Last Updated: August 22 2026
How do I apply for a criminal record suspension in Ontario and what documents are needed?
To apply for a criminal record suspension in Ontario, confirm you have completed your sentence and are law-abiding, have no outstanding government fines or fees, and have waited the required time (five years after a summary conviction or ten years after an indictable conviction) before submitting your package to the Parole Board of Canada; you also need to gather supporting documents such as court records for each conviction, fingerprint checks, and other items that match your record so the application is complete the first time. Processing often takes several months for document preparation plus additional months for the decision, and some records (including certain sexual offences or multiple indictable convictions involving prison time of 2 years or more) may be ineligible with limited exceptions. Lo Greco Law provides 30+ year experienced lawyer services including LSO tribunal representation to help you avoid delays and assemble a strong application, call (416) 488-4110 to discuss your situation in an initial consultation.
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Criminal Record Suspension Application Procedures
Even good people sometimes do bad things; however, and within reason, the consequences of a mistake should eventually end. Unfortunately, long after a debt to society is paid, the negative affects of a criminal record can continue to present challenges such as impairing the ability to travel freely, and limiting employment opportunities, among other restrictions. Removing the limitations arising from the burden of a criminal record can open up a whole new life full of opportunities.
Note: Please contact Lo Greco Law by phone at: (416) 488-4110 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.
The Law
In March 2012, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, S.C. 2012, Chapter 1, effected many changes to the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, among other statutes, including the Criminal Records Act, R.S.C. c. C-47, which included changes to the guidelines and procedures for obtaining a pardon, including change of the term pardon to the new term, criminal record suspension. Among various changes, waiting periods were amended such that a record suspension may be available after five (5) years have passed since a summary conviction offence or ten (10) years since an indictable offence.
Expected Process
Applying for a record suspension may involve various complexities depending on the individual situation of the applicant as the application process requires various supportive documents be obtained from various sources and submitted collectively as a complete package with the primary application documents. The various supportive documents include court records from the jurisdictions in which convictions were registered, finger print checks, among other things. The process of gathering the required documents and preparing the properly complete package often takes a few months; and after the package of application document are submitted, a decision may take a few more months. Overall, the entire process may take up to a year, and maybe more for highly complex situations.
Application Guidelines
When applying for a criminal record suspension you must be in law-abiding status subsequent to the end of your most recent sentence and be without any outstanding fines or fees due to the government such as monies owed for driving offences (traffic tickets), among other things.
Additionally, you must await expiry of the applicable waiting period. The waiting period is five (5) years after completion of summary conviction sentences or ten (10) years after completion of a sentence for an indictable offence conviction.
Furthermore, persons previous convicted for sexual offences may have limitations applicable to a record suspension. Persons previously convicted of three, or more, indictable offences involving prison sentences of two (2) years or more, as well as persons previously convicted for sexual offences inflicted upon minor persons are unable to obtain a record suspension (a few very rare exceptions may apply).
