Can I Enter Canada With a Weapons or Firearms Conviction?

You can enter Canada with a weapons or firearms conviction only with permission in most cases. Many weapons offences match a Criminal Code offence with a 10-year or higher maximum, such as s.88 or s.92, which is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). Time alone does not clear serious criminality. A Temporary Resident Permit or Criminal Rehabilitation can. An officer decides.

See which IRPA sections apply with the Admissibility Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

$246.25
IRCC’s Temporary Resident Permit fee, per person
$1,231
Criminal Rehabilitation fee for serious criminality
$246.25
Criminal Rehabilitation fee for non-serious criminality
Over a year
How long IRCC says rehabilitation applications can take

Confirm the current fee on IRCC before you apply, as fees change. The Fee Calculator shows both rehabilitation tiers.

Which Criminal Code weapons offences decide the tier?

A weapons or firearms conviction, whether a US felony or misdemeanor or a conviction from another country, is assessed against its Canadian equivalent under section 36 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). What matters for entry is the maximum penalty Canada attaches to the closest equivalent offence (this is called the equivalency analysis). That Canadian maximum determines your IRPA tier.

Canadian Criminal Code weapons provisions and their maximums
Offence	Criminal Code	Maximum	IRPA tier
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose	s.88	10 years	Serious criminality, IRPA s.36(1)
Possession of a firearm knowing that the possession is unauthorized	s.92	10 years	Serious criminality, IRPA s.36(1)
Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm	s.95	14 years	Serious criminality, IRPA s.36(1)
Possession of a weapon obtained by crime	s.96	14 years	Serious criminality, IRPA s.36(1)
Unauthorized possession of a firearm	s.91	5 years on indictment	Criminality, IRPA s.36(2)
Carrying a concealed weapon	s.90	5 years on indictment	Criminality, IRPA s.36(2)
Careless use or storage	s.86	2 years for a first offence	Criminality, IRPA s.36(2)

Only a full equivalency analysis applied to your specific charge can confirm the tier.

The rule

Some Canadian Criminal Code weapons offences carry a maximum of 10 years or more and are serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1).

IRPA s.36(1)Verify on justice.gc.ca

How do US weapons charges map to Canadian law?

Many US weapons and firearms charges, including felony weapons possession, felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated assault with a firearm, can map to a Canadian provision with a maximum of 10 years or more. That means serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1) and no deemed rehabilitation path.

Carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) without a licence can map to CCC s.90 (carrying a concealed weapon), which carries a 5-year indictable maximum and therefore falls under criminality in IRPA s.36(2). It can instead map to CCC s.92 (possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized), which carries a 10-year maximum and is serious criminality under s.36(1).

Which one applies is decided by the officer’s equivalency determination on the facts of your charge.

Why does time alone not clear most weapons convictions?

Deemed rehabilitation (the rule under IRPA s.36(3)(c) and IRPR s.18 that lets enough elapsed time clear an old conviction without a formal application) is only available for non-serious criminality: offences where the equivalent Canadian maximum penalty is less than 10 years.

Because many Canadian weapons offences carry maximums of 10 years or more, the equivalent foreign conviction often falls in the serious criminality tier, where deemed rehabilitation does not apply no matter how much time has passed. You typically need a TRP for near-term travel or an approved Criminal Rehabilitation application, which removes the ground of inadmissibility.

The exceptions are offences that map to CCC s.86 (careless use), s.90 (carrying a concealed weapon) or s.91 (unauthorized possession). Each can be prosecuted summarily or by indictment, and IRPA s.36(3)(a) counts such an offence as indictable even when it was prosecuted summarily. That places it in criminality under s.36(2), where deemed rehabilitation can cover a single conviction.

How does a Temporary Resident Permit work?

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) under IRPA s.24(1) can be granted even while you remain technically inadmissible. There is no minimum waiting period, so it is the practical choice when you need to enter before a Criminal Rehabilitation application could be processed.

The government processing fee is $246.25 per person. A TRP is valid for a stated purpose and duration, up to 3 years (IRPR s.63). IRCC says it stops being valid when you leave Canada, unless it states that it is valid for re-entry.

An officer weighs your need to enter against the risk you may present, so a TRP is discretionary and can be refused even when the paperwork is complete. For serious criminality, IRCC tells its officers that, in general, only a senior official can issue a TRP.

