension
You can apply directly for a record suspension (or pardon*) to the Parole Board of Canada. You do not need to use a lawyer or third party service provider (see Protect Yourself from Fraud).
*Your application will be processed using the Criminal Records Act eligibility criteria in place at the time of the first offence.
Note: If you were convicted of simple possession of cannabis and at least one other offence, read these special instructions first.
All you need to do is follow the step-by-step instructions and pay the application processing fee of $50.00.
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Step 1 – Get your Criminal Record
Get your fingerprints taken. Visit an accredited fingerprinting company or a police service that can submit your fingerprints electronically.
Ask your local police service if they offer this service or visit "Where do I get a criminal record check?" for more information.
Your electronic fingerprint submission must clearly state you are applying for a record suspension.
Wait to receive your criminal record (criminal convictions, conditional and absolute discharges) or a Certification of No Criminal Record from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Any documents provided by the RCMP must be included with your application.
If you have convictions outside of Canada, you MUST also submit information to the Parole Board of Canada on these convictions, along with your criminal Record.
When you receive your criminal record, check it to ensure all of your convictions are included. It is your responsibility to report all of your convictions to the Parole Board of Canada.
If ALL your convictions are included, go to STEP 2.
If any of your convictions are missing from your criminal record, you must get a Proof of Conviction for each one. To get this, contact the court that heard your case and/or the police service that arrested you to get this information.
The Proof of Conviction must include the:
- Date and court where you were sentenced;
- Offence that resulted in your conviction;
- Sentence you received;
- Arresting police force.
If the court and/or police service do not have a record of your convictions call the Parole Board of Canada's toll-free info line: 1-800-874-2652.
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Step 2 – Get your Court Information
You must get court information for each of your convictions. This MUST include proof and date of last payment for any fines, victim surchargesFootnote 1, restitution, and compensationFootnote 2 .
Answer questions 1 to 6 on the Court Information Form.
Tip: Make copies of the form in case you need to provide the same information to another court.Contact the court that heard your case
If you were sentenced in more than one court, you must ask each of them to complete the form.
Give each court a copy of your criminal record and ask them to fill in the section “For Court Use Only”.IMPORTANT!
Make sure that each court:
- Fills in all of the "For Court Use Only" section of the form;
- Includes proof and date of last payment for any fines, victim surchargesFootnote 1 , restitution, and compensationFootnote 2 ;
- Includes the method of trial for each conviction (either summary, indictable or unknown);
- Includes all of your convictions from that court;
- Signs and dates the form; and
- Includes an official court seal or stamp on the form.
Tip: Ask for extra copies of all court documents. You may need them in the future. It will be easier to get copies now as they may not be available if your record suspension is ordered.
Check that the information on the Court Information Form is the same as your criminal record.
- If the information on the Court Information Form and criminal record do not match, or if the court has a record of conviction that is not on your criminal record, you must ask the court for a Proof of Conviction.
See STEP 1: Proof of Conviction.
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Step 3 – Get your Military Conduct Sheet
If you are not a current or past member of the Canadian Armed Forces, go to STEP 4.
If you are a current or past member of the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) you must get a certified, signed and dated copy of your Military Conduct Sheet by contacting the appropriate organization below. If no conduct sheet exists, you must provide a letter from your Commanding Officer or the appropriate organization, which indicates that no information is available.
For Current Regular or Reserve Members:
You must request a Military Conduct Sheet from your Commanding Officer.
For former Regular Members:
If you left on or after January 1, 1998, contact the Department of National Defence Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Branch under the Privacy Act:
Director Access to Information and Privacy
National Defence Headquarters
Major-general George R. Pearkes Bldg.
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2Website: Personal Information Request Form
If you left before January 1, 1998, contact the Library and Archives Canada ATIP Branch:
Access to Information and Privacy Branch
Library and Archives Canada
550 de la Cité Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec J8T 0A7Website: Online requests and forms
For former Reserve Members:
If you left on or after March 1, 2008, contact the Department of National Defence Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Branch under the Privacy Act:
Director Access to Information and Privacy
National Defence Headquarters
Major-general George R. Pearkes Bldg.
