Pardon Request to Shorten a Criminal Record in Israel

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A pardon request to shorten the limitation and erasure periods of a criminal record

Do you have an old criminal conviction that still appears in the criminal registry? A criminal record created by a conviction is not erased by a request to the police. It stays in the registry until the limitation and erasure periods set by law have passed, and you can ask the President of Israel, in a pardon request, to shorten or cancel them.

I am Adv. and Notary Emanuel Trach, with 15 years of experience in criminal defense. I prepare and file pardon requests and accompany them before the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice.

Call: +972-55-255-0011 Message on WhatsApp

Criminal record or police record?

A pardon applies to a criminal record, meaning a conviction in court. If you only have a police record, meaning an investigation file that was closed without an indictment, the route is different: a request to the police to cancel the record, or a request to change the closure ground. See Erasing a criminal record: how to tell the difference and what to do and Cancelling a police record of closed cases.

What can be requested

The Criminal Information and Rehabilitation Law, 5779-2019, sets limitation and erasure periods for a criminal record, according to the severity of the offense, the sentence and additional records. The President can shorten or cancel these periods. There is no right to a pardon; the decision is at the President’s discretion.

How the process works

A request is submitted to the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice or to the President’s Residence, through the online form or in writing. The request can be submitted by the person or by a lawyer on their behalf.
The Pardons Department examines the request and, among other things, obtains information about the record and the circumstances.
The department prepares an opinion for the Minister of Justice, and the Minister passes a recommendation to the President’s office.
The President decides. There is no appeal against the decision.

What to establish in the request

The time that has passed since the offense and since the end of the sentence.
The severity of the offense and the circumstances in which it was committed.
Life since then: work, studies, family and contribution to the community.
The concrete harm the record causes, for example preventing employment, a license or a security clearance.
Whether there are other records and what happened in them.

What matters is a reasoned request with supporting documents, not only filling in a form. There is no guarantee of a result.

When to apply

The record prevents you from being accepted to a job, to studies or to a license.
The record harms a security clearance or firearms license application.
A long time has passed since the conviction and your life since has been clean.
You plan to emigrate or travel and a certificate of no record is required.

Fees

There is no uniform price. Fees are set according to the scope of work and documents, in a written agreement.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pardon request to shorten the limitation and erasure periods?

A request to the President of Israel to shorten or cancel the periods during which a criminal record stays in the registry. It applies to a record created by a conviction in court.

Who submits the request?

The person themselves or a lawyer on their behalf. Submitting through a lawyer helps prepare a reasoned request and attach the right documents.

What is the difference between a pardon and cancelling a police record?

A pardon concerns a criminal record after a conviction. Cancelling a police record concerns investigation files closed without an indictment, and it is submitted to the police.

Who decides, and can the decision be appealed?

The President decides, after an opinion by the Pardons Department and a recommendation by the Minister of Justice. There is no appeal against the decision.

How long does the process take?

There is no uniform time. It depends on the workload, the scope of the examination and the circumstances of the request.

Is a pardon guaranteed?

No. It is a discretionary decision, and a lawyer cannot guarantee a result.

How much does it cost?

There is no uniform price. Fees are set in a written agreement according to the scope of work.

This information is general and is not legal advice in a specific case. Last updated: 31.10.2026.