What makes someone inadmissible to Canada?

The law says

A foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of criminality for … (b) having been convicted outside Canada of an offence that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an indictable offence under an Act of Parliament …

What that means

Criminality applies to foreign nationals. One conviction counts if the offence would be indictable in Canada, and most Criminal Code offences can be. Two convictions count if they come from separate events, even minor ones. An offence that can be tried either way counts as indictable (s.36(3)(a)).

The law says

A permanent resident or a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality for … (b) having been convicted of an offence outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence under an Act of Parliament punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years;

What that means

Serious criminality turns on the Canadian maximum sentence. A conviction abroad counts if the same offence in Canada carries a maximum of 10 years or more. An act abroad can count the same way, even with no conviction. In Canada, a prison term over six months also counts. This ground reaches permanent residents too.

The law says

A foreign national is inadmissible on health grounds if their health condition (a) is likely to be a danger to public health; (b) is likely to be a danger to public safety; or (c) might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services.

What that means

A medical condition can bar someone in three situations. The condition is likely to be a danger to public health. It is likely to be a danger to public safety. Or it could reasonably be expected to put excessive demand on health or social services. That last branch does not apply to sponsored spouses, partners and children. It also does not apply to refugees, protected persons and their family members.

The law says

A foreign national is inadmissible for financial reasons if they are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any other person who is dependent on them, and have not satisfied an officer that adequate arrangements for care and support, other than those that involve social assistance, have been made.

What that means

You can be refused if you cannot or will not support yourself and the people who depend on you. This applies when you have not shown an officer real plans for care and support. Plans that rely on social assistance do not count.

The law says

A permanent resident or a foreign national is inadmissible for misrepresentation … (a) for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in the administration of this Act;

What that means

This ground covers lying, or leaving out something important, on anything that matters to your file. It also reaches people sponsored by someone found to have misrepresented. People whose refugee protection or citizenship was taken away for fraud are caught too. The finding lasts five years. The count starts from the decision if you are outside Canada, or from the day you are removed if you are here. You cannot apply for permanent residence during that time.