CRIMINAL REHABILITATION

With few exceptions, people who have a criminal record are criminally inadmissible to Canada unless they have been determined to be rehabilitated after an assessment by a Canadian immigration officer.

If you are not sure whether you are considered inadmissible to Canada on grounds of criminality you can ask for a preliminary assessment. To do this, please submit a completed application form (IMM1444), check the box “For information only”, your police certificate(s) along with the documents indicated on the checklist. No fee is payable for this service which is for information only. We will let you know the outcome of the preliminary assessment in writing and advise you what  to do next.

For a determination on whether you are rehabilitated and admissible to Canada you must submit a formal application for Criminal Rehabilitation. You need to submit an application form (IMM1444), the documents on the checklist and the correct fee. If the fee is incorrect the application will be returned to you with a request for the correct amount.

Please be advised that both the preliminary assessment and the formal determination processes can be time-consuming.  With formal determinations we may ask for additional documents or call you for an interview. If you have been convicted of an offence that is classified as “serious criminality” it can take at least a year  before the case is completed. In view of this we advise against booking tickets to Canada until your case is finalised.

For more detailed information on Criminal Rehabilitation, please see our website:

 www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-who.asp
 

APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL REHABILITATION MADE TO THE HIGH COMMISSION OF CANADIAN IN LONDON

Background

People with criminal convictions, from any country in the world, are generally considered inadmissible and should not attempt to travel to Canada without prior assessment from a visa office abroad.

Submitting an application

The document checklist is designed to ensure that you attach all the required documents to your application.  Your entire application will be returned to you with a letter asking for the necessary documents if any information is missing.

If you cannot obtain the documents listed on the checklist and the court, country, or arresting police department do not have the information you require, you must obtain a written explanation from them and include it with your application.  In the event you are not able to get a written explanation, you must provide details of your efforts to obtain the information and why it is not available.

Documents in languages other than French or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Fees

• Applications for enquiry only: no fees are payable.

• Formal applications: should be accompanied by a bankers draft for $200.00 CAD.

• Cases involving convictions deemed “serious criminality: where, in an initial assessment, we deem a conviction falls within the category of serious criminality, we will return the banker’s draft to you and request you send another for $1000.00 cad.

Please note that in the event of a negative decision fees cannot be reimbursed.

Click here for the Criminal Rehabilitation checklist

THE APPLICATION

1.  A completed IMM1444E form, available HERE;

2.  Processing fees in the amount of $200 Canadian by bank draft made payable to:

RECEIVER GENERAL FOR CANADA

We do not accept personal cheques. Do not send cash through the post. Applications received without fees will be returned;

3.  Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if applicable, available HERE;

4.  Record of conviction(s) or offence(s).  If your criminal conviction(s) or offence(s) was committed in the UK you must provide an official UK police certificate, available from the ACPO Criminal Records Office. The application form and further information is available from this website

www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp

5.  The Memorandum of Conviction issued by the applicable UK Court of Justice and any other documents relating to the sentence imposed and its date of completion;

6.  National Pardon from Canada, for those who have Canadian convictions see link:

www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca/infocntr/factsh/pardon.htm;

7.  Police Records from other jurisdictions. If your conviction occurred in a country other than the UK or Canada you must obtain a police record from that jurisdiction, see the following link:

 www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/index.asp;

8.  If applicable, a letter from a UK lawyer experienced in criminal law confirming that your conviction(s) as identified on your Police Record has been “spent” under the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act of 1974 and that any fines/compensations or community orders have been paid or completed;

9.  A copy of the section of the law under which you were charged or convicted;

10.  Three letters of recommendation from key members/leaders of the community where you reside and who are aware of your criminal record;

11.  Two passport-sized photographs;

12.  Photocopies of the all the pages of your passport;

13.  Proof of employment;

14. A copy of the checklist.  When check marking the boxes, write N/A if the item is not relevant to your case.  The checklist must be submitted with your application.