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Canada
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Canada is highly regarded as a safe and accessible "entry-level" destination for international travelers, particularly those from North America. While praised for its stunning natural landscapes like Banff and Lake Louise, it is frequently described as a high-cost destination. A significant portion of recent discussion centers on the country's exceptionally strict border policies regarding criminal records, specifically DUIs.
Pros
- Excellent for first-time international travelers due to safety and ease of navigation
- World-class natural scenery, including mountains and walkable resort towns like Banff
- Efficient air immigration and customs processes
- Good opportunities for working holiday visas for young adults
- Montreal and Quebec City offer a European atmosphere without leaving North America
Cons
- Very high cost of travel and accommodation ("expensive as hell")
- Extremely rigid entry requirements for anyone with a criminal record
- Not considered a budget-friendly destination compared to other international options
Caveats
- A DUI is often an automatic denial of entry; Canadian law classifies most DUIs as "serious criminality" since late 2018
- Border agents (CBSA) have direct access to US criminal records
- Entry for those with past offenses often requires a complex Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or a formal rehabilitation application
Best for
- First-time solo travelers
- Nature and mountain enthusiasts
- Young adults seeking work-and-travel experiences
- Road trips through scenic regions
Avoid if
- You have a DUI conviction (even a misdemeanor or an old one)
- You are traveling on a very tight budget
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence is based on 30 selected mentions from r/travel with a median age of approximately 219 days.
Sentiment
17 positive (55%) · 2 mixed (6%) · 12 negative (39%)
Trust + time weighted score: +11% · raw score 16%
What redditors said (10 of 31)
Canada is a good place to dip your toe into a new country. The eastern cities aren’t too far away.
In 2018 Canada made a DUI a more serious offense and doesn't actually qualify for the 10 year thing.... Because Canadian law now classifies most DUIs as "serious criminality" (max sentence is greater than or equal to 10 years), automatic deemed rehabilitation is rarely available for DUIs occurring after December 18, 2018.
Some of NA : usa and CA ofcourse
Come up to Canada!
Canada, US, Mexico, forget about it.
That is correct. The black and white answer is that you can’t enter with a misdemeanor from a DUI. The grey answer is that maybe you won’t get flagged but I would not recommend taking that risk. If you need entry into Canada, you would need to apply for a TRP which now recommends a letter from your employer stating your need to enter and why. After 5 years, no, you can’t just enter freely. But you can start the process of getting it expunged so that you may enter freely. That’s 5 years after the end of your probation period. So if you had a 2 year probation, you’re looking at 7 years before you can begin the process. It does not happen automatically after 5 years.
After 5 years you have a chance, after 10 years it's generally okay. And to answer your other question, yes it will happen at the border by their customs. My friend from MN has a DUI from about 5 years ago and he was turned away last summer. You can always try but unless you have a good reason to enter Canada, it's unlikely they will let you in.
Always wanted to move to Canada, did it and LOVED IT, stayed 3 years and then my visa ended :(
Canada is actually a decent balance. But expensive as hell.
Not in Canada they aren’t. Depending on the final plea and what’s on the record a DUI is an automatic denial to enter Canada. Someone with multiple DUIs has no chance of getting in (barring some mistake or miss by the border agent).
Compare
Canada vs Quebec CityCanada vs Big SurCanada vs Washington, D.C.