Record Suspensions & Security Clearance
Apply for a record suspension or manage security clearance issues with experienced guidance from BC criminal defence lawyers. Our BC lawyers help with record suspensions and security clearance concerns.
A criminal record can follow you long after a sentence is complete—limiting your ability to find meaningful employment, travel, volunteer, or apply for housing or educational opportunities. For professionals and government employees, it may also affect your ability to obtain or maintain security clearance.
At Stern Shapray Criminal Lawyers, we help clients navigate the path to clearing or minimizing the impact of a criminal record. Whether you’re applying for a record suspension (formerly known as a pardon) or are dealing with the consequences of a past conviction on your career, we offer experienced legal guidance and practical support every step of the way.
Pardons & Record Suspensions
In Canada, a record suspension is a legal process that sets aside a person’s criminal record from public view. While it does not erase a conviction, it can prevent the record from appearing in most standard background checks.
You may be eligible to apply for a record suspension if:
- You have completed all aspects of your sentence (jail, probation, and fines)
- A certain waiting period has passed:
- 5 years for summary convictions
- 10 years for indictable convictions
- You have demonstrated law-abiding behaviour since completing your sentence
Benefits of a record suspension include:
- Increased access to employment and volunteer positions
- Enhanced eligibility for immigration applications or travel visas
- Improved ability to apply for housing, loans, or professional licensing
- Peace of mind and freedom from stigma
We assist with:
- Determining your eligibility and identifying disqualifying factors
- Gathering court documents, police records, and sentencing details
- Preparing and submitting a complete and persuasive application
- Responding to any complications or challenges during the process
While individuals can apply for a record suspension through the Parole Board of Canada, the process can be overwhelming and time-consuming without legal help—especially if there are errors in documentation or questions about eligibility.
Security Clearance & Employment Impacts
For individuals working in sectors such as:
- Government
- Law enforcement
- Airports or border services
- Financial institutions
- Healthcare
- Tech and infrastructure projects
…a criminal charge or conviction—no matter how minor—can jeo pardize your security clearance and career trajectory.
We regularly advise professionals on:
- How pending or past charges may affect a security screening
- What to disclose (and what not to) during background checks
- Responding to security clearance denials or revocations
- Managing licensing and regulatory board reporting requirements
Our legal team provides both proactive and reactive support—helping clients maintain compliance while minimizing risk to their livelihood. If your clearance has already been denied or revoked, we can assist in reviewing the decision, requesting reconsideration, or launching an appeal, where appropriate.
Protecting Your Reputation and Livelihood
Whether you’re looking to clear a past conviction, apply for meaningful work, or keep your professional standing intact, we understand how much is at stake. Our lawyers combine legal knowledge with discretion and care—because your future deserves thoughtful protection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Record Suspensions & Security Clearance in British Columbia
What is a record suspension in Canada?
A record suspension, formerly called a pardon, is an order from the Parole Board of Canada that sets aside your criminal record, separating it from other criminal records and making it inaccessible in most background checks. A record suspension does not erase the conviction, but it prevents it from appearing in most employer, housing, and volunteer screening contexts.
Who is eligible for a record suspension in British Columbia?
To be eligible, whether you were convicted in Surrey, Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Fort St. John, or elsewhere in BC, you must have completed your sentence including fines, probation, and parole, and waited the required period. The waiting period is five years after completing a summary conviction sentence and ten years after completing an indictable conviction sentence. Certain offences, including sexual offences against children, are permanently ineligible regardless of how long ago they occurred.
How do you apply for a record suspension in Canada, and do you need a lawyer?
Applying requires gathering court documents, an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record, and a local police information check, then submitting a complete application to the Parole Board of Canada. The process typically takes one to two years. While you can apply without legal assistance, errors or omissions in the application can cause significant delays or result in rejection, making legal guidance highly valuable. Stern Shapray Criminal Lawyers assists clients across British Columbia, including in Surrey, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Victoria, to ensure applications are complete and properly submitted. Contact Stern Shapray Criminal Lawyers to discuss your record suspension options.
What is the difference between a record suspension and an expungement in Canada?
A record suspension sets aside a conviction and removes it from active databases, but the record still exists and can be unsealed in limited circumstances. Expungement, available only for certain offences that have since been decriminalized, such as historical same-sex offences, permanently destroys the record. Most applicants in BC will be seeking a record suspension.
Can a record suspension help with travel to the United States?
A Canadian record suspension does not automatically grant entry into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection maintain its own databases and may still flag you based on prior Canadian convictions even after a record suspension is granted. If you wish to travel to the US, additional steps, such as applying for a US Entry Waiver, may be required alongside your Canadian record suspension.
What is a security clearance, and can a criminal record affect it in BC?
A security clearance authorizes individuals to access sensitive government or defence information. In British Columbia and across Canada, a criminal record, or even pending criminal charges, can affect eligibility for various clearance levels. The impact depends on the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred, and the level of clearance being sought. A record suspension may improve your eligibility in some cases.