Travelling to Canada with a criminal record
Sep 14th 2025 | 9:03 am
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 15
Travelling to Canada with a criminal record
Hi all,
I’m looking for advice on the subject of travelling to Canada with a criminal record
My significant other has a one time charge for possession of controlled substance (class a) It was around 9 years ago and they received a conditional discharge which has also been wiped off their record now showing “no traceâ€
We’ve read that Canada has a deemed rehabilitation system for certain offences after a certain period of time
Wanted to know if that applied to their situation and what the process is to travelling there
Any advice would be massively appreciated!
I’m looking for advice on the subject of travelling to Canada with a criminal record
My significant other has a one time charge for possession of controlled substance (class a) It was around 9 years ago and they received a conditional discharge which has also been wiped off their record now showing “no traceâ€
We’ve read that Canada has a deemed rehabilitation system for certain offences after a certain period of time
Wanted to know if that applied to their situation and what the process is to travelling there
Any advice would be massively appreciated!
Sep 14th 2025 | 10:59 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Travelling to Canada with a criminal record
If I recall correctly a conditional discharge is not a conviction however it would still need to be disclosed.
The deemed rehabilitated is 10 years needs to have passed since the end of any sentence which in this case would not be applicable.
You may have to provide details if requested when applying for the eTA.
Caveat: I am not a lawyer but I am 99% sure it is not a conviction and the onus is on you to find out for sure rather than taking my word for it.
If under 18 when the offence was committed then that would be OK.
My advice is declare the offence and if room on the eTA application state a Conditional Discharge was the sentence and wait to see if they want more info.
Not disclosing the offence and then discovered later is misrepresentation which could result in a 5 year ban from entering Canada.
The deemed rehabilitated is 10 years needs to have passed since the end of any sentence which in this case would not be applicable.
You may have to provide details if requested when applying for the eTA.
Caveat: I am not a lawyer but I am 99% sure it is not a conviction and the onus is on you to find out for sure rather than taking my word for it.
If under 18 when the offence was committed then that would be OK.
My advice is declare the offence and if room on the eTA application state a Conditional Discharge was the sentence and wait to see if they want more info.
Not disclosing the offence and then discovered later is misrepresentation which could result in a 5 year ban from entering Canada.
Sep 15th 2025 | 2:54 am
#3
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 15
Re: Travelling to Canada with a criminal record
If I recall correctly a conditional discharge is not a conviction however it would still need to be disclosed.
The deemed rehabilitated is 10 years needs to have passed since the end of any sentence which in this case would not be applicable.
You may have to provide details if requested when applying for the eTA.
Caveat: I am not a lawyer but I am 99% sure it is not a conviction and the onus is on you to find out for sure rather than taking my word for it.
If under 18 when the offence was committed then that would be OK.
My advice is declare the offence and if room on the eTA application state a Conditional Discharge was the sentence and wait to see if they want more info.
Not disclosing the offence and then discovered later is misrepresentation which could result in a 5 year ban from entering Canada.
The deemed rehabilitated is 10 years needs to have passed since the end of any sentence which in this case would not be applicable.
You may have to provide details if requested when applying for the eTA.
Caveat: I am not a lawyer but I am 99% sure it is not a conviction and the onus is on you to find out for sure rather than taking my word for it.
If under 18 when the offence was committed then that would be OK.
My advice is declare the offence and if room on the eTA application state a Conditional Discharge was the sentence and wait to see if they want more info.
Not disclosing the offence and then discovered later is misrepresentation which could result in a 5 year ban from entering Canada.
We will definitely disclose it, just wanted to see if once 10 years have passed, the process would be different
