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Last verified: March 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca← Back to Law Explorer
IRPRPART 3 InadmissibilityDIVISION 1 Determination of Inadmissibility
r.18

Rehabilitation

🍁 In Simple Terms

People convicted of crimes outside Canada are automatically considered 'rehabilitated' — and therefore no longer inadmissible — if they have only one foreign conviction, that offence would be an indictable offence in Canada, a sufficient number of years have passed since completing the sentence, and they have not been convicted of any other offences. Specific timeframes depend on the type and seriousness of the offence.

Affects: Foreign nationals and permanent residents in Canada
Legal Text — IRPR Regulation 18

(1)18 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 36(3)(c) of the Act, the class of persons deemed to have been rehabilitated is a prescribed class.

(2)(2) The following persons are members of the class of persons deemed to have been rehabilitated:

IRPA Authority
📜 Related Sub-Regulations
r.18.1Prescribed class

18.1 (1) The class of foreign nationals who are inadmissible solely on the basis of having been convicted in Canada of two or more offences that may only be prosecuted summarily, under any Act of Parliament, is a prescribed class for the application of paragraph 36(2)(a) of the Act. Marginal note: Exemption (2) A member of the class prescribed in subsection (1) is exempt from the application of paragraph 36(2)(a) of the Act if it has been at least five years since the day after the completion of the imposed sentences.

In Practice
Official Source: Justice Canada — IRPR r. 18 (authoritative, may differ from this display)
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