Does a crminal record preclude me from entering Canada?
It does not really matter whether you had one offence, five of them, or more. What matters is what the offences were for and how long ago they occurred. If you come into Canada using your passport (or even in the past with a driver’s license as ID) the Canada Border Services Agency has access to a federal database of criminal records. If your name shows up there, you might undergo additional screening and likely not be allowed into the country. If the offences were minor (shoplifting, drunk in public, etc) you might be allowed into the country if more than five years had passed without any new infractions, as you could be “deemed rehabilitated”. If it is a more serious crime (sexual assault, domestic battery, murder, etc) no amount of time may be enough to have you deemed rehabilitated. Instead, you would have to apply for a certificate from the Canadian government stating you have been rehabilitated. This can take over a year and is not guaranteed. Check their website to see what the
