How to Apply for Authorization to Return to Canada After a Removal Order

Do you need Authorization to Return to Canada?

Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) is written permission issued under Canada's immigration system that may allow a person to return after a removal order has been enforced. It is not the same as a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or temporary resident permit.

Your first step is to identify the removal order you received and determine whether it was properly enforced. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) handles enforcement of removal orders, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides the ARC application process.

Use IRCC's official ARC eligibility guidance before paying an application fee.

Which removal orders require ARC?

Departure orders: why the 30-day rule matters

A departure order requires you to leave Canada within 30 days after the order becomes enforceable. If you leave within that period and obtain a Certificate of Departure confirming the date, ARC is normally unnecessary.

If the departure order is not enforced within the required 30 days, it automatically becomes a deportation order. Simply leaving Canada without reporting your departure to a border services officer can also create an ARC requirement.

Exclusion orders: one year or five years

An exclusion order normally prevents return for one year after enforcement. Where the exclusion order resulted from misrepresentation, the restriction is five years after enforcement.

With the required Certificate of Departure, ARC is normally unnecessary once the applicable restriction has expired. Returning earlier requires ARC.

For example, a person who was properly removed under a standard exclusion order and has a Certificate of Departure can normally seek entry without ARC after the one-year restriction has elapsed. They must still satisfy the ordinary entry requirements.

Deportation orders: authorization is mandatory

A deportation order creates an ongoing prohibition on returning to Canada. Waiting several years does not automatically remove this restriction. You must obtain ARC before returning unless another legally applicable authorization overcomes the requirement.

What if you received a Direction to Leave Canada?

A Direction to Leave Canada (IMM 1217B) is not a removal order. It does not, by itself, require ARC. You remain subject to normal examination and admissibility requirements when seeking entry.

IRCC also states that a person removed because they accompanied a family member who was removed does not need ARC on that basis.

What must you check before applying?

IRCC cannot consider ARC until the removal order has been enforced. The normal enforcement process involves reporting to a CBSA border services officer, obtaining a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B), departing Canada and being authorized to enter the destination country.

Do not assume that buying an airline ticket or crossing the border independently proves that the order was enforced. Review the documents issued when you left.

You must also resolve any inadmissibility that continues to prevent your return before IRCC can issue ARC. Authorization to return does not automatically eliminate an unrelated criminal, security, medical or other admissibility problem.

IRCC considers the reason for your original removal, the likelihood of repeating the behaviour, how much time has passed, your current circumstances and why you want to return.

If the original circumstances have not changed, IRCC says authorization is less likely. Prepare a specific explanation rather than relying only on the fact that time has passed.

What documents do you need?

IRCC requires a detailed written explanation and proof that the ARC processing fee was paid. Your immigration application may require additional forms and evidence.

• Explanation letter: Write in English or French, typed or printed using black ink. Explain in detail why you should be allowed to return.
• Removal history: Explain the type of order, the circumstances of removal and your compliance with the order.
• Missed departure deadline: If your departure order became a deportation order because you did not leave within 30 days, explain why you did not leave.
• Fee receipt: Include proof of payment for ARC and any applicable residence application fees.
• Translations: Include certified translations for documents that are not in English or French.
• Immigration application: Include the forms and supporting documents required for the particular temporary or permanent residence category.

Supporting records explaining changes in your circumstances or the purpose of your proposed visit can help IRCC assess the explanation. The specific evidence will depend on your case.

What should your explanation letter say?

Describe the original removal honestly, including any non-compliance. Explain what has changed since removal and give a concrete reason for the proposed return, such as visiting family, studying, working or pursuing permanent residence.

Where relevant, explain how you will comply with Canadian immigration requirements in the future. Avoid unsupported claims, contradictory dates or omitting significant details about the original removal.

How do you apply for ARC?

The application route depends on your immigration purpose and whether you need a visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

If you need a visitor visa, study permit or work permit

If you require a visa to travel to Canada, you can apply for ARC alongside your temporary residence application. Submit the temporary residence application online with its completed and validated forms, supporting documents, ARC explanation letter and applicable fees.

IRCC first determines whether you qualify for temporary residence. If you do, it then processes the ARC request.

