Section 36 is one of the most important inadmissibility provisions. A permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible for serious criminality (offences punishable by 10+ years, or conviction with 6+ months imprisonment). Foreign nationals face a lower bar — even minor convictions can make them inadmissible. If you have a criminal record, this section determines whether you can enter Canada.
(1)A permanent resident or a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality for(a) having been convicted in Canada of an offence under an Act of Parliament punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, or of an offence under an Act of Parliament for which a term of imprisonment of more than six months has been imposed;
(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; or