08/14/2026
🇨🇦 Think an old Criminal Record cannot affect your travel to Canada? Think again.
Many travellers are surprised to learn that a criminal offence from years, or even decades, ago can still create problems at the Canadian border.
A common misconception is that if a conviction is old, minor, or has already been resolved in another country, it will not be relevant when entering Canada. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
At Mobilitys we have see situations where individuals are denied entry because of offences that occurred 10, 15, or even 20 years ago.
What travellers should know:
• Canadian immigration authorities conduct their own admissibility assessment
• A foreign conviction may be treated differently under Canadian law
• Even a single offence can result in criminal inadmissibility
• Past offences do not automatically disappear for immigration purposes
• Discovering an issue at the border is often too late
One of the biggest mistakes we see is assuming that "it happened a long time ago, so it does not matter anymore."
In reality, age alone does not eliminate an admissibility concern. Every case requires a careful legal review of the offence, the sentence imposed, the date of completion, and how the offence compares to Canadian legislation.
The best approach is simple: know your history before you travel. Identifying potential issues in advance may allow you to explore available legal options and avoid complications at the port of entry.
Need immigration legal advice?
Book a consultation with our team today.
www.mobilitys.com
- Mobilitys