Canada has approved entry for more than 17,600 people with a criminal record in last decade

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that over the past 10 years, more than 17,600 people with criminal records have been granted entry to Canada through the “Rehabilitation” process.

From 2014 to 2024, a total of more than 25,350 applications were submitted by people with criminal records for entry to Canada. These applications were submitted for the purpose of obtaining a work, study, permanent residence or even a short-term visit visa.

Of these, about 70 per cent were approved, 20 per cent were denied and 10 per cent were withdrawn by the applicants.

Keeping Canadians safe is a priority

“The safety of Canadians is always our priority,” IRCC spokesperson Remy Lariviere told CTV News.

“The safety of Canadians is always our priority. Decisions to approve or deny these applications are made by experienced immigration officers based on legal criteria and a thorough review of the case.”

He also explained:
“People who have committed a crime outside of Canada must prove that they have reformed and are no longer a threat to Canadian society.”

According to IRCC, the process does not differentiate based on the type of crime, the applicant’s nationality or the purpose of entry (short-term visit, work, study or permanent residence), and all applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Mostly minor offences

“Most of the time, these offences are very minor. When we hear ‘criminal foreigners,’ it may sound scary, but the reality is different,” Chantal Dessalage, an immigration and refugee lawyer in Canada, told CTV’s Your Morning.

She gave the example of one of her clients who had a record for hunting ducks outside the permitted season and was unable to enter Canada without a rehabilitation certificate.

Rehabilitation Act of 2001

According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of 2001, individuals who have been in Canada for more than five years after their crime or conviction has been completed and who can demonstrate that they are no longer a danger to society can apply for rehabilitation.

“Restitution is not a pardon, but a careful and case-by-case process that is assessed based on the nature and severity of the crime, the length of time it has been committed, evidence of good faith and the individual’s social supports,” Lariviere said.

Stricter regulations than in the U.S.

According to Deslage, Canada’s rules for inadmissibility for people with criminal records are stricter than in the U.S. “In the U.S., they focus more on crimes that have a high moral burden,” he explained.

“In Canada, almost any type of conviction can be grounds for inadmissibility, except in exceptional cases.”

He also stressed that a history of drunk driving, which may not be a problem in the United States, is taken very seriously in Canada.

Reinstatement is not a guarantee of entry

The IRCC concluded by reminding us:

“Successful reinstatement does not automatically grant a visa or entry to Canada. The applicant must also meet other requirements for the visa or immigration program.”

According to Deslage, some people apply even without a specific plan to travel to Canada, just to ensure they can enter in the future.