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Criminal Code

s. 131 Perjury

  • Public Order & Administration
  • Public Order
Maximum sentence
14 years (punishment set by s. 132)
Classification
Indictable

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

The law says

Criminal Code s. 131
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)
  • (1)Subject to subsection (3), every one commits perjury who, with intent to mislead, makes before a person who is authorized by law to permit it to be made before him a false statement under oath or solemn affirmation, by affidavit, solemn declaration or deposition or orally, knowing that the statement is false.
  • (1.1)Subject to subsection (3), every person who gives evidence under subsection 46(2) of the Canada Evidence Act, or gives evidence or a statement pursuant to an order made under section 22.2 of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, commits perjury who, with intent to mislead, makes a false statement knowing that it is false, whether or not the false statement was made under oath or solemn affirmation in accordance with subsection (1), so long as the false statement was made in accordance with any formalities required by the law of the place outside Canada in which the person is virtually present or heard.
  • (2)Subsection (1) applies, whether or not a statement referred to in that subsection is made in a judicial proceeding.
  • (3)Subsections (1) and (1.1) do not apply to a statement referred to in either of those subsections that is made by a person who is not specially permitted, authorized or required by law to make that statement.
Amendment History (3)
  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 131
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 17
  • 1999, c. 18, s. 92

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Immigration

Where this offence sits under IRPA

Section 131 defines perjury, and s. 132 sets its punishment. The Crown must charge it by indictment, and the top sentence is 14 years. That is well past the 10-year line. So a conviction is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1), for permanent residents and foreign nationals alike. Deemed rehabilitation is not available when the maximum is 10 years or more. The route is a record suspension for a conviction in Canada (s.36(3)(b)), or an application to be found rehabilitated for one outside Canada (s.36(3)(c)). Immigration forms, statutory declarations and hearings are all sworn. That is why a perjury finding also bears directly on the misrepresentation ground in s.40.

This is how the law sorts the offence, not a reading of any one record. An officer decides each case.

IRPA sections involved