Here you will find a description of the kinds of behaviour that can cause a person to be found inadmissible for individual criminal acts.

If an individual is convicted of certain crimes, he or she may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. Inadmissible individuals are not allowed to enter Canada. There are two main kinds of crimes that are committed at the individual level that can cause a person to be deemed inadmissible to Canada.

1. Serious Criminality
2. General Criminality

1. Serious Criminality

Permanent residents of Canada and foreign nationals will be found inadmissible to Canada due to serious criminality if:

• They have been convicted of a crime in Canada that could give rise to a maximum jail sentence of 10 years or more.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be deemed inadmissible under this category if they have been acquitted of the crime or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act.
• They have been convicted of a crime in Canada that could give rise to a jail sentence of six months or more.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be deemed inadmissible under this category if they have been acquitted of the crime or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act.
• They have been convicted of a crime outside of Canada that could give rise to a maximum jail sentence of at least ten years if committed in Canada.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be found inadmissible under this category if they have been deemed rehabilitated or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if they are expected to be acquitted for the crime. Lastly, they will not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act. For more information on Deemed Rehabilitation, click here.
• They have committed an act outside of Canada that is a crime in the place it was committed AND could give rise to a maximum jail sentence of at least 10 years if committed in Canada.
  • If the person who committed the act is a permanent resident, they will only be found inadmissible if they are deemed to have committed the act “on the balance of probabilities”. This means that the person will only be deemed inadmissible if it is more likely than not that he or she committed the act.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be found inadmissible under this category if they have been deemed rehabilitated or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if they are expected to be acquitted for the crime. Lastly, they will not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act. For more information on Deemed Rehabilitation, click here.

2. General Criminality

Foreign nationals can be found inadmissible to Canada due to general criminality when:

• They have been convicted in Canada of a crime that may be punishable by indictment.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be deemed inadmissible under this category if they have been acquitted of the crime or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act.
• They have been convicted in Canada of two distinct crimes under Canadian law that arose out of two distinct events.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be deemed inadmissible under this category if they have been acquitted of the crime or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act.
• They have been convicted of a crime outside of Canada that, if committed in Canada could be prosecuted as an indictable offense.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be found inadmissible under this category if they have been deemed rehabilitated or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if they are expected to be acquitted for the crime. Lastly, they will not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act. For more information on Deemed Rehabilitation, click here.
• They have been convicted outside of Canada of two distinct crimes that happened in two distinct events that would be considered to be crimes if committed in Canada.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be found inadmissible under this category if they have been deemed rehabilitated or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if they are expected to be acquitted for the crime. Lastly, they will not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act. For more information on Deemed Rehabilitation, click here.
• They have committed an act outside of Canada that is a crime in the place where it was committed AND could be an indictable crime if committed in Canada.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be found inadmissible under this category if they have been deemed rehabilitated or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if they are expected to be acquitted for the crime. Lastly, they will not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act. For more information on Deemed Rehabilitation, click here.
• Upon entering Canada, they commit an act that is illegal under Canadian law.
  • Exceptions: Individuals will not be deemed inadmissible under this category if they have been acquitted of the crime or if they have had their criminal record suspended. They will also not be found inadmissible if the crime was committed under the Contraventions Act or the Young Offenders Act.

Permanent residents of Canada will not usually be deemed inadmissible to Canada if they are merely found to have been involved in general criminal activity.

Note. All findings of inadmissibility under these categories must be based on “reasonable grounds”. This means that immigration officers will only deem a person inadmissible if they have a legitimate belief that there is a serious possibility that a person falls under one of the criminal categories above. This belief must be based on credible evidence.

• Exception: As mentioned above, the “reasonable grounds” standard does not apply to Canadian permanent residents who have committed an act outside of Canada that is a crime in the location it was committed AND is punishable by a maximum jail term of at least 10 years if committed in Canada. A permanent resident is subject to the “balance of probabilities” standard, which is defined above.

For more information on how inadmissibility for individual criminal acts is assessed, click here.

