How long does a felony stay on your record in Nevada?

In Nevada, felony cases stay on your criminal record forever unless you petition for a record seal. Felonies do not eventually “fall off.”

Nevada imposes a five-year wait time before you can seal convictions for most category B, C, or D felonies.

However, the wait time to seal convictions for category E felonies is only two years after your case closes.

Meanwhile, there is a 10-year wait time to seal convictions for category A felonies, burglary of a residence, or felony crimes of violence.¹

Finally, certain serious felony convictions can never be sealed. These include:

• sex crimes,
• felony DUI,
• crimes against children, and
• invasion of the home with a deadly weapon.²

Note that if your felony charge gets dismissed – either before trial or through an acquittal – you can petition for a record seal in Nevada right away.³

Benefits of Record Seals

If you are eligible to get your past convictions sealed in Nevada, I strongly encourage you to pursue it immediately.

Having any criminal record is a huge barrier to your future. It can keep you from getting:

• jobs,
• scholarships,
• professional licenses,
• loans, and
• housing.

Plus it carries a social stigma and can impact your relationships.

Once a record seal goes through, your past convictions will be hidden on your future background checks (with some exceptions). You can also lawfully say under oath that you do not have a criminal record.⁴

The Record Seal Process

Getting a Nevada record seal is a multi-step process:

1. Buy your Criminal History Report (“SCOPE”).
2. Determine which court to file in.
3. Complete the proper paperwork.
4. Deliver the paperwork to the proper prosecutorial agency.
5. Once the prosecutor signs off on it, deliver the paperwork to the judge.

If the judge finally grants your order to seal, it is your responsibility to mail a copy of the order to all the relevant agencies that have your criminal record (such as Nevada’s Criminal History Repository in Carson City).

The record seal process takes up to a year from beginning to end. Most of the time is just you waiting to hear back from the prosecutor, judge, and state agencies.

The paperwork is also very technical, and you can be rejected based on a simple error. This is why I encourage you to rely on an attorney to take care of the process so it goes through the first time.⁵

Pardons vs. Seals

Pardons are an official “forgiveness” of a conviction, but they are not seals. Even if you get a Governor’s Pardon in Nevada, the conviction remains on your record. Only a seal can hide the conviction on future background checks.

Furthermore, pardons are very difficult to get since the Nevada governor grants very few of them. Meanwhile, you are all but guaranteed a record seal as long as you are eligible and follow the proper procedures.

The main reason to pursue a pardon is to get your firearms rights restored. Record seals cannot restore your firearm rights following a felony conviction.⁶

Misdemeanor Seals

As with felonies, Nevada misdemeanor cases remain on your record unless you take steps to seal them.

In Nevada, most misdemeanor convictions can be sealed from your criminal record one year after the case ends. However, certain misdemeanor convictions have a two-year wait time. These are:

• battery,
• harassment,
• stalking, and
• violation of a protection order.

Meanwhile, the wait time to seal misdemeanor convictions of DUI or battery domestic violence is seven years after the case ends, which is longer than for most felonies.

As for gross misdemeanor convictions, the record sealing wait time is two years after the case ends (the same as for category E felony convictions).

As with felonies, misdemeanors that get dismissed can be sealed right away.⁷

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nevada offer expungement for felony records?

No, Nevada does not offer expungement for adult criminal records. Expungement is the process of completely erasing or destroying a record as if it never existed. Nevada only offers record sealing. While sealing successfully hides the conviction from public view and most private background checks, the record itself is still preserved by the state.

Who can still see my felony record after it has been sealed?

Once sealed, you can legally answer “no” when asked about criminal convictions by most private employers and landlords. However, your record is not completely invisible. It can still be accessed by law enforcement, certain government agencies, and employers in highly sensitive fields (such as healthcare, education, law, and gaming).

Can a sealed criminal record ever be unsealed?

Yes. While a sealed record is hidden from public view, the court retains the authority to unseal your prior criminal record if you are arrested or charged with a new crime in the future.

When are my voting rights restored after a felony conviction?

Unlike firearm rights—which require a specialized petition or a Governor’s Pardon to restore—your voting rights are restored automatically following your release from prison.

Can I seal an out-of-state felony conviction in a Nevada court?

No. If you reside in Nevada but your felony conviction occurred in another state, you cannot use Nevada’s legal system to seal the record. You must follow the specific record-clearing laws and procedures of the state where your conviction took place.

Can a felony conviction impact my immigration status?

Yes. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, having a felony on your record can carry severe immigration consequences, potentially leading to immediate deportation.

What are the Nevada felony categories?

• Category A: The most severe crimes (such as murder, sexual assault).
• Category B: Serious offenses (such as robbery, drug trafficking).
• Category C: Less serious but highly impactful crimes (such as theft of property valued at $1,200 or higher).
• Category D: Various non-violent property or drug-related offenses.
• Category E: The lowest-level felonies, which are most likely to be eligible for probation.

Additional Reading

For more information, refer to our related articles:

• What Nevada convictions can never be sealed? – Discussion of the crimes that remain on your record forever unless you can get the charges reduced or dismissed.
• 10 ways sealed records differ from Governor’s pardons in Nevada – A comparison and contrast of record seals and pardons.
• How to seal domestic violence criminal records in Nevada – A how-to guide geared towards sealing DV convictions.
• How to seal DUI criminal records in Nevada – A how-to guide geared towards sealing DUI convictions.
• How much does it cost to seal my criminal record in Nevada? – Overview of record seal costs.

Legal References