Usually not without permission. Most felonies make you inadmissible to Canada, even for a short visit. You can usually still get in with criminal rehabilitation (once five years have passed since your sentence ended) or a temporary resident permit (TRP) for a specific trip. Some misdemeanors are treated less strictly, but not all.
How Canada looks at a US felony
Canada does not use the US labels “felony” and “misdemeanor”. A border officer compares your offence with the closest offence in Canadian law and looks at the maximum sentence for that Canadian offence.
- If the matching Canadian offence carries a maximum of 10 years or more, it is “serious criminality”. Most felonies fall here.
- If the maximum is less than 10 years, it is “criminality”, which has some more flexible options.
The same US conviction can be treated differently depending on the facts, so the exact charge and court records matter.
Felonies that commonly cause problems
- impaired driving (DUI, DWI, OWI), which Canada now treats as serious criminality
- assault, including domestic violence
- theft, burglary and fraud
- drug possession and trafficking
- weapons offences
What about misdemeanors?
A misdemeanor is not automatically safe. Many misdemeanors match Canadian offences that still make you inadmissible. Others, such as some minor theft or mischief offences, may match minor Canadian offences. In some of those cases, enough time has passed that you may be deemed rehabilitated and no longer inadmissible.
Your options
| Option | When it fits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed rehabilitation | Some less serious offences, after enough time | No application, but generally not available for serious criminality, including most felonies |
| Criminal rehabilitation | At least 5 years after your whole sentence ended | A permanent solution; processing can take more than a year |
| Temporary resident permit | You need to travel before rehabilitation, or while it is pending | Needs a good reason for the trip; the officer weighs it against any risk |
Your sentence ends when everything is complete: jail, probation, fines, restitution and any licence suspension.
Expunged records, pardons and pending charges
- Expunged, sealed or pardoned records: Canada does not recognize US pardons, expungements or sealed records as erasing a conviction. If you were convicted at any point, you will need criminal rehabilitation if it applies to your offence.
- Pending charges: an open charge can also lead to refusal at the border, even before a conviction.
- Multiple convictions: these usually rule out deemed rehabilitation and make an application necessary.
Be accurate at the border
If a border officer asks about your criminal history, answer accurately. Misrepresentation brings its own five-year ban from Canada.
How we help
Our immigration lawyers are minutes from the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway and Sumas crossings, and work with clients across the United States by phone and video. See our page on entering Canada with a DUI or criminal record, or book a consultation.
Related: Can you go to Canada with a DUI? and Criminal rehabilitation in Canada.
FAQ
Can a convicted felon travel to Canada?
Usually only with permission: criminal rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the sentence ended, or a temporary resident permit for a specific trip.
Can I go to Canada with a misdemeanor?
Sometimes. It depends on the matching Canadian offence and how long ago your sentence ended.
Does a felony from 20 years ago still matter?
It can. Most felonies count as serious criminality, which does not go away on its own with time. You usually need to apply for criminal rehabilitation.