Step 5: Submitting Your Application

Deemed Rehabilitation

If you are applying for deemed rehabilitation, you do not need to submit an official application form. However, you can apply to a Canadian visa office for an opinion as to whether or not you will be deemed rehabilitated. For more information on this, click here. (Deemed Rehabilitation)

Individual Rehabilitation

If you are applying for individual rehabilitation and are living in Canada, you must mail your application to the Immigration Centre assigned to your area.

If you are applying for individual rehabilitation, living outside of Canada, and don’t have the proper visa to enter Canada (visitor, study or work), you must submit your application, along with all relevant visa applications (visitor, work or study) to the nearest Visa Application Center. To find the closest Visa Application Center, click here.

If you are living outside of Canada, already have the proper visa, and are only submitting an application for individual rehabilitation, you must submit your application by mail or courier to the visa office responsible for your area. For more information, click here.

TRP

Usually, a person can apply for a TRP from abroad or at a Canadian port of entry.  A person who was convicted of involvement in organized crime, however, has to apply for a TRP from abroad. Different application locations have different application procedures. To find out how to submit your application for a TRP, be sure to contact the specific visa office or Canadian port of entry at which you plan on applying for a TRP.

What Happens Next?

If you have submitted an application for individual rehabilitation or a TRP, your application will be reviewed and a positive or negative decision will be made. The decision will usually depend on the following factors:

• The number of crimes you have committed.
• The context in which the crime was committed.
• How serious the crime was.
• Your behaviour since committing the crime.
• Your explanation of the crimes.
• Your explanations on why you are not likely to re-offend.
• References you have received from members of your community.
• Reasons why you think you are rehabilitated.
• Your present circumstances.

Applications for individual rehabilitation can take more than a year to process.

Application times for TRPs can vary depending on whether or not it is important that the applicant enter Canada by a certain time.

If you have applied to a visa office for an opinion on whether you can be deemed rehabilitated, these application can take up to six months to process.

The following factors can speed up application processing:

• Making sure that you have provided all the documents and information that has been requested.
• Advising the visa office of a change to your contact information. This includes:
  • Mailing address.
  • Phone number(s).
  • Fax number.
  • E-mail address.

The following factors may delay the processing of an application:

• Missing signature on forms.
• Unclear photocopies of documents.
• Certified English or French translation not provided when required.
• The government deciding that additional analysis of information and documents is required.
• A medical condition that may require further tests.
• A criminal or security problem.
• Whether or not Canadian immigration officials need to consult with other government departments in Canada or abroad regarding your application.

Please click on How to Overcome a Finding of Inadmissibility for Past Criminal Activity for previous steps.

Basic information on TRPs

A person who has been deemed inadmissible to Canada for criminal reasons may still enter the country if they are issued a TRP.

Federal immigration authorities will generally only issue a TRP in exceptional cases where the benefits of a person entering Canada outweigh the risks of allowing the person to enter Canada. Any decision to allow an inadmissible person to enter Canada with a TRP must be made in line with Canada’s social, humanitarian and economic policies. These decisions must also take into account the health and security of all Canadian citizens.

TRPs will sometimes be issued to allow criminally inadmissible people to attend family events and business visits. TRPs will also be issued to people who are likely to bring benefits to Canada by entering the country. These kinds of people include famous musicians or athletes with prior convictions who are entering Canada to perform in a concert or sporting event.

Note: If you are from a country whose citizens are required to obtain a visitor visa in order to enter Canada, you must obtain this visa along with a TRP in order to enter Canada. For a list of countries whose citizens are required to obtain a visitor visa in order to enter Canada, click here.

Eligibility for a Temporary Resident Permit

A person must have been declared inadmissible to Canada in order to be eligible to receive a TRP. The decision on whether or not to issue a TRP is at the full discretion of CIC and will take into the following factors:

1. Whether the need for the inadmissible person to enter Canada is compelling.
2. Whether the benefits of the inadmissible person’s presence in Canada outweigh the risks that he or she poses to Canadian society.
3. Whether the person went to jail for his or her crime. Usually, if a person served a jail term, he or she will not be eligible for a TRP.

