Every year, millions of tourists, visitors, foreign workers, immigrants, and students enter Canada to fulfill their dreams and start a new life. In fact, Canada is the most immigrant-friendly and welcoming country in the world. To maintain peace and harmony among the citizens and immigrants, the Canadian government refrains from allowing individuals with criminal records into the country.

Allowing criminals to enter the country might create a major impact on their years of reputation and conflicts in society. Hence, to avoid such unwanted and uncertain consequences, the Canadian government has imposed stringent rules and regulations for applicants with criminal records in the past.

If you want to learn more about criminal inadmissibility in Canada or you have been found to be criminally inadmissible in Canada, this article can help find the best solutions to your concern.

Let us begin this article by understanding: 

What is criminal inadmissibility in Canada? 

Criminal inadmissibility in Canada is when an application is rejected on the grounds of criminal activities conducted in the origin country or somewhere else by the applicant. In extreme cases, individuals can be permanently banned from entering the country, and no matter what, the application will never be accepted. 

Situations that make you criminally inadmissible in Canada without ever entering the country include:

• Criminal activities conducted in a foreign country are recognized as criminal offenses in Canadian law.
• If you are found guilty of an indictable offense outside Canada.
• You are found guilty of two non-indictable crimes from two separate acts outside the country.

It is important to note that you can also be considered criminally inadmissible if found guilty of some offense at the time of questioning by the authorities. Hence, if you lose your temper or conduct such activities not acceptable as per the Canadian rules, you will be considered criminally inadmissible by Canadian border authorities. To avoid such situations, maintain your calm while dealing with the authorities. Seek help from experienced immigration lawyers to learn more about the criminal inadmissibility law and how to deal with the authorities at the time of questioning. 

How does criminal history affect your travel to Canada?  

A criminal history can majorly affect your travel to Canada. Your past criminal activities can create negative impressions and make the authorities believe that your presence can cause more conflict and disturbance in the country. However, if your case is not serious and you state your clear intentions of entering the country, your application can be accepted. 

The types of crime that make you criminally inadmissible to enter the country include drug trafficking, weapon violation, fraud, domestic violence, assault, fraud, property crimes, hit and run, homicide, harassment, and other related serious crimes. 

The Canadian government can easily determine your criminal history by conducting background checks. Hence, it is important that you keep your federal criminal reports clean and check your records before filling out the application.

A group of people that can get majorly affected from professional and personal points of view due to criminal inadmissibility includes performing artists, airlines and staff, individuals traveling to or from Alaska, people engaged in cross-border trade, individuals who have been charged with a crime in Canada, and individuals transiting through Canada. 

How can you enter Canada with an old criminal record? 

If your criminal records are not serious or you have been fraudulently framed for criminal activities, you get several opportunities to prove your innocence and enter the country with a clean check. Through a temporary resident permit application, criminal rehabilitation letter, or legal opinion letter you can overcome criminal inadmissibility in Canada. It is recommended to hire an experienced and reliable immigration lawyer to learn more about the process involved to overcome criminal inadmissibility charges.

Hopefully, this article helped you find the appropriate solutions to all your concerns with criminal inadmissibility in Canada. Keep your records clean and maintain your calm during questioning to avoid legal consequences.