Do I need a Canadian Pardon to Travel Abroad (not including the USA)?
By Anna Sergeyeva
*This blog advises on travel plans that do not include US destinations, and flying over or passing through a US port of entry.
Read for tips on protecting yourself when travelling abroad (not including the USA)?
A Canada pardon will not allow you to enter the US with a criminal record. For this, you need a US Entry Waiver.
The summer season is upon us. After a long winter, this is the time of the year to take some well-deserved time off and relax with friends and family. Getting the family together is no easy task. From booking tickets to packing your bags there are a lot of steps that need to be covered. It can get quite overwhelming.
One of the main remedies for a stress-free vacation is having all of your travel documents in order. Having a criminal record may add stress and extra barriers to your plans, and let’s face it, it’s something that you don’t want to think about.
Here are some steps that can help you with your planning and give you peace of mind during your vacation.
- Getting a Passport
To travel abroad you will need a Canadian Passport. Many individuals believe that you can’t get a passport if you have a criminal record. However, the passport application does not contain a criminal record check of any kind, so you can begin the application process right now. - Contacting the Embassy
Countries can update their laws and procedures at any time, so it’s always a good rule of thumb to contact the Embassy of the country where you are planning to travel. Click here for Canadian Embassy Assistance. Even if you have a criminal record, many countries are not going to refuse you entrance, but it’s always good to be sure. - Booking Your Flights
If you have a criminal record you have to put a little extra care when booking your flights. Many airlines will have connecting stops in airports in the United States. Individuals with a criminal record will most likely be refused entry and will need a U.S. Entry Waiver to enter the country again. At Pardon Services Canada we suggest that you book direct flights to the country which you plan to visit.
Start a Canadian Record Suspension Application –
If you are an avid traveller, then we definitely recommend for you to start a Canadian record suspension application. It will give you a piece of mind and one less thing to worry about when you’re going through your travel checklist.
Apply for a Record Suspension , or book your free consultation today, and see what new opportunities await you!
I have an Impaired charge from 2014 and I am looking to travel to Ireland in 2018 and rent a car. Will this be possible?
Hi Kim, Thank you for your question. The problem with questions about criminal records and admissibility is that, unlike the US and Canada, countries abroad do not make their position clear. You can try to contact the Embassy or Consulate. You could arrive there and wait for the border officials to ask you if you have a criminal record. At this point it will be up to the discretion of the border guard. We are unaware of any criminal record sharing between Canada and Ireland or the UK. This is not to say that you should lie if asked, because it is possible they could have some way of knowing. Anecdotally speaking, many Canadians say they travel extensively with DUIs on their records and don’t face any problems. Do you have a suspended licence? In this case you may not be able to rent a car as the licence must be valid.
I got into a bad wrap with a few friends back in ’14. They pressured me into doing drugs. I won’t go into details, but eventually, one of them screwed me over and in turn, pretty much everyone in the judicial system screwed me over. My charges were one count breach of probation (if you don’t include the obvious “Keep the peace and be of good behaviour”), threatening, and dangerous weapon. Keep in mind, I was on drugs and totally unaware of what was going on. I was told the only reason I was charged was not because of what I did, but because I had Marijuana in my system along with another drug, which is legal, but because I had an illegal drug in my system, I was charged, but what I don’t understand is why I didn’t have a Marijuana charge.
Anyways, I don’t care about going to the States, but I do want to go to Cuba with a much better friend than the ones that screwed me over. Now, I’ve been told by a lot of people, including my friend, my probation officer, and court support counselor that I won’t be asked about my record when going to Cuba. Is this true? I finish probation in a few months and next year, I want to go to Cuba with my friend. I just want to be able to sit back, relax, enjoy myself in Cuba and forget about the past.
Thanks!
Hi Andrew,
Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. Please check out our blog on travelling to Cuba with a criminal record: https://allcleared.com/blog/can-travel-to-cuba-criminal-record/