Successful TRP applicants will usually be those who can prove that they do not pose a risk to Canada and that they will not burden Canada’s welfare system. Any evidence that can help prove these two qualities will increase a person’s chances of success.

A person will also be more likely to obtain a TRP if they are trying to enter Canada for a short time to participate in a specific event whose existence can easily be proven with evidence, such as a business conference.

When deciding whether or not to grant a TRP, immigration officers are allowed to use their discretion. However, officers are still bound by law to make TRP decisions that are fair and take account of all relevant factors. With regards to TRP decisions, these relevant factors include:

• The severity of the original crime.
• The likelihood that the person will commit another crime.

If an officer is found by the court to have made a TRP-related decision that did not take crucial factors into account or was unfair, the decision will be overturned and sent to a new officer to be re-evaluated.

Usually, a person can apply for a TRP from abroad or at a Canadian port of entry.  A person who was convicted of participating in organized crime, however, has to apply for a TRP from abroad.

Note: Individuals will not be eligible to obtain a TRP if less than 12 months have passed since they failed to obtain refugee protection in Canada.

Validity of a Temporary Resident Permit

A TRP can be valid for a period of between one day and three years. When deciding how long the validity period of a TRP will be, authorities will consider the following factors:

• The length of the person’s visit to Canada. For example, if an inadmissible person is seeking to visit Canada to attend a week-long conference, the TRP will be issued with a validity period of one week.
• Whether there is a compelling need for the TRP to be issued.
• Whether there are risks involved in issuing the TRP and, if so, whether the compelling need outweighs these risks.
• If the person is applying for a second TRP, whether any new admissibility issues have arisen since the issuing of the first TRP.
• The fact that, after a certain period of time, TRP holders can become permanent residents of Canada. For more information on Applying for Additional Permits as a Temporary Resident Permit Holder, click here.

In cases where a TRP holder has also been issued a work permit or a study permit, the TRP will have a validity period equal to the validity period of the other permit.

Note: A TRP holder must obtain a study or work permit in order to study or work in Canada.

Conditions and Obligations of TRP Holders

All TRP holders:

• Must leave Canada if the TRP expires or is cancelled.
• Must apply for an additional TRP if they wish to maintain temporary residence in Canada.
• Must not work or study without a proper visa.

Those who do not fulfill these conditions may:

• Have their TRP cancelled.
• Be deemed inadmissible to Canada.
• Be removed from Canada.

Re-Entering Canada

TRPs do not normally allow their holders to leave and then re-enter Canada. In certain cases, though, the Canadian government can allow a TRP holder to leave and re-enter Canada. Allowing a TRP holder to leave and re-enter Canada is at the discretion of Canadian immigration officials and will depend on the following factors:

• Whether the TRP holder possesses a valid travel document or passport when attempting to re-enter Canada. Note: A TRP does not, by itself, count as a valid travel document.
• Whether the TRP holder is from a country whose citizens are required to have a temporary visa to enter Canada. If the holder is from one of these countries, he or she will have to acquire a temporary visa counterfoil in order to re-enter Canada. To find out if your country is one whose citizens are required to have a temporary visa, click here.
• Whether the TRP holder violated any of Canada’s border crossing laws. Even if a TRP holder has been pre-authorized to re-enter Canada, he or she will not be allowed to enter the country if he or she violates any of Canada’s border crossing laws.

If a TRP holder attempts to re-enter Canada but is unauthorized to do so, the TRP will immediately be cancelled and the holder will have to re-apply for a new TRP.

Immigration authorities also have the authority to cancel a TRP at any time that it deems appropriate. A person who has had their TRP cancelled will lose the ability to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Once a TRP is cancelled, the permit holder will have to leave Canada immediately. If the person fails to leave Canada, they will be deemed inadmissible to Canada for failing to comply with the obligation to leave the country. This will make any subsequent attempts to enter Canada much more difficult.

In all cases where a TRP is cancelled, the permit holder will be sent a letter giving them the opportunity to respond to the cancellation and make an argument as to why the permit should not be cancelled.

Note: In cases where a person would like to come to Canada with his or her family, all family members will have to obtain their own TRP.

For more information on applying for a TRP, click here.

