Last Updated: 11 August 2023

Some people aren’t allowed to come to Canada. They’re “inadmissible” under Canada’s immigration law.

Did you know that you could be refused entry at a Canadian port of entry, due to a previous criminal record or your application to visit, migrate, study, work in Canada could also be refused, on the basis of criminal inadmissibility?

A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you can enter Canada when you:

• apply for a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or
• when you arrive at a port of entry.

There are different reasons, such as security, criminal or medical reasons.

It is very important to understand that if you have been in a situation where you are already found to be inadmissible or at risk of being found inadmissible to Canada, there are options, available. In certain situations, you could overcome the inadmissibility, either criminal or medical.

Criminal inadmissibility is defined as when an individual is unable to enter and denied entry to Canada on grounds of criminal activities.

You could be found inadmissible for a number of reasons, such as:

• security reasons, including
  • espionage
  • subversion (attempts to overthrow a government, etc.)
  • violence or terrorism
  • membership in an organization involved in any of these
• human or international rights violations, including
  • war crimes
  • crimes against humanity
  • being a senior official in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions
• committing a crime, including driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• organized crime, including membership in an organization that takes part in organized criminal activity, people smuggling or money laundering

You could also become inadmissible, for criminality even without setting your foot on Canadian soil. It is important to discuss your situation about inadmissibility, please book a consultation to have a thorough understanding of your options and remedies available.

If you have been found to be criminally inadmissible, or at the risk of being inadmissible, you still have options. Please contact us.

When you apply to immigrate to Canada or to study in Canada and certain other application types like visitors, study permits and work permit applications. You are also required to take a medical exam through a panel physician approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Usually, there are many parameters where you could be found inadmissible, due to medical reasons. If you have a health condition that can put excessive strain on the Public Health System of Canada, you could be found medically inadmissible.

I you are at risk of becoming medically inadmissible, you still have options to overcome this, contact us.

You can book a consultation for case-specific queries.