Canada approved over 17000 criminals to enter the country in the last 10 years

Over the last 10 years, Canada has allowed more than 17,600 people with criminal records to enter the country after approving their applications for rehabilitation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed.

Between 2014 and 2024, Canada received over 25,350 rehabilitation applications from foreign nationals seeking to visit, study, work, or immigrate. Of those, nearly 70 percent were approved, while about 20 percent were denied and 10 percent were withdrawn.

The approvals are part of a long-standing legal process built into Canada’s immigration system. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, foreign nationals with past convictions must demonstrate they’ve been rehabilitated and pose no threat to Canadian society.


“Canadians’ safety will always be our top priority,” IRCC spokesperson Remi Lariviere told CTV News. “These decisions are made by experienced immigration officers based on legal criteria and a detailed review of the facts.”

How to qualify?

To qualify, an applicant must wait at least five years after completing their sentence and prove they’ve changed. Officers assess the nature of the offense, the time passed, the conduct since, and community support. Each case is reviewed individually.

The IRCC does not break down approvals by type of crime, country of origin, or reason for entry. However, immigration lawyer Chantal Desloges says many offenses are minor.

“The vast majority of these offences are pretty minor,” she said on CTV Your Morning. “When you hear these terms like ‘foreign criminals,’ it sounds very scary.” One of her clients was nearly barred from Canada due to a conviction for hunting ducks out of season.

She added that in Canada, even minor offenses like driving under the influence can result in inadmissibility. “The US tends to focus on crimes with moral turpitude. Canada is much more black and white.”

Some applicants seek rehabilitation proactively, just to be eligible in the future. “I’ve had people apply just so they know they can come back someday,” Desloges said.

While critics argue the process lacks transparency, IRCC insists it’s not about “forgiving” crimes, but ensuring applicants meet legal and safety thresholds.

“These cases have helped reunite families and allowed athletes, artists, and loved ones into Canada,” said Lariviere. “But approval does not mean automatic entry.”