For more information on Temporary Resident Permit Fees, click here.

Information on the fees that must be paid when applying for a TRP.

Generally, there is a processing fee of $200 per individual for the issuance of a temporary residence permit (TRP). The fee is non-refundable and will only be charged after the permit is granted.

If a person is unable or unwilling to pay the fee, they will be advised to withdraw their TRP application. A TRP application will never be processed if the applicant does not pay the fee.

Fee Exceptions

In 2012, the Canadian government began granting a fee exemption to certain people who have been deemed inadmissible to Canada for criminal acts. This exemption applies to those who:

• Are applying for a TRP at a Canadian port of entry or visa office abroad.
• Have been convicted of an offense that does not come with a prison sentence.
• Have no other convictions and have not done any other acts that would make them inadmissible.

Those who fall under this category will be exempt from the $200 TRP processing fee. However, the exemption is a one-time exemption. This is to say that if a person who has benefited from the exemption attempts to apply for a new TRP, he or she will then have to pay the fee. The exemption does not apply to those who have been convicted of sexual offences or offences related to child pornography.

For more information on, how to apply for a TRP, click here.

Here, you will find information on:

• How TRP holders can apply for additional TRPs.
• How TRP holders can apply for work permits and study permits.
• How TRP holders can apply for permanent residence.

Applying for a Subsequent Temporary Resident Permit

In order to remain in Canada, TRP holders must apply for a subsequent TRP before their initial TRP expires. Only TRP holders who are in Canada can apply for a subsequent TRP. It is important to note that an initial TRP cannot be extended but rather, a subsequent TRP must be applied for and acquired before the initial TRP expires.

An application for a subsequent TRP will usually be accepted if:

• The person applied for his or her subsequent TRP before the expiry of the previous TRP.
• The reasons and evidence under which the person was granted the first TRP have not changed.
• No new circumstances have come up that would justify removing the person from Canada.
• The initial TRP was not cancelled due to an unauthorized departure from Canada.
• The person complied with all of the conditions of his or her previous TRP.

A subsequent TRP will not be issued to a person who is residing outside of Canada.

There are certain cases, however, where a person will not be permitted to apply for a subsequent TRP. These individuals will have to submit an entirely new TRP application in order to remain in Canada. Cases where a person must apply for a new TRP as opposed to a subsequent TRP include:

• Those who are applying for a TRP after the expiry of their previous TRP provided that the person does not have a legitimate reason for allowing the first TRP to expire.
• Those who have been deemed inadmissible for a new reason that is separate from the admissibility assessment that occurred prior to the issuing of the first TRP.
• Those who have left Canada without prior government permission to re-enter the country and are now attempting to return to Canada.
• Those who have been absent from Canada for a long period of time.

If a person is deemed eligible for a new TRP but is also involved in circumstances that require close government monitoring, Canadian officials may decide to issue a new TRP with a short period of validity in order to re-assess the person’s eligibility to remain in Canada on a regular basis.

If, after looking at a person’s TRP application, a Canadian immigration official realizes that the person may be eligible for rehabilitation, the official will recommend that the person pursue rehabilitation instead of a TRP. For more information on rehabilitation, click here.

Work and Study Permits

If a TRP applicant would like to work or study in Canada, he or she must also acquire a work or study permit as necessary. TRP applicants will only be able to apply for a study or work permit, however, if they possess a TRP that is valid for more than six months. Family members of a TRP holder may submit a joint application for a study permit along with the primary TRP holder. Family members who wish to apply for a work permit, however, must submit separate applications.

Permanent Residence

TRP holders will be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence if:

• They have not become inadmissible to Canada for reasons other than those under which the original TRP was issued.
• They currently hold a valid TRP.
• They have resided in Canada for five years. Those who have been deemed inadmissible for criminality must reside in Canada for at least five years in order to become eligible for permanent residence. Those who have been deemed inadmissible due to involvement in organized crime, however, are ineligible to apply for permanent residence.

All applicants for permanent residence must satisfy these requirements as well as all the other general permanent residence application requirements in order to become permanent residents of Canada.

