FAQ's (Pardons)

1. Who can grant or issue a Canadian pardon?

The National Parole Board of Canada has the authority to issue, grant, deny, or revoke Canadian pardons. The law that governs pardons is known as the Criminal Records Act (CRA). The National Parole Board is very strict about pardon applications. Any mistake on the application will prevent the pardon from being granted, wasting you valuable time and money.

2. When can I apply for a pardon?

To apply for a Canadian pardon, you must have completely served your sentence and a waiting period of either three years for summary convictions, or five years for indictable convictions (criminal offences) is required. If you are early it is worthwhile to begin your application at the National Pardon Centre as it will save you time and money in the long run.

3. If the National Parole Board denies my pardon, what can I do?

If your pardon is denied the National Parole Board will inform you in writing of the decision. If the Board denies the Canadian pardon, you may apply one year from the date of the decision. The advantage of processing your pardon with the National Pardon Centre is that your application will not be submitted unless it has been processed correctly and you are eligible. If you start a file with the National Pardon Centre it is guaranteed that your application will not be refused, provided you stay out of trouble with the law.

4. What is the effect of a pardon?

The effect of a Canadian pardon, if granted, is that your criminal record will be sealed and kept separate from other criminal records. Any information pertaining to your convictions will be taken out of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and nobody will be able to gain access to it. It is important to realize that a pardon is only kept separate and apart from other criminal records in Canada. If foreign authorities have information about your criminal record in their system, they will not remove it. For example, if the United States border is aware of your record through the Department of Homeland Security or FBI databases it will never be removed from their system.

5. Who can reveal my criminal record?

Under the CRA (Canadian Criminal Records Act), only the Solicitor General of Canada has the authority to disclose information from a pardoned record. He would only do so in very exceptional circumstances. For example, if a subsequent and serious criminal offence is committed the file may be re-opened. The bottom line of a pardoned criminal record is that if you stay out of trouble no one will ever be able to gain access to your criminal record.

6. When asked if I have a criminal record after obtaining a pardon, what should I say?

A pardon means that no one has access to your criminal record without written permission from the Solicitor General of Canada. Therefore, if no one has access to your criminal record the only way they will find out is if you tell them. The United States of America, for example, does not recognize Canadian pardons. Therefore, if you disclose your record at the American border after you have obtained your pardon, they will add that information to their system files and it will never be removed.

7. How long does it take to obtain a pardon?

Processing a pardon is something that is taken very seriously. The National Pardon Centre has two processing options: Rush and Standard. Clients processing their pardon under the Rush option may expect to wait 1.5 years to obtain their pardon. Clients processing under the Standard route can expect 2 years or more for the completion of their file. Please keep in mind that these time frames are very conservative. The Canadian government is taking steps to speed up the process at their level which, in the near future, may help us to complete pardon applications faster.

8. Can I do the application myself?

Yes, but it is NOT advised. It is possible to successfully complete a pardon application on your own but it can NOT be done for free. Furthermore, the National Parole Board statistics show that pardon applications completed by the client have a failure rate of 30 to 40%. A refused pardon application can waste more than two years of your time and all of the money that was put into it. In the end doing a pardon on your own may cost you more money than a pardon processed with the National Pardon Centre.

9. What are my chances of successfully obtaining a pardon?

Pardon applications processed with the National Pardon Centre are guaranteed to be accepted provided the client is eligible and no subsequent criminal behaviour is recorded. If you are charged with a criminal offence during the application period your eligibility will be suspended, costing you extra time and money.

10. If I have been convicted of more than one crime do I need more than one pardon?

No! The granting of a pardon means that ALL criminal records on file are gathered together and kept separate from the CPIC (RCMP criminal record database). One pardon will clear all convictions on record.

11. If I am granted a pardon and I am charged with another criminal offence what happens?

Your pardon may be revoked if you are charged with further serious criminal activity. If you stay out of trouble no one will ever find out about your criminal record once it has been pardoned.

12. If I pay the National Pardon Centre to complete my application, what is required of me?

Nothing! We complete the application for you. Once you have given us a complete set of your fingerprints the most work you will be required to do is sign the application form and an authorization stating that the National Pardon Centre is processing a pardon application on your behalf. In some cases the client may be required to perform a local police check.

13. My criminal record hasn't affected my life yet. Why do I need a pardon?

If your criminal record has not affected your life yet there is a good chance that someday it will. People want to have their record pardoned for many reasons. Most people simply want to make sure they are no longer associated with the mistakes they made in the past. Your peace of mind is one important reason to obtain your pardon. The National Pardon Centre strongly recommends that anyone with a criminal record obtain a pardon. Our society strongly encourages rehabilitation. Simply put, you are lucky enough to live in a country that allows the pardoning of criminal records. You should take advantage of that.

14. I am still not convinced I need a pardon. How can I decide?

The National Pardon Centre firmly believes that anyone with a criminal record should take the steps necessary to remove it. Obtaining a pardon is in the best interest of yourself, your family and the people you care about. Delaying will only result in higher costs and wasted time.

15. What does a pardon cost me?

The National Pardon Centre will complete all necessary procedures for a client to receive a pardon from the Federal Government of Canada. Clients are responsible for paying the costs associated with a pardon application. The client is also responsible for obtaining a set of his/her fingerprints and a local police verification check may be required for file completion. A standard pardon application costs $495.00. This price includes tax and applicable government fees. The expedited pardon application fee is $625.00 and will save you 6-7 months.