A criminal record can be a cause for worry when crossing borders. It is natural to have concerns about being asked difficult questions or even being denied entry into the country regarding this matter. Nevertheless, don't panic!
If you are travelling to Europe with a criminal record it will probably not cause you any problems. It is possible for a past conviction to prevent you from entering any country, but generally speaking, Europe is a tolerant, accessible region to travel to.
Canadians do not need a visa to visit European countries (as long as the stay is not longer than 90 days) and the vast majority of visitors are not asked about their criminal convictions at the border. Therefore, for holidays and short trips, it is usually okay to enter Europe if you have a criminal record.
To minimize the risk of complications, it is a good idea for criminal record holders to obtain a Record Suspension as soon as possible. This removes the criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database which means, effectively, the record no longer exists.
Will I be denied entry into an EU country if I have a criminal record?
Unlike many parts of the world, visitors are not required to fill out any additional paperwork to present to border control officials upon entry. In addition, you are not normally asked any questions.
On rare occasions, you could be asked some questions about your background. In these cases, it is essential to answer truthfully. If you do have a record, it is normally nothing to worry about (depending on the crime).
Less serious criminal convictions that did not lead to jail time (or very little) are unlikely to result in travellers being denied entry into European countries. However, the following types of convictions are much more likely to cause problems for Canadian travellers:
- Any convictions which led to more than 3 years in jail
- Once you enter the Schengen Area, you can move freely between the participating countries without going through any passport controls
- However, in some circumstances, countries require visitors to declare their entry to the relevant authorities.
What if you plan to stay for longer than 90 days?
If you are planning to spend a long time in EU countries you will need to apply for a Schengen visa (unless you are travelling to the UK or Ireland who both issue their own, separate visas).
When you apply for a visa you may be asked about your criminal history. Each country has slightly different rules although they are all in the Schengen Area. Travellers have to apply for a visa from the country in which they are entering (in most cases).
Some countries ask visa applicants to list all past convictions, even those which have been pardoned. Other nations will not request so much information.
