5. Learn about your other options
Question & Answer
I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?If you're found , there may be ways you can overcome this.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to apply for a record suspension from the Parole Board of Canada. This used to be called a .
Generally, to apply for a , you must wait for:
- 5 years after completing your for a summary conviction, and
- 10 years for an indictable conviction.
Get legal advice to find out if you're eligible for a record suspension.
Depending on your situation, you may also be able to:
- apply for Ministerial Relief, which means asking Canada's Minister of Public Safety to excuse you from the normal rules,
- apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)for rehabilitation after what the law calls a cooling period, and show that you won't commit crimes in the future, or
- apply to IRCC for a humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) exemption, even if you're not eligible for rehabilitation.
