Being told you are inadmissible can feel like a door closing. Often it is not. Canada’s law lists the reasons a person may be refused, and it also sets out ways to overcome many of them. This guide explains the most common reasons, especially past convictions such as impaired driving, and the remedies IRCC offers.
Why someone may be inadmissible
- Crime, including impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, which counts as serious criminality whether it happened in or outside Canada.
- Medical reasons: a danger to public health or safety, or a condition that would place excessive demand on health or social services.
- Misrepresentation: giving false information or hiding facts in an application.
- Financial reasons, not complying with immigration law (such as overstaying or working without a permit), security or human rights reasons, and having an inadmissible family member.
The ways forward after a conviction
| Remedy | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Individual rehabilitation | A conviction outside Canada, at least 5 years after your sentence ended (including probation) | $246.25, or $1,231.00 for serious criminality |
| Deemed rehabilitation | Automatic after 10 years for one indictable offence, or 5 years for two or more summary convictions, only for offences with a Canadian maximum under 10 years | None |
| Record suspension | A conviction in Canada, 5 years after a summary offence or 10 years after an indictable one | $50, to the Parole Board of Canada |
| Temporary resident permit | A compelling reason to come to Canada that outweighs the risk, while you are still inadmissible | $246.25 |
Impaired driving penalties became tougher on December 18, 2018, and offences before that date are assessed under the old law. Since the maximum penalty for impaired driving rose from 5 to 10 years, plan on applying for individual rehabilitation rather than counting on deemed rehabilitation. Rehabilitation can take over a year, so apply well before you plan to travel.
Health and misrepresentation
- The 2026 excessive demand threshold is $144,390 over 5 years, or $28,878 a year.
- Refugees, protected persons and certain sponsored family members, such as spouses, partners and dependent children, are exempt from the excessive demand rule.
- Before any medical refusal, IRCC sends a procedural fairness letter, and you have 90 days to respond, sometimes with a plan to cover the costs.
- Misrepresentation can lead to a ban of at least 5 years and a permanent record of fraud.
Taking the next step
- 01
Get your records
Collect court records, police certificates and proof that every sentence, fine and probation is complete.
- 02
Work out your timeline
Count the years since your sentence ended to see whether rehabilitation is open to you yet.
- 03
Apply for rehabilitation
If you are eligible, apply to IRCC with your records and an explanation of how your life has changed.
- 04
Ask for a temporary resident permit if you cannot wait
Explain your compelling reason. A permit can last up to 3 years but does not permanently remove inadmissibility.
- 05
Answer every question honestly
Declaring a past conviction is always better than having it found: hiding it can turn one problem into a 5-year ban.
Frequently asked questions
I have one impaired driving conviction from years ago. Can I visit Canada?
Possibly. If you were convicted outside Canada and it has been at least 5 years since your sentence ended, you can apply for individual rehabilitation. If you need to come sooner, you can ask for a temporary resident permit.
Can I ask for a permit at the border?
You can ask the officer to consider a temporary resident permit at the port of entry. If the officer refuses, you will not be allowed to enter, so applying in advance is safer.
Does a temporary resident permit fix my inadmissibility?
No. It lets you come for a set purpose and time, and it can be cancelled. Rehabilitation or a record suspension is what overcomes a conviction for good.
Does a pardon from another country count?
A Canadian record suspension removes inadmissibility for a Canadian conviction. A foreign pardon is assessed by the visa office case by case.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- Impaired driving counts as serious criminality, whether it happened in or outside Canada.
- You may be able to apply for rehabilitation 5 years after your sentence ended.
- A temporary resident permit can let you come sooner if you have a compelling reason.
- IRCC: Reasons you may be inadmissible (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Overcome criminal convictions (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Medical inadmissibility (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Temporary resident permit (opens in a new tab)
- Parole Board of Canada: Record suspensions (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026