Restoring Your Rights Through a Pardon
If you have a criminal record, we assist you in preparing and submitting a record suspension (pardon) application to restore your rights. A record suspension — commonly called a pardon — allows your criminal record to be sealed with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which facilitates employment, travel, and immigration matters.
Why Apply for a Pardon?
A criminal record can have significant impacts on several areas of your life:
- Difficulty obtaining employment in certain fields
- Visa refusals or entry problems in certain countries
- Complications with immigration and status applications
- Restrictions in accessing certain housing
- Inadmissibility to the United States (see also our Waiver service)
A pardon does not erase the conviction, but your record is separated from active criminal records, significantly reducing its day-to-day negative effects.
Eligibility & Waiting Periods
To obtain a record suspension, you must have fully served your sentence (including probation, fines, and restitution) and respected a waiting period after the end of the sentence:
- 5 years for offences prosecuted by summary conviction
- 10 years for offences prosecuted by indictment
Our Assistance
Me Serge Dumas guides you through every step of your pardon application: gathering required documents (fingerprints, conviction records, police certificates), drafting your application, and submitting to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). We ensure your file is complete and compliant to maximize your chances of approval.