A Wisconsin pardon application is a free, paper-only request mailed to the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board asking the governor to formally forgive a Wisconsin felony conviction. You can apply if your felony was prosecuted in Wisconsin, at least five years have passed since you completed your entire sentence, you have no pending criminal charges anywhere, and you are not currently required to register as a sex offender. From the day you mail the packet to the day you hear a final answer, plan on well over a year.
What a Pardon Does Before You Apply
A pardon is not an expungement. Your conviction stays on your record, remains visible in Wisconsin’s online court system, and you still have to disclose it when employers or landlords ask. What a pardon does is restore civil rights you lost because of the felony: serving on a jury, holding public office, and qualifying for professional licenses a felony would otherwise block.1Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Press Release – Gov. Evers Grants 167 Pardons It also carries weight with licensing boards and employers because it signals the governor reviewed your case and concluded you have been rehabilitated.
Voting is not part of this calculation. In Wisconsin, your right to vote returns automatically once you finish your sentence, including probation, parole, and extended supervision. You do not need a pardon for that.
Firearms are more complicated. Wisconsin law makes felony firearm possession a Class G felony and carves out an exception only for someone who has been pardoned for the specific felony and is also expressly authorized to possess a firearm under federal law.2Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statutes 941.29 – Possession of a Firearm A pardon alone may not be enough if a federal prohibition still applies, particularly in domestic violence cases. If firearm rights are a main reason you are applying, say so clearly in the application so the pardon can address it.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility was set by Executive Order #30 under Governor Evers, and all four of these must be true:
- The conviction is a Wisconsin felony. The governor cannot pardon federal convictions or convictions from other states, even if you now live in Wisconsin.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
- At least five years have passed since you completed your entire sentence, including confinement, probation, parole, and extended supervision. The clock starts when the last piece ends, not when you left prison.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
- You have no pending criminal charges in any jurisdiction.4Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. State of Wisconsin Pardon Application
- You are not currently required to register as a sex offender.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
A new conviction during the five-year waiting period resets the clock to zero.
Misdemeanors alone are not considered. If you have a misdemeanor that was resolved alongside your felony, however, the board may include it. It has to appear on the same judgment of conviction or share the sentencing date, and you need to submit certified copies of the complaint and judgment for that charge too.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
Filling Out the Application
Download the current application packet from the governor’s website. There is no filing fee.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information Outdated versions of the form will not be accepted, so pull a fresh copy each time.
The form asks for your personal information, a full account of your criminal history, and your explanation of why you are seeking a pardon. The criminal history section has to match your official court records exactly. Discrepancies hurt your credibility even when the errors are innocent.
The personal statement is where applications are won or lost. The board is looking for three things: genuine accountability for what you did, concrete evidence that you have changed, and a clear explanation of why a pardon matters for your future. Back up claims of rehabilitation with specifics: steady employment, education completed since the conviction, community involvement, and letters from employers, mentors, or community leaders who can speak to your character.
Applicants most often sink their own cases by minimizing the offense or shifting blame. The board reads hundreds of these. A statement that acknowledges the harm you caused, without excuses, reads very differently from one that frames the conviction as a misunderstanding.
Documents to Gather
For each felony you want pardoned, you need certified copies of three court documents: the criminal complaint, the felony information, and the judgment of conviction. Request them from the Clerk of Courts in the county where you were convicted. Certified means the clerk stamps each document as a true copy; uncertified copies will not be accepted.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
County clerks charge per-page copying fees plus a certification fee. The exact amount depends on the county and the length of your records, but expect at least several dollars per document. If your convictions span multiple counties, you will need to contact each clerk separately.
The packet also includes a consent form authorizing the Wisconsin Department of Justice to run a background check. Sign and date it, and make sure every letter of recommendation is signed and dated too.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
How to Submit
Wisconsin does not accept electronic submissions. Mail the completed application, all certified court documents, letters of recommendation, and the signed consent form to the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board at the address in the official instructions.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information Use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery. The application is free, but you will cover the cost of certified records, printing, and postage.
Timeline and the Hearing
Initial review alone can take several months because of high application volume. If you are selected for a hearing, it typically happens roughly 13 to 14 months after your application was received. Not every applicant gets a hearing; some applications are denied at the review stage.
Hearings are open to the public and may be in person or virtual, with video or telephone appearance available for virtual hearings.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information You will discuss your criminal history, what you have done since your conviction, and why a pardon matters now. You can bring an attorney, but most applicants speak for themselves, and honest personal testimony usually lands better than polished legal argument.
Victims and other interested parties may also submit written statements or appear at the hearing, in support or in opposition. The board weighs those perspectives alongside yours.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information
The Decision and Reapplying
The board sends a recommendation to the governor, but the final call is the governor’s alone.5Justia Law. Wisconsin Constitution Article V Section 6 – Pardoning Power A favorable recommendation does not guarantee a pardon, and a negative one does not automatically end the case. Applicants are typically notified about a month after the hearing.
If granted, you receive a formal pardon document. The conviction stays on your record, but you can present the pardon to licensing boards, employers, and anyone else who needs to see it. Many licensing boards that would reject a felony applicant outright will reconsider when a governor’s pardon is attached.
If denied, you can reapply 18 months later.3Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. Pardon Information Use the time. Address whatever weakness the board flagged, add new education, sustained employment, community service, and fresh letters of support. Each application is reviewed on its own merits, so a prior denial does not count against you if your circumstances have genuinely improved.