Last Updated: August 24 2026
How do I apply for a criminal record suspension in Ontario and what documents do I need?
In Ontario, you generally apply for a criminal record suspension after you meet the required waiting periods and eligibility rules under the Criminal Records Act, with the Safe Streets and Communities Act changes starting in 2012. You must have completed your most recent sentence, be in law-abiding status, and have no outstanding court fines or fees, then wait 5 years after completing a summary conviction sentence or 10 years after completing an indictable conviction sentence, and you may face limits for certain sexual offences or for having multiple serious indictable convictions. The process usually takes several months to gather the package of records (such as court records from each jurisdiction where convictions were entered, fingerprint-based checks, and other supporting documentation) and then additional months for the decision after you submit. If you want to confirm your timeline, assess any offence-specific limitations, and organize the application package for PardonsAndWaivers.Help’s document-prep and filing support across Ontario, call (647) 680-9060.
Add this website to Google Preferred Sources
Criminal Record Suspension Application Procedures
People make errors in judgment; however, the consequences of those mistakes should eventually, within reason, come to an end. Unfortunately, after penalties as a debt to society are paid, adverse affects may continue for many years by way of reduced freedom to travel, loss of work or volunteer opportunities, among other impediments. Obtaining a criminal record suspension works to enable new beginnings without the shackles of a criminal record.
Note: Please contact PardonsAndWaivers.Help by phone at: (647) 680-9060 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, came into effect thereby making 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 the various amendments, the waiting periods for obtaining a record suspension now require that five (5) years have passed since the applicant was last convicted of a summary conviction offence or ten (10) years have passed since the applicant was last convicted of 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).
