The short version: in British Columbia, you apply to the Parole Board of Canada like everyone else in Canada. You wait 5 or 10 years after finishing your whole sentence (for offences since March 13, 2012), collect your RCMP fingerprint record, court information and local police checks, and pay a $50 fee.
How many record suspensions are ordered in British Columbia?
The Parole Board ordered 81 record suspensions for people in British Columbia in 2024–25, according to its latest report to Parliament. That count doesn't include "pardons" issued for older offences, which the Board reports separately.
Am I eligible yet?
Your waiting period starts only after you've finished everything in your sentence: fines, surcharges, costs, restitution and compensation orders, jail or conditional sentences (including parole), and probation.
| When the offence happened | Summary conviction | Prosecuted by indictment |
|---|---|---|
| On or after March 13, 2012 | 5 years | 10 years |
| June 29, 2010 to March 12, 2012 | 3 years | 5 years (10 years for some serious personal injury and Schedule 1 offences) |
| Before June 29, 2010 | 3 years | 5 years |
Some people are not eligible, for example people convicted of certain Schedule 1 sexual offences involving minors (with narrow exceptions), or of more than three indictable offences each with a sentence of two years or more. Not sure when you can apply? Try our free waiting-period calculator.
What documents will I need in British Columbia?
The Parole Board's application guide lists:
- Your criminal record from the RCMP (based on fingerprints taken by an accredited fingerprinting company or a police service), or a Certification of No Criminal Record, plus proof of conviction documents if required
- A Court Information Form for your convictions, completed by the B.C. courthouse (Provincial Court registry) where you were sentenced
- A Local Police Records Check from the police service where you live now, and for every city or town where you lived for 3 months or more in the last 5 years (each is valid for 12 months)
- A photocopy of government ID, the application form, and the $50 fee
- If your first offence was on or after June 29, 2010, a Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation form
Why it matters: in 2024–25, about 1 in 5 applications was sent back at screening, and 77% of those were for missing documents or payment. A complete package is the single biggest thing you control.
You can apply yourself. The Parole Board of Canada says you do not need a lawyer or a third-party company to apply. The application fee is $50. Record Support Canada offers free educational information and a private eligibility check; using any paid service is your choice.
How does a record affect work in British Columbia?
B.C.'s Human Rights Code (s. 13) says an employer must not refuse to employ, or discriminate in employment against, a person because they were convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment. That protection doesn't require a record suspension, but a suspension can still help with record checks and travel planning.
B.C. borders Washington State. If cross-border travel is part of your plans, a U.S. entry waiver is a separate process from a Canadian record suspension.
How long does it take?
The Parole Board's service standard is a decision within 6 months for summary offences and within 12 months for indictable offences, counted from when your application is accepted. In 2024–25 it met those standards for 87.3% and 73.7% of files, so plan for some delay.
Quick FAQ
Does a record suspension erase my record?
No. It keeps the record separate and apart from other criminal records, so it doesn't show on most checks. It can be revoked, for example after a new conviction.
Will a record suspension let me travel to the U.S.?
Not by itself. U.S. border officers apply U.S. law and may still know about the conviction. Some people also need a U.S. entry waiver.
Do I need to live in British Columbia to apply from here?
You apply to the same federal Parole Board wherever you live. You need police checks from each place you lived in the last 5 years.
Is the fee still $50?
Yes. The Parole Board's fee has been $50 since January 1, 2022.
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Record Support Canada is an independent educational and referral resource provided by Federal Pardons And Waiver Services. It is not affiliated with any government. This page is general information, not legal advice. No outcome, timeline or approval is guaranteed.
Sources
- Parole Board of Canada: Who is eligible
- Parole Board of Canada: Determining your eligibility
- Parole Board of Canada: Application guide (2024)
- Parole Board of Canada: Applying for a record suspension
- Record Suspension Report to Parliament 2024–25
- PBC service standards 2024–25
- Human rights source for British Columbia
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