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CA

Canada

Usually admitted, but questioning or secondary inspection is common.

Based on 26 reports. Score 0.63 on a scale from −1 (always refused) to +1 (always admitted), with recent reports counting most. Adjusted for the entry law described below. How scoring works

What to expect

Most of the roughly 27 reports from 2012 through 2026 describe entry without problems, but outcomes vary by arrival mode and whether the traveler was still registered.124–2224–28 Both denials were at land crossings, one by car at Windsor during the pandemic period and one in a 2024 report by a traveler still on the registry who came with a lawyer and paperwork.918 Several travelers were sent to secondary at Toronto, Buffalo or by air and questioned about the conviction for 40 minutes to a couple of hours before admission, while cruise stops at Victoria, Vancouver and Prince Rupert involved little or no document checking.141517212225

Written by an AI model from the reports below on September 19, 2026. The numbers link to the reports each sentence is based on. Read those before you decide.

Law restricts entry for people with criminal records

Canada treats a foreign conviction as grounds for inadmissibility if the same act would be an indictable offence in Canada, and most sex offences qualify. Entry may still be possible through deemed or approved rehabilitation, or through a discretionary Temporary Resident Permit.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27) s.36(1) (serious criminality), s.36(2) (criminality), s.36(3)(c) (rehabilitation); s.24(1) (temporary resident permit) · mandatory · waiver available

Common questions

Can registered sex offenders enter Canada?

It's rated Caution: Usually admitted, but questioning or secondary inspection is common. Of 2 trips reported in the last two years by people on a US registry, 2 ended in entry and 0 in refusal. Canada treats a foreign conviction as grounds for inadmissibility if the same act would be an indictable offence in Canada, and most sex offences qualify. Entry may still be possible through deemed or approved rehabilitation, or through a discretionary Temporary Resident Permit.

Do Canada's border officers know about US registrants in advance?

In 1 report, officers appeared to know before the traveler arrived, which usually points to a US advance notification (often called Angel Watch).

How do travelers usually arrive in Canada?

Reports on file describe 6 by land, 5 by air, 3 by sea or cruise. Outcomes can differ by how travelers arrive; each report below says which.

Reports

Been to Canada? Share your trip
  1. 1Jun 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Over land, land crossing between Seattle and Vancouver

    The poster described an acquaintance on the registry who took a cruise line shuttle bus from the Seattle airport up to Vancouver and reportedly had no trouble entering Canada by land.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Secondhand

  2. 2Apr 2026

    Admitted, no issues · Over land, land border (western Canada)

    The traveler drove into Canada with an unmarked passport after being removed from a state registry in 2022, waited about five minutes at the border booth, and was welcomed in.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  3. 3Jun 2025

    Admitted after questioning · Changing planes, Vancouver

    Transiting home through Vancouver they met aggressive officers and were escorted to secondary inspection, where three officers checked their bags but not their electronics.

    PFR Guide · Forum post · Firsthand

  4. 42025

    Admitted, no issues · Changing planes, Montreal airport

    After coming off the registry, the traveler took a connecting flight from Europe through Montreal and had no issues; US preclearance is done at that airport and there was no secondary inspection.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  5. 5Nov 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Over land

    The traveler reports driving back and forth across the Canadian border seven or eight times a year without any issue, using a passport card. They are not required to register in their current state but remain listed publicly for life in another state.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  6. 6Jan 2024 (reported)

    Admitted after questioning · By air, Vancouver

    On the same return trip, the traveler cleared Canadian customs in Vancouver where bags were x-rayed and the passport checked, with no questions about registry status; they were later sent to secondary on arrival in the US.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  7. 7Jan 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Changing planes, Toronto Pearson

    The traveler transited Canada twice in recent years en route back to the US with no problem from Canadian officials, though they were sent to secondary at US preclearance; on one Toronto occasion officials spent about three hours supposedly searching for their checked bags. They were registered with a marked passport at the time.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  8. 8Jan 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Over land

    After leaving the registry, the traveler completed the Canadian criminal rehabilitation process with a lawyer's help and was then able to enter.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  9. 9Jan 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry · Over land

    The traveler hired a Canadian immigration lawyer and attempted a land border entry while still on the registry with prepared paperwork, but was turned away.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  10. 10Aug 2023

