Does a DUI Show Up on Your Passport?
Does a DUI show up on your passport?
No, a DUI does not show up on your Canadian passport. However, border agents in some countries — especially those with data-sharing agreements with Canada — can still access your criminal record through law enforcement databases and may deny entry based on a DUI conviction.
Anyone who reads our blog knows that a DUI conviction in Canada causes significant, potentially life-changing consequences. If you're new to our blog, or otherwise uninformed about DUIs and the penalties and other tribulations that come with a conviction, here's a quick recap:
- Minimum $1,000 fine.
- Minimum One-year driver's license suspension.
- Mandatory enrollment in Ontario's “Back on Track" education/treatment program.
- Likely enrollment in an Ignition Interlock program.
- “High Risk" annual insurance premium increases ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, lasting up to six years.
- Minimum $281 in fees for driver's license reinstatement, plus at least another $1,600 in assorted fees.
- Permanent criminal record that can compromise employment and educational opportunities.
- Alternative transportation costs during license suspension.
- Towing and impoundment costs, if applicable.
- Potential job loss.
- Impediments to nternational travel.
Any one of these negative impacts should be enough to make you think twice about getting behind the wheel after chugging down a half-dozen glasses of your favourite hooch. If you love international travel or your employment requires foreign travel, that last byproduct of a DUI conviction in Canada should give you additional pause.
“ We warn all our DUI clients that some countries bar entry to those who've been convicted of impaired driving," says TorontoDUI co-founding partner Robbie Tsang. “It's better to be forewarned than find yourself denied entry at a border."
TorontoDUI co-founding partner Jeff Mass adds, “For some clients who turn to us for expert DUI defence, the potential impact a conviction might have on their ability to travel is the most distressing consequence. Many people in the Greater Toronto Area travel to the States for work, and U.S. border control agents tend to be sticklers about denying entry to those with DUIs."
This begs the question of how a particular country's border agents might uncover a traveller's DUI conviction. Does a DUI show up on your passport? When a border patrol agent scans a passport, does it provide them with a readout of your criminal record, including any DUI convictions?
“ We've had clients turned away at international borders, including the U.S., because they didn't realize a simple DUI could be flagged," says Jeff Mass , co-founding partner of TorontoDUI. “Being proactive with legal representation makes all the difference."
Robbie Tsang , co-founding partner, adds, “Even a basic DUI can cast a long shadow. Travel freedom is often a top concern, especially for professionals. Our role is to minimize that long-term impact wherever possible."
What's on Your Passport?
Your Canadian Passport is an official government document certifying your identity and nationality for international travel. The information included on your passport includes:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Sex
- Height
- Passport number
- Date of issue and expiration
- Place of issue
- Biometric-compatible photo
- Signature
- Security features
- Coded, machine-readable text containing your personal information
- Electronic, embedded chip, with the same details.
The last two features do not include your criminal record. So, no, a DUI does not show up on your passport. However, border patrol agents in some countries can uncover whether you've been convicted of DUI.
How a Border Control Agent Might Uncover a DUI
The 195 countries of the world have various means of screening foreign visitors before allowing entry. Over half the world's countries require visitors to pre-apply for a visa by filling out a form, many of which include questions about criminal history. Failing to disclose information or lying on these forms usually leads to visa denial. If you choose not to disclose a DUI conviction, a country may be able to uncover the deception if it shares criminal information data with Canada (more on this below).
Some countries also require visitors to submit a police certificate or criminal record check as part of the entry process. If so, your DUI conviction will likely be on it, and countries that don't take kindly to those with a history of impaired driving may bar entry.
During entry at the border or in an airport, border control agents often ask visitors if they've been arrested or have a criminal record. Lying to a border control agent is grounds for denied entry, but on the other hand, in some countries, so is having a DUI conviction. While a border agent will not see your criminal history by scanning your passport, border agents in some countries have access to law enforcement databases in other countries due to bilateral agreements. For example, due to such an agreement, U.S. border control agents can access the Canadian Police Information Centre's (CPIC) data base, which contains information on all criminal convictions, including DUI. Thus, if a U.S. border agent thinks you may have lied to them or otherwise believes you might be a criminal, they can easily check the CPIC database.
Countries with Data-Sharing Agreements with Canada
Comparison Table: DUI Entry Restrictions by Country
| Country | DUI Policy | Access to Canadian Criminal Records | Entry Possible with DUI? | Waiver/Appeal Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Treats DUI as a crime of moral turpitude. Entry denied at discretion of agent. | Yes (via CPIC) | Sometimes (basic DUI), Often denied | Waivers possible |
| United Kingdom | Considers recent DUI or jail time as potential grounds for denial. | Yes | Sometimes, no if recent or jail involved | Possible for short visits |
| Australia | Requires “good character"; serious DUIs often lead to refusal. | Yes | Usually denied for recent/jail time | Waiver may be granted with proof |
| New Zealand | Same as Australia — focus on jail time and “good character." | Yes | Often denied for serious DUIs | Visa appeal possible |
| Mexico | Discretionary denial for any criminal record, including DUI. | Yes (limited but possible) | Common for serious DUIs | No formal waiver; honesty matters |
| Most Other Countries | Rely on visa application honesty and criminal record disclosures. | No | Usually permitted if DUI is disclosed | Case-by-case, depending on policy |
The good news for those who've been convicted of DUI is that only five countries have bilateral criminal record data-sharing agreements with Canada. Unfortunately, these countries also take a hard line on allowing entry to those convicted of DUI. Thus, anyone convicted of DUI should think twice before visiting these countries:
- U.S.A. — considers DUI a “crime involving moral turpitude," though border agents have the discretion to deny or allow entry to those convicted. Multiple DUIs and the more serious (involving accident, injuries, or death) charges usually result in denials, but an agent may allow entry despite a basic DUI. Lying to an agent, though, almost guarantees denied entry.
- United Kingdom — The country considers DUI an offence of “moral turpitude," and may deny entry if the conviction was recent or involved jail time. Waivers may be available for short visits.
- Australia — requires “good character" for visa entry. Recent DUI convictions and those involving significant jail time frequently result in denied entry. Waivers may be granted with evidence of rehabilitation.
- New Zealand — also requires “good character" for visa entry. DUI convictions involving significant jail time frequently result in denied entry. Waivers may be possible through the visa appeals process.
- Mexico — allows border agents discretion to deny entry to anyone with a criminal record. As with most border control agents, lying to them almost guarantees denied entry.
Preserve Your International Travel with Expert DUI Defence in Toronto
To maintain your ability to travel around the world with ease, don't drive if you're impaired by alcohol or drugs. If Greater Toronto Area police have arrested you for DUI because you failed to follow this advice, contact the criminal defence DUI experts of TorontoDUI for a free initial consultation.
