Pedophile Christopher Neil has been released from jail, but will be subject to a series of conditions on what he can do over the next 18 months.

The conditions Neil is expected to abide by include surrendering his passport, staying away from places where children under 16 years old would congregate, and not having access to the Internet.

He must also go to the Forensic Psychiatric Clinic for assessment and counselling, but does not need to consent to treatment or medication.

It is not clear where Neil will be living. He is trying to find a safe house since he is estranged from his family in Maple Ridge, according to his lawyer Mark Thompson.

Neil, a former teacher and Maple Ridge resident, served five years in a Thai jail for sexually abusing two boys, one aged nine, the other 13.

In 2007 there was a global manhunt for Neil after he posted photos on the Internet of himself sexually assaulting children.

His "swirly-faced" photos were decoded by German computer experts so his face could be recognized.

Neil, 37, arrived at Vancouver International Airport on Friday and was taken into custody immediately after landing.

-with files from Daphne Bramham/Vancouver Sun