TRP holders will NOT be eligible to apply for permanent residence if:

• They leave Canada without obtaining permission to re-enter the country.
• They allowed a previous TRP to expire without applying for a subsequent TRP before the expiration date.
• They have become inadmissible to Canada for reasons other than those for which the original TRP was issued.

Those who fall under this category may still apply for new TRPs, but they will remain ineligible for Canadian permanent residence.

TRP holders may not include their family members in their permanent residence application. These family members must submit their own permanent residence applications as TRP holders. However, once a TRP holder becomes a permanent resident of Canada, he or she may sponsor eligible family members.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

A step-by-step guide on how to overcome a finding of inadmissibility for past criminal activity.

Individuals who have been involved in certain criminal acts may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. If you are deemed inadmissible to Canada, you will not be allowed to enter the country. There are certain ways however in which a person can overcome a finding of inadmissibility and regain the right to enter Canada.

Here are the steps that a criminally inadmissible person should follow in order to gain entry into Canada.

Step 1: Determine whether you are criminally inadmissible to Canada

Step 2: Picking an Avenue to Overcome Your Inadmissibility Finding

Step 3: Complete Your Application

Step 4: Pay Your Fees

Step 5: Submitting Your Application

Step 1: Determine whether you are criminally inadmissible to Canada

Usually, foreign nationals or permanent residents will be inadmissible to Canada if:

• They were convicted of a crime inside of Canada.
• They were convicted of a crime outside of Canada that is considered a crime inside of Canada.
• They committed a crime outside of Canada that is considered a crime in the country in which the crime occurred AND is considered a crime in Canada.

For more information on how to determine whether you are criminally inadmissible to Canada, see the following links:

1. Determining Inadmissibility for Individual Criminality
   
2. Determining Inadmissibility for Organized Criminality

Whether or not you are inadmissible to Canada, may also depend on whether or not you have been charged, discharged or pardoned for the crimes you committed.

If your charges were withdrawn or dismissed:

• You will be admissible to Canada if the crime occurred in Canada.
• You may be inadmissible to Canada if the crime occurred outside of Canada. For more information on assessing inadmissibility, see the two links above.

If you have received an absolute or conditional discharge:

• You will be admissible to Canada if the crime occurred in Canada.
• You may be inadmissible to Canada if the crime occurred outside of Canada. For more information on assessing inadmissibility, see the two links above.

If you have been granted a pardon for your crime:

• If the crime occurred in Canada and you were pardoned under the Criminal Records Act, you will be admissible to Canada.
• You may be inadmissible to Canada if the crime occurred outside of Canada. For more information on assessing inadmissibility, see the two links above.

Lastly, your inadmissibility for committing a crime may be altered if you were convicted while being between the ages of 12 and 18.

You will be admissible to Canada if:

• You were convicted in Canada under the Young Offenders Act or the Youth Criminal Justice Act and did not receive an adult jail term.
• You were convicted as a young offender in a country that has special laws for young offenders.
• You were convicted in a country that does not have special laws for young offenders but the circumstances of your conviction were such that you would have been tried as a young offender if convicted in Canada.

You will not be admissible to Canada if:

• You were convicted in an adult court in a country that has special laws for young offenders.
• You were convicted in a country that does not have special provisions for young offenders but the circumstances of your conviction were such that you would have been tried as an adult if convicted in Canada.

If you are found to be criminally inadmissible to Canada, you must then decide how you will attempt to overcome this finding of inadmissibility.

Step 2: Picking an Avenue to Overcome Your Inadmissibility Finding

The Canadian government suggests that rehabilitation should be the first method that all criminally inadmissible people pursue when attempting to overcome an inadmissibility finding. There are two main types of rehabilitation:

• Deemed Rehabilitation.
• Individual Rehabilitation.

For general information on rehabilitation, click here.

For more information on deemed rehabilitation, click here (Deemed Rehabilitation).

For more information on individual rehabilitation, click here.

If you are not able to be deemed rehabilitated or are not able to apply for individual rehabilitation, you may still gain permission to enter Canada despite your criminal inadmissibility. This permission is granted in the form of a temporary resident permit (TRP). For more information on how to get a TRP, click here.