Follow the official ARC application instructions for the appropriate route.

If you need an eTA

If you normally travel with an eTA, follow IRCC's instructions to apply online for the appropriate eTA, study permit or work permit.

After IRCC confirms that you qualify for temporary residence, it will ask you to submit the documents required for ARC. Do not assume that an eTA application alone constitutes an approved ARC.

If you are exempt from both a visa and an eTA

IRCC instructs applicants who are exempt from both requirements to contact the nearest Canadian visa office before travelling. Do not attempt to substitute arrival at the border for the required authorization.

If you are applying for permanent residence

You can submit an ARC request with your permanent residence application. Include the ARC explanation and supporting materials, and pay the fees for both applications. IRCC notes that separate payment receipts may be necessary.

How much does Authorization to Return to Canada cost?

The current IRCC ARC processing fee is CAD $492.50. This is separate from any visitor visa, study permit, work permit or permanent residence application fees.

The ARC processing fee is non-refundable once processed, regardless of whether authorization is approved or refused. A new application after refusal requires another processing fee.

Check the current IRCC fee list and official payment instructions before submitting payment.

Do you have to repay removal expenses?

If CBSA paid to remove you from Canada, you may also have to repay government removal expenses before ARC is issued.

IRCC states that people who were under 18 when the removal order was issued are exempt from repaying removal expenses.

If repayment is required, IRCC will tell you the exact amount after processing begins and will request repayment only if the ARC application is approved. The amounts above reflect the published fee schedule, including the April 1, 2026 adjustment.

Review the official guidance on removal costs before making financial arrangements.

How long does ARC take and what happens next?

IRCC does not publish one fixed processing time for all ARC applications. The assessment depends on the immigration application involved and the individual removal and admissibility circumstances.

After submission, IRCC may request additional documents, require an interview or notify you of its final decision. These communications are issued in writing.

Incomplete or illegible applications are returned without processing. Check that the explanation, forms, payment receipts and translations are complete before submission.

ARC approval is not guaranteed. Even after authorization is issued, you must meet the applicable immigration requirements. A border services officer makes the final decision about admission or transit when you arrive at a Canadian port of entry.

What if IRCC refuses or returns your application?

If IRCC returns an application as incomplete or illegible, review the identified deficiencies and correct them before submitting a complete application through the applicable route.

If ARC is refused, read the written decision and identify whether the concerns relate to your removal history, current circumstances, continuing inadmissibility or another factor.

IRCC does not guarantee approval of a subsequent application. A new ARC application requires a new processing fee. The published ARC instructions do not establish a single general administrative appeal deadline applicable to every refusal.

Where a refusal raises a legal issue or you are considering challenging the decision, obtain qualified Canadian immigration legal advice about any review options and applicable time limits rather than assuming that reapplying and challenging a decision are the same process.

Is ARC the same as a Temporary Resident Permit?

No. ARC addresses the requirement for authorization to return after certain enforced removal orders. A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a separate discretionary mechanism that can temporarily overcome inadmissibility or certain immigration requirements where compelling circumstances justify it.

If you cannot resolve the inadmissibility preventing ARC approval but have a compelling reason to travel temporarily, IRCC says you may request consideration for a TRP. A TRP may overcome the ARC requirement temporarily, but does not permanently resolve inadmissibility.

For the separate process, see applying for a Temporary Resident Permit.

If you are seeking to enter Canada for a family visit, the separate visitor visa application procedure explains the ordinary visa process. A visa application does not remove an ARC requirement.

Common mistakes that can delay your return

• Assuming that an exclusion order expires without checking its enforcement date and Certificate of Departure.
• Believing that a deportation order automatically expires after several years.
• Failing to explain why a departure order was not complied with.
• Submitting an ARC request before the removal order has been enforced.
• Assuming ARC automatically resolves all other grounds of inadmissibility.
• Forgetting the separate immigration application fee or certified translations.
• Making travel arrangements before the necessary immigration permissions have been issued.

The practical starting point is always the same: confirm the order type, establish how it was enforced, determine whether ARC is necessary and follow the correct IRCC application route for your intended return.