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2
Website: Personal Information Request FormIf you left before March 1, 2008, contact the Library and Archives Canada ATIP Branch:
Access to Information and Privacy Branch
Library and Archives Canada
550 de la Cité Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec J8T 0A7Website: Online requests and forms
IMPORTANT!
- Include all correspondence from your Commanding Officer, National Defence or Library and Archives Canada with your application.
- Make sure that your request for your Military Conduct sheet includes the following information:
- Shows that the reason for the request is for a Record Suspension Application;
- Your first and last name. (If it has since changed, it must state your name at the time);
- Your date of birth;
- Your Military Identification Number or Service Number;
- Your signature;
- Enlistment and discharge dates.
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Step 4 – Get your local police record check(s)
You must get a local police records check for:
- The city or town where you live now (your current address); and
- Each city or town where you lived during the last 5 years (if you lived in that place for 3 months or more).
Important: Each local police records check is only valid for 12 months from the date it is issued.
How to get a local police records check
Fill in all questions on page 1 of the Local Police Records Check Form.
Tip: Photocopy it for each local police service you contact.
Contact the local police service for the address where you live now. If you have lived in different places during the last 5 years, you must contact the police service for each place. If you are not sure who to contact, ask your local police service.
If you lived outside of Canada you still need to contact the local police service where you lived. If the police service outside Canada will not give you a local police records check, a signed letter from the police service stating that you have been law-abiding will be accepted. If it is in a foreign language, you must have it translated into English or French and submit both the original and the translated version with your application form.
Show your criminal record to each local police service and ask them to fill in the section on the Local Police Records Check Form called “For Police Use Only” on page 2 of the form.
You will need to show them a current photo ID and a second piece of ID.
Tip: Contact the local police service in advance to find out the types of ID they accept.
IMPORTANT!
The Parole Board of Canada will return your application if your Local Police Records Check Form does not include the following information:
- All information required in the ‘For Police Use Only’ section on page 2;
- Signature and date stamp of the local police service; and
- Local police service official seal or stamp.
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Step 5 – Get a copy of your document to support your identity
You need to provide a clear photocopy of a document which supports your identity with your application. This valid government issued (Federal, Provincial or Municipal) document must have your name, date of birth and signature.
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Step 6 – Complete the Schedule 1 - Exception Form
Please note that this step is only required if:
- You have a conviction for a Schedule 1 offence and your first offence was committed on or after March 13, 2012 (see "Who is eligible for a record suspension"); or
- Your Schedule 1 offence was committed on or after March 13, 2012.
Under Section 4(2) of the Criminal Records Act (CRA), a person is ineligible to apply for a record suspension if he or she has been convicted of an offence referred to in Schedule 1 (sexual offence involving a child) of the Act with certain exceptions.
- If you have NOT been convicted of a Schedule 1 offence under the Criminal Records Act, skip to Step 7.
- If you HAVE been convicted of a Schedule 1 offence, you MUST complete the Exception Form. Under Section 4(3) of the Criminal Records Act, a person who has been convicted of an offence referred to in Schedule 1 may apply for a record suspension IF the Parole Board of Canada is satisfied that the convicted person:
- was not in a position of trust or authority towards the victim of the offence and the victim was not in a relationship of dependency with him or her;
- did not use, threaten to use or attempt to use violence, intimidation or coercion in relation to the victim; and,
- was less than five years older than the victim.
IMPORTANT!
Fill in ALL sections of the Exception Form. If the form is incomplete, the Parole Board of Canada will return your application to you. If you do not have enough room to include all the requested information, attach additional pages to the form.
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Step 7 – Fill in the Record Suspension Application Form
You must use the Record Suspension Application Form.
- Answer ALL questions in the Record Suspension Application Form.
- Print in BLOCK letters using black and blue ink only.
Tip: If you need more space to include all the information, attach additional pages to your application.
IMPORTANT: The Record Suspension Application Form is only valid for 12 months from the date you sign it.
