Quick note: I’m not a lawyer. This is my story. Laws change. If your trip is high stakes, talk to a real immigration lawyer.
Short answer
Yes… sometimes. But you need a plan. Canada treats a DUI as a crime. They can turn you around. They did that to me once. It wasn’t fun.
Let me explain. If you want a concise, jargon-free checklist of the current border rules, the nonprofit guide at MNQ-NMQ lays them out clearly.
My first try: denial at the airport
I’m a U.S. citizen. In 2019, I flew to Toronto for a quick work thing. I thought, no big deal. I had one DUI from 2013. Fines paid. Classes done. License back. I felt fine.
At the border desk, the officer scanned my passport and asked, “Any arrests?” My stomach dropped. I told the truth. She sent me to secondary. They asked for court papers. I didn’t have them. After an hour, they refused me. I got a paper and a very polite “not today.”
I sat at the gate with cold coffee and a hot face. You know what? That walk of shame back to the plane sticks with you. I ended up unpacking every painful detail in this no-filter account of trying to enter Canada with a DUI in case it helps someone else dodge the same mistakes.
Why it happened, in plain words
- Canada checks criminal records.
- They see DUIs.
- Since 2018, they treat impaired driving as a serious crime.
- A visa or eTA won’t fix this. U.S. citizens don’t even use eTAs, but still, the rule hits.
- Time alone may not fix it. Ten years used to help. Now, usually, it doesn’t by itself.
So what can you do? Two main paths helped me. For a deeper dive into how a DUI can impact admissibility and the different ways to overcome it, the free resource at CanadaVisa's page on entering Canada with a DUI lays it out step-by-step.
What worked for me: a TRP for a wedding
In 2021, my cousin asked me to read a poem at her wedding near Vancouver. I wasn’t going to miss it. This time, I prepped for a TRP (Temporary Resident Permit). It’s a short pass that says, “We’ll let you in for this trip.” The official IRCC instructions for applying for a Temporary Resident Permit are right here if you want to bookmark them before you start printing forms.
What I brought to the Peace Arch border (Blaine, WA):
- Court records showing the charge and the final result
- Proof I finished everything (classes, fines, probation)
- A clean FBI check and my state check
- A letter from me: why I needed to go, for how long, where I’d stay
- Proof of ties home (work letter, pay stubs, lease)
- The wedding invite and hotel booking
- $200 CAD for the fee
It took about two hours. The officer asked hard questions. I stayed calm and gave straight answers. They granted a two-week TRP. I almost cried in the parking lot. Happy tears, shaky hands. That wedding was also my first chance to soak in Vancouver properly, research that later fed into my shoe-leather guide to Canada's best cities.
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Was I nervous the whole time? Yep. But I made the toast, hugged my aunt, and came home on time.
The long fix: Criminal Rehabilitation
After that, I wanted a permanent fix. So I applied for Criminal Rehabilitation. You can do this when it’s been at least five years since you finished your sentence (not the arrest date—the last bit done, like fines paid or probation over).
What it was like for me:
- Fee: $1,000 CAD (because DUI is treated as serious now)
- Paperwork: a lot (police checks, court docs, forms, life history)
- I hired a lawyer for peace of mind. It wasn’t cheap, but it kept me sane.
- Timeline: mine took 11 months. Some are faster, some slower.
When the approval letter came, I stuck it to my fridge with a magnet shaped like a moose. Silly, I know. But it felt like closing a long, heavy door.
Real examples from my circle
- My friend Mark had two DUIs. He tried to fly into Calgary with nothing ready. He got refused and sent back. Later, he drove to the Detroit–Windsor border with a lawyer-prepped TRP package. He got a 3-day pass for a funeral. Hard road, but it worked.
- My coworker Sana (from the U.K.) had an old drink-driving charge. She had an eTA, but that didn’t help. She applied for Criminal Rehabilitation. It took about a year. Now she visits clients in Montreal with no drama.
What border officers actually asked me
- When was the DUI? Any others?
- Did you finish all parts of the sentence?
- Why are you coming? Why now?
- Where will you stay? For how long?
- What’s waiting for you back home? (Job, kids, school?)
They care about risk and reason. They’re people doing a tough job. Be honest. Don’t joke. Don’t hide things. If they think you’re hiding something, it’s game over.
TRP vs. Criminal Rehab: my quick take
-
TRP
- Good for one trip or a short window
- Fast if done at the border (but not guaranteed)
- Stressful; you might be refused
- Fee: $200 CAD
-
Criminal Rehabilitation
- Lasting fix for that offense
- Slow, lots of forms
- Fee: often $1,000 CAD
- After approval, travel feels normal again
Both work. They’re just different tools for different needs.
Common myths I tripped over
- “It’s been 10 years, I’m fine.” Maybe not now. Time alone often isn’t enough since 2018.
- “Driving is easier than flying.” Same rules. Different lines, same system.
- “An eTA or visa means I’m good.” It doesn’t. Entry is a separate decision.
- “If I don’t mention it, they won’t know.” They usually know. Lying makes it worse.
Small tips I wish I had from day one
- Bring proof for everything. Don’t guess.
- Arrive early. Border time moves slow.
- Keep copies in a neat folder. Officers like clear and tidy.
- Make your reason to visit short and specific. Weddings, funerals, work meetings—clear purpose helps.
- Have a backup plan. Flights change. So do decisions.
So… can you go to Canada with a DUI?
Yes—if you handle it. My first try was a hard no. My next trip worked with a TRP. Later, Criminal Rehabilitation made it normal again. It’s not fun. It is fixable.
If your trip is important, ask a lawyer who does Canadian immigration. Or call IRCC or CBSA for general info. And please, bring your papers. Future you will thank you.
Honestly, I wish I’d done the long fix sooner. Travel feels lighter now. Like taking a deep breath on a cold morning—sharp at first, then clean and easy. If you're now free to pick any season, you might appreciate my honest breakdown of the best time to go to Canada before you book that ticket.