July 2, 2025
RED FM News Desk
SURREY, B.C. – Over the past 11 years, the Canadian Immigration Department has forgiven the criminal convictions of more than 17,500 foreign nationals, removing a significant barrier to their entry into Canada.
Federal government figures reveal that 17,600 individuals convicted of offenses abroad have been deemed “rehabilitated” by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) between 2014 and 2024. This allowed them to apply for various entry streams, including work and study visas, permanent residency, or visitor status.
Typically, foreign nationals are inadmissible to Canada if they have been convicted of an act that constitutes a criminal offense in this country. However, IRCC holds the authority to grant an exception if five years have passed since the person’s conviction or the completion of their sentence.
Despite this disclosure, IRCC has not released a detailed breakdown of the types of criminal offenses that have been forgiven. Last year, IRCC pardoned 1,390 criminal convictions while refusing 105 applications. In 2023, 1,505 individuals were considered rehabilitated, with 70 applications rejected.
This lack of specific information has sparked concerns about transparency. Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner emphasized the need for greater transparency regarding the nature of the pardoned convictions and the circumstances of each case to ensure public confidence in the immigration system’s vetting process.
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