Make sure that you have:
- Answered all questions on both sides of the form;
- Answered all questions truthfully and completely;
- Signed and dated the form within the last year. As the applicant, you must sign the form.
Important: If you do not answer all the questions on both sides of the form or do not sign the form, the Parole Board of Canada will return your application and documents.
The Parole Board of Canada must be able to contact you now and in the future. If we cannot contact you or verify your information, your application may not be processed. If your mailing address changes, you must send the Parole Board of Canada a letter with your new mailing address. This letter must include:
- Your name;
- Your Record Suspension Application Personal Reference Number;
- Your new mailing address; and
- Your signature. As the Applicant, you must sign the letter.
Important: Even after you receive a record suspension, you must continue to advise the Parole Board of Canada of any changes in your address.
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Step 8 – Complete the Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation Form
As per section 4.1 of the Criminal Records Act, you must clearly describe how receiving a record suspension would provide you with a measurable benefit AND sustain your rehabilitation into society as a law-abiding citizen. Fill in all sections of the Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation Form.
If you do not fill in all sections, the Parole Board of Canada will return your application to you. If you do not have enough room to include all the requested information, attach additional pages to the form.
You may wish to include information on the circumstances of your offence(s) to help with the processing of your application.
Please note that questions 1, 2, and 3. a) of this Step are only required if your first offence was committed on or after June 29, 2010.
You may also complete questions 3. b) and 3. c) in this section if you would like to share how your personal and social history may have contributed to your involvement in the criminal justice system.
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Step 9 – Provide the Payment of the Application Processing Fee
You must include the Record Suspension Application Processing Fee with your application.
Important: If the fee is missing, incomplete or inaccurate, your application may not be processed and may be returned to you.
The current Record Suspension Application Processing Fee is:
$50.00 (CDN [Canadian dollars])
Important: In order to include the current fee, consult the updated Record Suspension Application Guide at Canada.ca/record-suspensions or contact the Parole Board of Canada at 1-800-874-2652 or suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca.The following payment types are accepted:
- Credit card (use the Record Suspension Application Processing Fee Credit Card Payment Form);
- Certified cheque;
- Money order; and
- Bank draft payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
The Parole Board of Canada will not accept a personal cheque or cash.
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Before you Submit your Application
IMPORTANT!
- You must provide the original documents with the original signature and official seal and/or stamp from the courts and the police. Failure to do so, will result in your application being returned to you. Forms that have been tampered with will also be returned.
- Before you mail your application, make sure to keep a photocopy of your documents, including the forms to keep for future reference.
Record Suspension Application Checklist
Have you included these documents in your application?
- Original criminal record or Certification of No Criminal Record AND Proof of Conviction documents, as required (explained in Step 1)
- Original Court Information Form(s) (explained in Step 2)
- Original Military Conduct Sheet, if required (explained in Step 3)
- Original Local Police Records Check Form(s) (explained in Step 4)
- Photocopy of your identification document (explained in Step 5)
- Original Schedule 1 Exception Form, if required (explained in Step 6)
- Original Record Suspension Application Form (explained in Step 7)
- Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation Form, if required (explained in Step 8)
- Application Processing Fee (explained in Step 9)
Mail your Application Form, the Application Processing Fee, and all official documents (originals only, with the exception of your identification document) to this address:
Parole Board of Canada
Clemency and Record Suspension Division
410 Laurier Avenue West, 5th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R1
Have a question or need assistance with your application? Contact us
IMPORTANT:
- You must answer all questions truthfully and completely.
- You are responsible for any additional fees required as part of your application, such as:
- fingerprints;
- copies of your criminal record;
- court documents; and
- police checks.
- Be aware of the recent changes to eligibility and wait times.
- Hiding information or making false statements can cause your application to be returned to you, or your record suspension to be revoked or ceased at a later date.
- You do not need a record suspension to obtain a passport.
- A record suspension does not guarantee you entry or visa privileges to another country.
- Before you go, contact the authorities of any country you wish to visit to find out what you need to do to enter that country.
- The Parole Board of Canada treats all applications equally.
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