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Toronto (YYZ)

    After being removed from a state registry and obtaining a new unmarked passport, the traveler flew from New York to Toronto as a test. The border agent asked only the purpose of travel and admitted them immediately; they spent a couple of hours in the city and cleared US preclearance on the way back without secondary inspection.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  11. 11Aug 2023

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

    After completing a long registration period and obtaining a new passport without the identifier, the traveler flew from New York to Toronto. The border officer asked only the purpose of the visit and admitted them without issue; the traveler spent a couple of hours in the city and cleared US preclearance on the return without being sent to secondary.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  12. 12Jul 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler reported being able to enter Canada as a registrant after filing the 21-day advance notice, visiting the consulate, submitting a forensic doctor's report and sitting for an interview. Consular staff questioned why registration was required at all. The traveler has family in the country.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  13. 13Jul 2023

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Toronto

    Shortly after obtaining a new unmarked passport following release from registration duty, the traveler flew from New York to Toronto and entered Canada without issue, then walked back into the airport to return.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  14. 14Jun 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, Victoria, British Columbia (cruise port)

    The traveler went ashore for a few hours during a cruise stop in Victoria, Canada. Border guards greeted passengers but checked no documents; only the ship card was carried, and there were no problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  15. 15May 2023

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, Vancouver, Victoria, and Prince Rupert cruise ports

    The traveler took an Alaska cruise from San Francisco with stops at three Canadian ports and went ashore at each with no problems at customs. Passengers passed through an automated screening machine at two of the ports. The traveler had been removed from a state registry in late 2021.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  16. 16Apr 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Over land, land crossing from Buffalo, New York

    On a third trip the traveler flew into Buffalo and drove across the land border with no problems entering.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  17. 17Apr 2023 (reported)

    Admitted after questioning · Over land, land crossing from Buffalo, New York

    On a fourth trip, again driving across the land border, the traveler was detained and questioned for roughly 40 minutes before being allowed in. This was before the 21-day advance notice requirement applied.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  18. 18Feb 2023 (reported)

    Refused entry · Over land, Windsor

    The traveler attempted to cross by car during the pandemic period and was turned back.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  19. 19Feb 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, North Channel port of entry

    The traveler entered repeatedly by boat after filing 21-day notices each time; at the last port the officer only scanned the passport and wished them a good trip, though the traveler glimpsed the travel notice on the officer's screen.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  20. 20Feb 2023

    Admitted, no issues · Over land

    The traveler drove into Canada and was admitted with no issues.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  21. 21Jan 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, Victoria

    The traveler went ashore for several hours from a cruise ship and reported that no documents were checked at all; they also described being briefly allowed into the country by land on a couple of other occasions.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  22. 222019

    Admitted after questioning

    The traveler was taken to a back room where officers photocopied the passport and asked about the details of the conviction, then admitted the traveler and said future entries should not be a problem.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  23. 232019

    Admitted after questioning · By air, Toronto (US preclearance)

    The traveler went through US preclearance in Toronto and was sent to secondary, where officers insisted on pulling checked baggage for search; after more than two hours the wrong bags arrived and officers let the traveler go.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  24. 242015

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Toronto airport

    The traveler flew into Toronto and cleared customs without any issues on the first of several trips.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  25. 252015

    Admitted after questioning · By air, Toronto airport

    On a return trip about a month later, border officers were waiting at the gate and interviewed the traveler in an office for a couple of hours. The traveler was allowed to call an attorney, who sent documentation about the case disposition, and was then admitted. The traveler did not believe officers knew of the registry status.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  26. 262013

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler entered Canada in 2013 while still registered, with no entry problems noted.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  27. 272012

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Vancouver

    The traveler was admitted to Canada for a ski trip, entering at Vancouver, years after a felony conviction and while still subject to registration.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  28. 282012

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler entered Canada while still a low-tier state registrant, on a trip around 2012-2015, without reported problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  29. 29By 2022

    Refused entry

    Row from the RTAG Travel Matrix, an undated summary last maintained around 2021.

    Registrants turned away
    Yes
    Law bars sex offenders
    Yes
    Law bars people with felonies
    Yes
    Has its own offender registry
    Yes

    Registrant Travel Action Group (RTAG) · Legacy matrix · Summary