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Canada

Strict

NORTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

Felon entry rules

  • STRICT — Formal statutory bar. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), s.36.
  • Any indictable-equivalent offence renders a foreign national criminally inadmissible.
  • Serious criminality: offences carrying max sentence of 10+ years in Canada = inadmissible; NO deemed rehabilitation path.
  • Lesser indictable offences: deemed rehabilitated automatically after 10 years post-sentence completion (single offence); or apply for individual rehabilitation after 5 years.
  • Two summary-equivalent offences: deemed rehabilitated after 5 years.
  • Overrides available: Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) for compelling visits; Individual Rehabilitation application (1+ year processing).
  • Canada-U.S. criminal data sharing is extensive — records are checked at the border in real time.

Registered person entry rules

  • No distinct RSO statutory bar beyond IRPA s.36 — but sex offences involving children are among the most severely weighted during discretionary review.
  • Canada has its own national sex offender registry (SOIRA). Foreign RSO status alone does not bar entry, but the underlying conviction will trigger inadmissibility analysis.
  • Known to deny RSOs upon IML notification — border officers can use passport identifier as grounds for additional questioning and denial.

IML notice

21-day advance notice applies for covered registered persons.

Yes — 21-day advance notice required for covered registered persons (sex offenses against minors). U.S. law obligation; CBP/Angel Watch Center notifies destination country.

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