We have been noticing a growing number of foreign nationals who
do not disclose their foreign pardons to Canadian employers. The
non-disclosure could have severe immigration implications on
foreign nationals. A foreign pardon is not automatically recognized
in Canada. Given this, a foreign national who has a foreign pardon
may still be inadmissible to Canada on criminality grounds. If the
foreign national is inadmissible to Canada on criminality grounds,
then a Temporary Resident Permit or Criminal Rehabilitation may be
required to enter Canada. This bulletin will outline what employers
should consider when hiring a foreign worker with a foreign
pardon.
What is a Pardon?
In general, a pardon sets aside an individual's criminal
conviction. The requirements to apply for a pardon are different in
each country. In Canada, an individual can submit a Record
Suspension (formerly called a "Pardon") application to
the Parole Board of Canada to request that a criminal
