Having a criminal record can make it hard to move on with your life and do things such as find a good job or rent a house. The good news is, you can always apply for a pardon and have the chance to clear your name and move on with your life.
Are You Eligible for A Pardon?
Before you apply for a record suspension, you first need to make sure you are eligible. Depending on your conviction, the time will change how long it takes to get a pardon processed.
Five months for charges that have been withdrawn, dismissed, or acquitted.
One year for absolute charges, stayed charges, or any given peace bond.
Three years for a conditional discharge.
Five years for a summary conviction.
Ten years for Indictable conviction.
However, if you have four or more indictable convictions or any sexual conviction involving a minor you will not be eligible for a record suspension.
How Long Will the Process Take?
When you do apply for a pardon/record suspension in Canada, the timing can differ with each case, so there is no concrete answer to how long it takes to get a pardon to be processed.
It can take an average of 12-24 months for a pardon application to be processed and granted. In some cases, it can be done within 6 months or less, while others can take up to 24 months or more if they involve indictable offences or complicated criminal records.
However, to prepare the pardon application, many documents must be collected. Acquiring the proper supporting documents from various law enforcement and government agencies can take between 3-10 months.
Therefore, it is a good idea to start preparing the application well in advance of your eligibility date. In fact, most people cannot even determine what their eligibility date is until after they have acquired RCMP reports and relevant court documents.
Keep in mind that the business dealing with your pardon has no control over the processing speed of how long it takes to get a pardon processed.
What Determines Wait Times
The laws that decide the eligibility period, wait times, and steps involved in obtaining a pardon can be confusing. The Canadian government processing accord to different convictions.
Summary convictions, less severe convictions, are processed within six months.
Indictment convictions, more severe conviction, are processed within 12 months
Convictions that have already been denied a pardon are processed within 24 months
When you account for processing times set by the Parole Board of Canada as well as the collection of documentation, it can take anywhere from 12-24 months to be granted a record suspension.
However, there are some factors that could extend the application process, such as, the nature of your offence, the jurisdiction that you live or have lived in, or filing an incomplete or improper application – there is no concrete answer to how long it takes to get a pardon to be processed.
There are many factors that come into play when determining the length of time of how long it takes to get a pardon processed, so giving a definite length of time is impossible.
If you are looking to start the process of applying for a pardon, it is best to start immediately. You don’t want to run into a good job, new apartment, or vacation opportunity that you are incapable of taking advantage of because of your criminal record.
At Pardons Canada we can help you get your pardon or waiver. Get in contact with our team of professionals and will help you through the process. Call 1 (800) 543-2137 today for professional assistance with Canadian federal pardons and waivers.
Don’t wait, apply today and get your life on track!
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