How Does Canada Know If You Have A DUI? The Technology That Catches Thousands Of Americans Every Year

Canada knows if you have a DUI because Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers have direct, real-time access to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), which are linked to all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the United States. Since November 23, 2015, border officers can see your entire US criminal history—including DUI convictions, arrests, pending charges, and even expunged records—the moment they scan your passport during primary screening.

Here’s the reality that shocks thousands of Americans annually: in 2014, about 7,500 Americans were denied entry to Canada for criminal inadmissibility. After border officers gained direct FBI database access in 2015, that number jumped to 30,000 denials in 2016 alone—a 300% increase. The reason? Technology that instantly reveals your DUI conviction the second you hand over your passport, no matter how old it is or whether you thought it was “erased.”

The Database Systems That See Your DUI

Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC)

CPIC is Canada’s national police database, operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). This system contains:

Criminal records from across Canada
Information shared by the FBI’s NCIC database
Records from US federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement
Outstanding warrants from both countries
Immigration violators and lookout lists
Lost, stolen, or fraudulent passport data

Border officers query CPIC during primary inspection—the first moment you interact with them at the border.

US National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

The NCIC is the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database, containing:

All felony and misdemeanor convictions across the US
DUI/DWI arrests and convictions from every state
Pending criminal charges
Active warrants
Probation and parole status
Court case dispositions
Even arrests that didn’t result in convictions

Since 2015, CBSA officers have had direct access to NCIC at primary checkpoints—meaning they don’t need to send you to secondary inspection to see your record.

State and County Court Systems

Beyond federal databases, CBSA can access:

State-level criminal record repositories
County court records systems
DMV records showing license suspensions
Court case files and sentencing documents

This multilayered access ensures virtually no DUI conviction goes undetected.

How Border Officers See Your DUI in Seconds

Step 1: You Hand Over Your Passport

The moment you present your passport at primary inspection, the officer scans it through their system.

Step 2: Instant Database Query

Your passport scan triggers automatic queries to:

CPIC
NCIC/FBI databases
CBSA lookout systems
Interpol (for international travelers)

This happens in real-time and takes less than 30 seconds.

Step 3: Automated Alerts

If you have a DUI conviction, the system automatically flags your record and alerts the officer through visual notifications on their screen.

Step 4: Officer Reviews Details

The officer can immediately see:

Date of conviction
Charges filed (DUI, DWI, DWAI, OWI, wet reckless, etc.)
Sentence imposed (jail time, fines, probation, community service)
Completion status (whether probation is finished, fines paid)
Multiple offenses (if you have more than one DUI)
Any pending charges or outstanding warrants

Step 5: Inadmissibility Determination

Within minutes, the officer determines whether you’re criminally inadmissible to Canada based on what they see in the databases.

How does Canada know if you have a DUI? Since Nov 2015, border officers have instant FBI database access—your DUI appears in seconds, even if expunged.

Why Expunged and Sealed DUI Records Still Appear

This is one of the biggest misconceptions Americans have: “My DUI was expunged, so Canada won’t see it.”

Wrong.

US Expungement ≠ Database Deletion

When a US court expunges or seals a DUI record:

The conviction is removed from public access in that state
Employers conducting background checks may not see it
Some US government agencies can’t access it

But expungement does NOT remove your record from:

FBI/NCIC databases
State law enforcement databases
Court records systems that share data internationally

Canada Doesn’t Recognize US Expungement

Under Canadian immigration law, expunged and sealed convictions still count as criminal history. Canadian border officers can see these records through FBI database access, and Canadian law treats them as if they were never expunged.

The only way to overcome inadmissibility from an expunged DUI is the same as any other DUI:

Wait for deemed rehabilitation (10 years from sentence completion for pre-2018 single DUIs)
Apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
Apply for Criminal Rehabilitation (5+ years from sentence completion)

What the 2015 Border Security Changes Mean

Before November 2015, not every visitor was fully screened against criminal databases during primary inspection. Officers used a basic “lookout system” that only flagged specific individuals of concern.

If you weren’t flagged, you’d likely get through primary inspection without a criminal record check. Only if you were sent to secondary inspection would officers query CPIC to see your full criminal history.

After November 23, 2015:

All visitors are now fully screened against CPIC/NCIC databases during primary inspection—meaning your DUI is detected immediately, regardless of whether you raise suspicions.

The Canadian Federal Government invested an additional $1 million in border security and increased border service officers by 26% to support this enhanced screening.

The result: a 300% increase in Americans denied entry for criminal inadmissibility between 2014 and 2016.

Why Lying About Your DUI Doesn’t Work (And Makes Everything Worse)

Many Americans think: “If I just don’t mention it, they won’t know.”

This is a catastrophically bad strategy.

Officers Already Know Before They Ask

By the time a border officer asks “Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?”, they’ve already seen your DUI conviction on their screen. They’re testing whether you’ll be honest.

Lying = Misrepresentation

If you lie about your DUI, you commit “misrepresentation”—providing false information to Canadian immigration authorities. Consequences include:

Immediate denial of entry
A permanent misrepresentation flag in Canadian systems
Potential ban from Canada for years or permanently
Future applications for TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation become much harder
Possible criminal charges for providing false statements

Even Omission Counts as Lying

If an officer asks “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” and you say “No” when you have a DUI, that’s misrepresentation—even if you genuinely forgot about it or thought it didn’t count because it was expunged.

The Smart Approach:

If asked about criminal history, be honest. Acknowledge your DUI and explain that you’re working on a Temporary Resident Permit or Criminal Rehabilitation application. Honesty won’t guarantee entry, but lying guarantees a ban.