Step 3: Complete Your Application

There are different application processes for rehabilitation and TRPs.

Applying for Rehabilitation

There is no formal application process for deemed rehabilitation as deemed rehabilitation depends entirely on the how much time has passed since the crime was committed. You can, however, ask the Canadian government for an opinion as to whether or not you can be deemed rehabilitated. For more information on this, click here. (Deemed Rehabilitation)

In order to apply for individual rehabilitation, you must complete the following forms:

• Document Checklist (IMM 5507) (PDF, 179.76 KB).
• Application for Criminal Rehabilitation (IMM 1444) (PDF, 1.18 MB).
• Fees for Immigration Services, Approval of Rehabilitation (IMM 5310) (PDF, 555.64 KB).
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) (PDF, 647.96 KB). Note: this form is only needed if you are going to hire an immigration expert to assist you with your application.

Applying for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)

If you live in a country whose citizens are required to have an eTA in order to enter Canada, you only need to submit a TRP application in order to enter Canada. To find out if your country of residence is an eTA-required country, click here.

If you are from a country whose citizens are required to have a visitor visa to enter Canada, you will have to obtain the visitor visa on top of applying for a TRP. To find out if your country of residence is one whose citizens must have a visitor visa before entering Canada, click here.

There is no one specific form that is used to apply for a TRP. Forms may vary depending on whether you apply from a Canadian visa office abroad or at a Canadian port of entry.

Step 4: Pay Your Fees

Deemed Rehabilitation

If you are applying for an opinion on whether you will be deemed rehabilitated, there is no fee.

Individual Rehabilitation

If you are applying for individual rehabilitation, a fee of $200 will apply. If the crime you committed is severe, you may need to pay an additional $800 fee. For more information on the definition of “severe crime”, click here.

Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)

Usually the processing fee for TRP applications is $200. In certain cases, however, you may be exempt from the fee. For more information on TRP fees, click here.

For Step 5: Submitting Your Application please click here.

Here you can read the description of the two types of people that can be found inadmissible to Canada for involvement in organized crime.

There are two types of people who can be deemed inadmissible to Canada for involvement in organized crime.

1. Those that are members of an organization that is believed, on reasonable grounds, to be or to have been involved in a pattern of organized criminal activity.

This organized activity must consist of many people working together to commit crimes that are punishable by indictment in Canada. The activity may also consist of acts outside of Canada that would be punishable by indictment if they happened in Canada.

The meaning of “membership” in an organized crime group includes anybody who is purposely involved with a group as described above and who profits from the group’s activities. This can include:

• People who work for the group on a full time or nearly full time basis.
• People who associate with members of the group on a regular basis.
• People who are connected to the group but do not commit acts personally.
• People who are directly, indirectly or peripherally involved with the group.
• People who do not have a large role in the group but still derive economic profit from the group’s activities.
• People who work for a legitimate business but are aware that the business is controlled by an organized crime group.
• People who act on behalf of the group without having formal membership in the group.
• Note: Members of the group who have no knowledge of the group’s illegal activities will not be deemed inadmissible.

Exceptions: Those who fall under this category will not be found inadmissible if it is deemed that their presence in Canada is not against the country’s national interest. One way to prove that your presence is not against Canada’s national interest is to obtain a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). For an Overview of TRPs, click here.

Further, those who participate in organized crime will not be deemed inadmissible if their only involvement with organized crime is that they entered Canada with the help of a person who is involved in organized crime.

2. Those that engage in:

1. People smuggling
2. Human trafficking
3. Money laundering
4. Any other act that is transnational in nature.

Exceptions: Those who fall under this category will not be deemed inadmissible if their only involvement with organized crime is that they entered Canada with the help of a person who is involved in organized crime.

Decisions that a group is engaged in organized crime must be made on “reasonable grounds”. This means that officers will only deem a group to be involved in organized crime if they have a true belief that there is a serious possibility that a group is engaged in organized crime. This belief must be based on credible evidence.

For more information on how organized crime is defined by the Canadian government, click here.

For more information on overcoming a finding of inadmissibility for organized criminality, click here.