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Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC): Who Needs One and How It Works

Under IRPA s.52(1), a person whose removal order was enforced cannot come back without authorization unless an exemption applies. Which exemption depends on the order type: departure, exclusion (one or five years) or deportation (permanent until authorized). The IRCC fee list shows $492.50 for an ARC (as at 2026-09-21).

If Canada removed you, or you left under a removal order, you may need written permission to come back. That permission is called an authorization to return to Canada, or ARC. Whether you need one is not a matter of opinion. It turns on three facts: what type of removal order you were given, whether it was enforced, and whether you followed its requirements.

This guide sets out the rule in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the three types of order and what each does to your right to return, what IRCC says about applying, the cost, and the common ways people get stuck. It is general information, not an assessment of any person's order.

The rule: IRPA section 52

IRPA s.52(1): "If a removal order has been enforced, the foreign national shall not return to Canada, unless authorized by an officer or in other prescribed circumstances."

Two words carry most of the weight. "Enforced" means the order has been carried out, usually by the person leaving or being removed. And "prescribed circumstances" means the exemptions in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), which are different for each type of order.

Section 52(2) deals with a different case: if a removal order for which there is no right of appeal has been enforced and is later set aside on judicial review, the foreign national is entitled to return at the Minister's expense.

IRPR s.223 says there are three types of removal order: departure orders, exclusion orders and deportation orders. The consequence for returning is set in sections 224 to 226.

Departure orders

IRPR s.224(1): for the purposes of s.52(1), an enforced departure order is a circumstance in which the foreign national is exempt from the requirement to obtain an authorization to return.

The condition is in s.224(2). A foreign national issued a departure order must meet the requirements in paragraphs 240(1)(a) to (c) of the Regulations within 30 days after the order becomes enforceable, "failing which the departure order becomes a deportation order." Subsection (3) suspends the 30 days if the person is detained within the period or the removal order is stayed, until release or until the order becomes enforceable.

IRCC's "Who needs an authorization" page (page date 2026-07-23) puts the same thing in plain terms:

  • a departure order (form IMM 5238) means leaving Canada within 30 days of the order becoming enforceable;
  • no ARC is needed if the person left within 30 days and has a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B) showing the departure date;
  • an ARC is needed if the person did not leave within the 30 days or did not notify a border services officer of the departure;
  • if it is not enforced within 30 days of becoming enforceable, it automatically becomes a deportation order.

The Certificate of Departure is obtained by appearing before a border services officer to confirm departure. It is the document that shows the date, and the date decides which category the person is in. Without it, there is nothing to show the 30 days were met.

Exclusion orders

IRPR s.225(1): an exclusion order obliges the foreign national to obtain written authorization to return during the one-year period after the order was enforced. Section 225(2) says the expiry of that one-year period, or a five-year period if subsection (3) applies, is a circumstance in which the person is exempt from the requirement.

Section 225(3): a foreign national issued an exclusion order "as a result of the application of paragraph 40(2)(a) of the Act" (misrepresentation) must obtain written authorization to return within the five-year period after the order was enforced.

IRCC's page says the same thing:

  • an exclusion order (form IMM 1214B) means the person can't return for one year after the order has been enforced, or five years where the order was issued because of misrepresentation;
  • no ARC is needed if the person has a Certificate of Departure and the one-year (or five-year) period has passed since enforcement;
  • an ARC is needed if the person has no Certificate of Departure, or wants to return before the waiting period ends.

Subsection 225(4) is a narrow carve-out: an exclusion order made under s.42(1)(b) of the Act (inadmissibility of a family member) does not require authorization to return. IRCC's page also notes a similar point: a person removed only because they accompanied a family member who was removed does not need an ARC.

Our guide to misrepresentation covers the five-year bar and how it arises.

Deportation orders

IRPR s.226(1): a deportation order "obliges the foreign national to obtain a written authorization in order to return to Canada at any time after the deportation order was enforced." There is no time limit built in. Subsection (3) treats a removal order made under a security certificate (s.80 of the Act) the same way.