How Long Does Canada Check Back for DUI?

There is no time limit.

Canadian databases retain US criminal records indefinitely. A DUI from 5 years ago, 20 years ago, or 40 years ago will still appear when officers scan your passport.

However, Time Does Matter for Eligibility:

While Canada can always see your DUI, whether it makes you inadmissible depends on:

10+ years since sentence completion (for pre-2018 single DUIs): Potentially deemed rehabilitated
5+ years since sentence completion: Eligible to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation
Less than 5 years: Must obtain Temporary Resident Permit for entry

For older convictions: I had a DUI 30 years ago—can I go to Canada?

What Border Officers Can See About Your DUI

When officers query your record, they see remarkably detailed information:

Conviction Details:

Date of arrest
Date of conviction
Charges filed (DUI, DWI, DWAI, OWI, reckless driving, wet reckless)
Court case number
Jurisdiction (state, county, court)

Sentencing Information:

Jail time imposed and served
Fines and court costs
Probation terms and duration
Community service hours
License suspension period
DUI classes or treatment programs
Ignition interlock device requirements

Current Status:

Whether sentence is completed
Outstanding fines or restitution
Active probation
Pending charges or warrants
Multiple DUI offenses

Case Disposition:

Guilty plea or trial verdict
Reduced charges (e.g., DUI reduced to wet reckless)
Deferred adjudication status
Expungement or sealing (visible despite legal status)

Special DUI Scenarios: What Canada Sees

Multiple DUIs: All DUI convictions appear, regardless of how far apart they occurred. Multiple DUIs permanently disqualify you from deemed rehabilitation.

DUI with Injury or Death: These appear as more serious offenses with enhanced sentencing, making inadmissibility determinations stricter.

Pending DUI Charges: Even if you haven’t been convicted yet, pending charges appear in databases and can result in denial.

DUI Arrests Without Conviction: Arrests show up even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Officers may question you about these.

Reduced Charges: If your DUI was reduced to wet reckless or reckless driving, officers see both the original DUI charge and the reduced plea—and may still treat it as DUI for inadmissibility purposes.

State-Specific Variations: Some states use different terminology (DWAI in New York, OWI in Wisconsin, OVI in Ohio), but all appear in databases and are treated as impaired driving offenses.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and DUI Detection

In 2016, Canada implemented an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system as part of border security improvements.

While US citizens don’t need an eTA to fly to Canada, US permanent residents (green card holders) and other US residents do.

The eTA application process includes criminal record questions and background checks, meaning some travelers are flagged for DUI before they even board their flight to Canada.

If you’re a green card holder with a DUI, your inadmissibility may be detected during the eTA application—not at the border.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Canada see my DUI if it happened in another state?

Yes. NCIC is a national database containing records from all 50 states, US territories, tribal jurisdictions, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Q: What if my DUI was 40 years ago?

Canada can still see it. There’s no time limit on database retention. However, if it was before Dec 2018 and you completed your sentence 10+ years ago, you may qualify for deemed rehabilitation.

Q: How quickly can border officers see my DUI?

Within seconds. The moment they scan your passport, automated queries reveal your criminal history in real-time.

Q: What if I’m just driving through Canada to get to Alaska?

You’re still entering Canada and officers will still see your DUI. You need to be admissible or have a TRP/Criminal Rehabilitation approval.

Q: Can I fly over Canada without entering?

If you’re on a direct international flight that doesn’t stop in Canada (just flies through Canadian airspace), you’re not entering Canada and don’t need to be admissible. But if your flight lands in Canada—even for a layover—you’re entering the country.

Q: Do all border officers check every person?

Since 2015, yes. Automated database queries happen during primary inspection for everyone, even if you’re just being asked basic questions.

Q: What if I’m honest about my DUI but don’t have a TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation?

You’ll likely be denied entry, but at least you won’t have a misrepresentation flag. You can then apply for TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation for future travel.

Q: Can I get a same-day TRP at the border?

Technically yes, but it’s extremely risky. Most are denied, and denial creates a permanent record. Apply through consulates 3-8 months before travel instead.

The Bottom Line

Canada knows about your DUI because border officers have instant, direct access to FBI and NCIC databases containing every US criminal record—including expunged and sealed cases.

Since 2015, all visitors are automatically screened during primary inspection, meaning your DUI is detected in seconds when your passport is scanned.

You cannot hide a DUI from Canadian border officers. The databases are comprehensive, the technology is instant, and lying about it only makes future entry impossible.

Your options:

Wait for deemed rehabilitation (10 years from sentence completion for pre-2018 single DUIs)
Apply for Temporary Resident Permit (temporary access for specific trips)
Apply for Criminal Rehabilitation (permanent solution after 5 years from sentence completion)

Don’t gamble with your travel plans. Consult with a Canadian immigration attorney to determine your eligibility and prepare proper documentation before attempting to enter Canada.

Official Resources:

Canadian Border Services Agency: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship
Temporary Resident Permits: canada.ca/temporary-resident-permit
Criminal Rehabilitation: canada.ca/criminal-rehabilitation

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Border screening procedures and database access protocols are subject to change. Entry decisions are made by Canadian Border Services Agency officers on a case-by-case basis. Consult with a qualified Canadian immigration attorney for personalized guidance regarding your specific situation.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a former criminal defense attorney with hands-on experience in cases involving DUIs, petty theft, assault, and false accusations. Through All About Lawyer, she now helps readers understand their legal rights, the criminal justice process, and how to protect themselves when facing charges.
Read more about Sarah

How Does Canada Know If You Have a DUI? The Technology That Catches Thousands of Americans Every Year