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Criminal rehabilitation · Canada

Criminal rehabilitation lawyers for people inadmissible to Canada

A conviction, here or abroad, doesn't have to keep you out of Canada or stop your permanent residence. Criminal rehabilitation removes the inadmissibility for an offence outside Canada (IRPA s. 36(3)(c)). A temporary resident permit covers a trip before it is approved. A record suspension clears a Canadian conviction. We work out which you need, prepare it, and stay with the file until it is decided. Lawgical Law Corporation is an immigration law firm with offices in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC.

  • Criminal rehabilitation applications (IMM 1444) and the statement behind them
  • Answers to IRCC letters about a conviction during a PR application
  • Rehabilitation, TRP or record suspension: we tell you which you need
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Thank you

We have your request and will contact you to arrange a time. If you have a deadline coming up, call us at (778) 598-3785.

Book a criminal rehabilitation consultation

Tell us a little about your situation and we'll be in touch to arrange a time.

Your information is kept confidential. Submitting this form does not create a lawyer–client relationship.

Got an IRCC letter about a conviction? Answer before the deadline in the letter. You can ask IRCC to hold your PR decision while rehabilitation is decided.

Reviewed by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha, Barrister & Solicitor · Updated

Three situations

Who needs criminal rehabilitation?

Anyone inadmissible for an offence outside Canada who is not deemed rehabilitated.

Coming to Canada with a record

Visiting, working or studying. Once five years have passed since your sentence ended, rehabilitation is the permanent fix. If you need to travel sooner, we pair it with a temporary resident permit for the trip.

Already in Canada with a conviction from another country

It often comes up during a PR application, sometimes as an IRCC fairness letter. We apply for rehabilitation from inside Canada, ask IRCC to hold the PR decision, and add humanitarian and compassionate grounds in the alternative.

A conviction in Canada

Rehabilitation doesn't apply. The route is a record suspension (pardon) from the Parole Board of Canada. We check the waiting period and how it fits your immigration plans.

Not sure you need anything?

Some people are already deemed rehabilitated: 10 years after a single offence that isn't serious criminality, or 5 years after two or more summary offences. We check that first.

Leaving an abusive spouse or partner whose sponsorship you depended on? That is a different, fee-free permit: see the family violence TRP.

They solve different problems, and many people need more than one.

  • Criminal rehabilitation ends criminal inadmissibility for the offences in your application, once at least five years have passed since the end of your sentence.
  • A temporary resident permit lets you enter or stay for a set period, if your reason is "justified in the circumstances" (IRPA s. 24(1)).
  • A record suspension from the Parole Board of Canada is the route for a conviction in Canada.
  • IRCC fees: rehabilitation $246.25, or $1,231.00 for serious criminality; TRP $246.25 (IRCC fee list, checked November 14, 2026).

IRCC says rehabilitation applications can take over a year. A complete application is the fastest one.

An officer reviews the application and the decision is made by a manager, or by the Minister for serious offences.

  • The number of offences, and the circumstances and seriousness of each
  • Your behaviour since, and your present circumstances
  • Your explanation of the offences and why you are not likely to re-offend

We have had criminal rehabilitation applications approved for clients living in Canada, including one made in answer to an IRCC fairness letter during a PR application. Every case depends on its own facts.

  1. Check your recordWe match each offence to Canadian law: criminality or serious criminality, and whether you are already deemed rehabilitated.
  2. Choose the routeRehabilitation, a TRP, a record suspension, or a combination, timed around your travel or PR application.
  3. Prepare the applicationThe IMM 1444, your statement, court records, proof the sentence ended, police certificates and evidence of your life since.
  4. Follow it to a decisionWe answer IRCC's requests, press for a decision if it stalls, and take a refusal to the Federal Court if needed.

Your immigration lawyers

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha, immigration lawyer

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha

Refugee claims, appeals, inadmissibility, Federal Court

Full profile
Sundeep S. Grewal, immigration lawyer

Sundeep S. Grewal

Founder · Barrister & Solicitor

Full profile

Criminal rehabilitation questions

Rehabilitation is permanent but needs five years since the end of your sentence and takes over a year. A TRP is for a specific trip. Many people need both.

Yes. From inside Canada the application goes to the Canada Immigration Centre for your area.

No. A conviction in Canada needs a record suspension from the Parole Board of Canada.

IRCC says it can take over a year. In our files it has taken from months to close to three years.

For the convictions in your application, yes. Carry a copy of the approval letter when you travel.

Official sources: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 36

Guides from our lawyers

What our immigration clients say

“Sundeep is professional, well versed in immigration matters and extremely timely with correspondence. During this pandemic, not being able to meet in person, Sundeep made sure I was comfortable with communicating and responding with regards to remote dialog. Thank you Sundeep and Lawgical, you're in great hands!”
S. Bothé
“Sundeep Grewal was very understanding and helpful. I would recommend this firm for immigration problems. He explained everything to us in detail. He went out of his way to send important information for my son's case.”
Dilbag Sangha

Other immigration services

Family sponsorshipPermanent residenceCitizenshipHumanitarian and compassionateRefugee claimsPre-removal risk assessmentRefusals and appealsSpousal sponsorship appealsParent sponsorship appealsPR removal order appealsResidency obligation appealsIRCC delays and mandamusStays and deferrals of removalInadmissibilityEntering Canada with a DUIVisit, study and workAuthorization to return to CanadaImmigration detention reviewsVulnerable worker open work permits

Criminal rehabilitation help in Abbotsford, Surrey and Vancouver

Meet us at any of our offices, or by phone or video from anywhere in Canada or abroad.

Abbotsford immigration lawyersOffice 1211, #104 - 32615 South Fraser Way Surrey immigration lawyers#208 - 5455 152 St Vancouver office#1300, 1500 W. Georgia Street

Inadmissible because of a conviction?

Book a consultation and we will tell you whether you need rehabilitation, a TRP, a record suspension or a mix.

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