There is no difference – record suspension is simply the new legal name for what used to be called a pardon. In March twenty twelve, the Canadian government changed the terminology through amendments to the Criminal Records Act. The process, requirements, and effect are exactly the same. Both terms mean having your criminal record kept separate from other criminal records so it doesn’t show up on standard background checks. Some people still use the term pardon because it was used for decades, but the official terminology is now record suspension. Whether you call it a pardon or record suspension, you’re referring to the same process administered by the Parole Board of Canada.

From beginning the process to receiving a decision typically takes twelve to eighteen months. The document collection phase usually takes three to six months depending on how quickly police services and courts respond to record requests, how many jurisdictions are involved, and whether any complications arise with historical records. After submitting your complete application, the Parole Board review process currently takes six to twelve months depending on their workload and case complexity. More complex cases involving multiple convictions or convictions from long ago may take longer if additional investigation is needed. While you’re waiting, you can inquire about application status, but the Board won’t expedite processing based on personal circumstances like job opportunities or travel needs. Starting the process well in advance of when you need your record suspended is important because the timeline cannot be rushed.

Yes, meeting the technical eligibility requirements doesn’t guarantee approval. The Parole Board has discretion to deny applications if they determine that granting a record suspension would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The Board considers the nature, gravity and circumstances of the offence, any history of criminal behaviour before and after the conviction, information about your conduct since conviction, and the impact granting a record suspension might have on the victim and society. Serious violent offences, multiple convictions, or offences involving breach of trust may face more scrutiny even if the applicant is technically eligible. The Board wants to see sustained rehabilitation and law-abiding behaviour, stable employment or education, community ties, and positive character references. An application that meets eligibility requirements but doesn’t demonstrate genuine rehabilitation or where concerns exist about the nature of the offence can be denied. If denied, you can reapply after one year, and addressing the Board’s stated concerns in a new application may lead to approval.

Standard criminal record checks conducted by most employers, landlords, and organizations will show no record once your suspension is granted. However, vulnerable sector checks, which are required for positions working with children, elderly persons, or other vulnerable populations, may still reveal suspended records for relevant sexual offences. If you’re applying for a position of trust or authority, particularly in law enforcement, security, or government positions requiring high-level clearance, suspended records may be disclosed if deemed relevant to the position. Additionally, if you’re charged with a new offence after receiving a record suspension, your previous record may be unsealed and used in sentencing considerations. For most ordinary employment, education, housing, and volunteer purposes, a record suspension means background checks come back clear. But it’s important to understand that the record still exists and can be accessed in specific circumstances defined by law.

Yes, a record suspension can be revoked if you’re convicted of a new criminal offence after it’s granted, if the Parole Board discovers that you were no longer eligible at the time it was granted due to false information in your application or because relevant convictions were not disclosed, or if the Board is satisfied that you ceased to be of good conduct since the suspension was granted. Being convicted of any new indictable offence or more than one new summary offence automatically revokes your record suspension. The revocation means your record is no longer kept separate and will show up on criminal record checks again. If charged with an offence that could lead to conviction and potential revocation, the suspended record may be unsealed and considered during sentencing for the new offence. This is why maintaining completely law-abiding behaviour after receiving a record suspension is essential – a single new conviction undoes everything. If your record suspension is revoked due to a new conviction, you must wait through the full waiting period again after completing that new sentence before you can reapply.

You can apply for a record suspension yourself without professional help, and the Parole Board provides guides explaining the process. However, professional assistance significantly increases the likelihood of a successful application and can save considerable time and frustration. A paralegal experienced with record suspension applications knows exactly what documents are needed, how to obtain them efficiently from various agencies, how to calculate waiting periods accurately to avoid premature applications, how to complete application forms thoroughly without errors or omissions that cause delays, how to present your personal statement and circumstances persuasively, and how to address potential complications like multiple convictions or historical records that are difficult to obtain. Many people who attempt the process themselves make mistakes that delay their applications by months or result in denials that could have been prevented. For something as important as clearing your criminal record and removing barriers to employment and opportunity, professional assistance that ensures the application is done correctly the first time is typically worthwhile.

Missing documentation of sentence completion is one of the most common obstacles in record suspension applications. If you can’t locate probation completion letters, fine payment receipts, or other proof that you completed your sentence, you need to obtain replacement documentation from the agencies that managed those aspects of your sentence. Contact the probation office in the jurisdiction where you were sentenced and request a letter confirming completion of probation including dates and conditions. Contact the court that sentenced you and request records showing all fines, restitution orders, and other financial penalties, along with records of payments received. If fines were sent to collection agencies, contact those agencies for payment history. For very old convictions where agencies may no longer have accessible records, you may need to obtain sworn affidavits from people who knew you during the relevant time period confirming that you completed your sentence as required. Court transcripts or sentencing documents may also contain information about sentence terms that can be used to demonstrate completion even if direct proof is unavailable. A paralegal experienced with record suspensions knows how to track down historical records and what alternative documentation the Parole Board will accept when original records cannot be obtained.

The Parole Board of Canada charges an application fee of six hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty cents, which must be paid when submitting your application. Beyond this fee, you’ll incur costs for obtaining required documents including fingerprinting which costs approximately one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars at RCMP-accredited facilities, local police records checks which typically cost twenty-five to seventy-five dollars per jurisdiction depending on which police service you’re requesting from, and court record searches which may cost varying amounts depending on jurisdiction and how historical the records are. Some courts provide records at no charge while others charge fees for file searches and document copies. If you hire a paralegal to handle the application process, professional fees typically range from eight hundred to fifteen hundred dollars depending on case complexity and how many convictions and jurisdictions are involved. The total cost including Parole Board fees, documents, and professional help usually ranges from fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred dollars for straightforward cases with single convictions, or more for complex cases involving multiple convictions across different jurisdictions. While this represents significant expense, the employment opportunities, housing access, and other benefits that record suspension provides typically justify the investment for people whose records have been creating barriers.

A Canadian record suspension does not guarantee entry to the United States. US border officials have access to Canadian criminal records including suspended records through information sharing agreements between countries. The US does not recognize Canadian record suspensions for US entry purposes, meaning they can still deny entry based on your Canadian criminal history even after your record is suspended. However, having a record suspension can reduce scrutiny because your record no longer appears in some databases that US officials access for routine border crossings. Many people with suspended records cross the US border without issues because border officials don’t always conduct deep searches revealing suspended records. If your conviction involves offences that make you inadmissible to the US under American immigration law – such as drug offences, theft, fraud, or crimes involving moral turpitude – you may need a US Entry Waiver regardless of having a Canadian record suspension. The waiver process is separate from record suspension and requires applying to US Customs and Border Protection. For serious offences or multiple convictions, consulting with an immigration specialist about US travel is advisable even after obtaining a Canadian record suspension.

If you’re charged with a new criminal offence while your record suspension application is being processed by the Parole Board, your application will be suspended until the charge is resolved. If you’re convicted of the new offence, your record suspension application will be denied and your eligibility waiting period starts over from the completion of the new sentence. This means years of waiting and the application fee are lost. If you’re acquitted or the charges are withdrawn, your application can resume processing, though the Board may still consider the circumstances of the charge when assessing whether granting a record suspension would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. Being charged doesn’t automatically end your application, but conviction does. This is why maintaining completely law-abiding behaviour throughout the application process is essential. Even minor charges like theft under five thousand dollars or mischief can derail applications that have been in progress for months. If you are charged while your application is pending, notify the Parole Board immediately as required, and consult with legal counsel about how to minimize impact on both the criminal charge and your record suspension application.