How does Criminal Rehabilitation work for a weapons conviction?

Criminal Rehabilitation under IRPA s.36(3)(c) removes the ground of inadmissibility for the offences it covers. Once it is approved, those offences no longer make you inadmissible, and an officer still examines each entry.

For serious criminality, which includes many weapons offences:

You must wait 5 years from completion of the whole sentence (IRPR s.17). IRCC counts fines, probation and parole. Its guide does not name a weapons prohibition, so IRCC decides how one is counted.
The government fee is $1,231 for serious criminality, versus $246.25 for non-serious.
IRCC says these applications can take over a year.

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What do people ask?

Can I enter Canada with a weapons or firearms conviction?

Usually not without permission, because many weapons and firearms convictions match a Criminal Code offence with a maximum of 10 years or more, which is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). Some, such as unauthorized possession (s.91), carry 5 years. A Temporary Resident Permit ($246.25) covers a specific trip, and Criminal Rehabilitation ($1,231 in the serious tier) removes the ground of inadmissibility. Our free Admissibility Explorer shows which IRPA sections your record touches.

Can I enter Canada if I was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon?

It depends on which Canadian offence your conviction matches. Unlicensed concealed carry can map to Criminal Code s.90, carrying a concealed weapon, with a 5-year indictable maximum: criminality under IRPA s.36(2), where deemed rehabilitation can apply after enough time. It can instead map to s.92, with a 10-year maximum: serious criminality under s.36(1). The officer decides on your facts. Our Criminal Code s.90 page shows the offence text and penalties.

Can I enter Canada after a conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person?

Usually only with a TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation. A US "felon in possession" or prohibited-person conviction under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) can map to Criminal Code s.92, possessing a firearm knowing the possession is unauthorized, which carries a 10-year maximum. If the firearm was obtained by crime, s.96 carries 14 years. Either way it is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). Our Criminal Code s.92 page shows the offence and its penalties.

Does a weapons conviction make me permanently banned from Canada?

No, a weapons conviction makes you inadmissible but does not ban you for life. Serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1) can be resolved through Criminal Rehabilitation, which you can apply for once 5 years have passed since you completed every part of your sentence, including fines, probation and parole. Once approved, that conviction no longer makes you inadmissible. Our Criminal Rehabilitation page explains the application, the fee and the documents IRCC asks for.

My weapons charge was from 15 years ago. Can I use deemed rehabilitation?

No, not if the offence maps to a Canadian weapons offence with a maximum of 10 years or more, such as s.88 or s.92. Deemed rehabilitation under IRPA s.36(3)(c) and IRPR s.18 applies only to non-serious criminality, where the Canadian maximum is under 10 years, and the time since the conviction does not change the tier. You would still need a TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation. Our deemed rehabilitation guide explains who it covers.

Does a withdrawn weapons charge, dropped charge, or acquittal make me inadmissible to Canada?

It may. IRCC says a person whose charges were withdrawn or dismissed outside Canada may be inadmissible, because IRPA s.36 also covers committing an act outside Canada that is an offence in both places (s.36(1)(c), s.36(2)(c)). A final acquittal cannot be the basis of inadmissibility (s.36(3)(b)). An officer decides, so carry court documents that confirm the outcome. Our pending criminal charges guide covers charges that are still open when you travel.

Can I just drive to the Canadian border and apply for a TRP at the port of entry?

Sometimes you can request a TRP at a port of entry, but for a serious weapons conviction it is a high-risk approach. The officer decides on the spot and can refuse entry. Asking in advance, within a visa or permit application or through IRCC's web form, gives you time to gather evidence and explain why you need to enter. No minimum waiting period applies. Our Temporary Resident Permit page explains both ways to apply and the fee.

What is the difference between a TRP and Criminal Rehabilitation for a firearms conviction?

A TRP covers a set stay, and Criminal Rehabilitation removes the ground of inadmissibility. A TRP under IRPA s.24(1) covers a specific purpose and period of up to 3 years, and you can seek it at any time. Criminal Rehabilitation under IRPA s.36(3)(c) removes the ground for the offences it covers, but you can apply only 5 years after your whole sentence ends. A TRP can cover travel before then. Our TRP vs Criminal Rehabilitation guide compares the two side by side.

Part of:Criminal record

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.