Certain individuals, previously ineligible for entry to Canada due to past criminality, may be eligible for a fee-exempt "on the spot" temporary resident permit for one visit to Canada, under new rules that took effect on March 1, 2012.
To qualify for the exemption, the port-of-entry applicant must:
- have served no jail time, and
- have committed no other acts that would prevent him or her from entering Canada.
- have been convicted of an eligible offense (or its equivalent in foreign law);
- have served no jail time;
- have committed no other acts that would prevent them from entering Canada; and
- are not inadmissible for any other reason.
The equivalent convictions vary from country to country. Among others, they include:
- driving under the influence of alcohol;
- public mischief; and
- shoplifting.
- robbery;
- fraud over C$5000; and
- assault causing bodily harm.
- apply for a temporary resident permit and are approved;
- demonstrate through appropriate documentation that they meet the legal requirements to be deemed rehabilitated;
- apply for rehabilitation and are approved; or
- obtain a pardon.