IRCC's page (form IMM 5238B for a deportation order): the person is permanently barred from returning and "can't return unless you apply for, and are issued, an ARC." An ARC is always required before they can come back.

That is why a departure order that turned into a deportation order after 30 days matters so much. The first is a no-ARC outcome if the steps are followed, and the second is a permanent requirement. IRCC's application instructions say that where a departure order became a deportation order, the applicant should explain in the letter why they did not leave within 30 days.

A related document is the Direction to Leave Canada (IMM 1217B). IRCC states it is not a removal order, so no ARC is needed, and the person can return subject to normal examination at the port of entry.

If you are unsure which order applies, the order itself and the Certificate of Departure show it. IRCC says whether an ARC is needed depends on the order type, whether it was enforced, and whether its requirements were met.

How to apply

IRCC's "How to apply" page (page date 2026-07-23) does not name a separate ARC form. The request is made with the application for the status the person wants:

  • Temporary residence where a visa is required: apply online for the temporary residence document with the ARC letter and fees. The ARC is processed after the person is found eligible for temporary residence.
  • Temporary residence where an eTA is required: apply for the eTA, study permit or work permit first. Once confirmed eligible, the person is asked to submit the ARC documents.
  • Permanent residence: include the ARC documents in the permanent residence application and pay both sets of fees. Multiple receipts may be needed.
  • Visa-exempt and eTA-exempt travellers: IRCC says to contact the nearest visa office before coming to Canada.

The document checklist on that page asks for:

  • a letter in English or French, typed or printed in black ink, explaining "the reasons you should be allowed to return to Canada";
  • if a departure order became a deportation order, an explanation of why the person did not leave within 30 days;
  • a certified translation of documents in other languages;
  • proof of payment of the ARC processing fee.

IRCC says it will notify the applicant in writing if an interview or more documents are needed, and when a final decision is made. Incomplete or illegible applications are returned without processing. The page gives no processing timeline and states there is "no guarantee" that an ARC will be issued.

The ARC is a separate decision from admissibility generally. IRCC says inadmissibility must be resolved before an ARC is issued. If it cannot be and the person has a compelling reason to travel temporarily, they can request a temporary resident permit, which IRCC says allows you to "temporarily overcome an inadmissibility" but does not permanently overcome it.

What it costs

From the IRCC fee list (date modified 2026-09-21):

  • Authorization to return to Canada: $492.50.
  • Temporary resident permit: $246.25 per person.

IRCC's "Before you apply" page (page date 2026-07-23) adds:

  • "Processing fees are not refundable" whatever the decision. A refused applicant who reapplies must pay a new processing fee.
  • If the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) paid for the person's removal, they must also repay the amount before an ARC is issued. IRCC says: "We'll only ask you to repay the removal costs if we approve your application." IRCC tells the applicant the exact amount once processing starts.
  • The removal cost amounts depend on when and how the person was removed. IRCC's page distinguishes removals before April 1, 2025 (with different figures for removal to the United States or St-Pierre and Miquelon versus other countries) from removals on or after that date (with different figures for escorted air removal and for unescorted or other escorted removal). The amounts did not load when we read the page, so we do not quote them; check the page.
  • A person who was under 18 when the removal order was issued is exempt from repaying removal expenses. Processing fees still apply.

IRCC says it states the exact removal-cost amount once processing starts.

What the officer considers

IRCC's page says that if the circumstances behind the removal order have not changed, "it's less likely that you'll get permission to return to Canada." Officers consider:

  • the reasons for the removal order;
  • the risk of repeating the behaviour;
  • the time since the order;
  • the person's current situation;
  • why the person wants to enter Canada.

Nothing in the Act or Regulations lists qualifying reasons. It is a discretionary decision, and the application letter is the main place to put forward the facts. IRCC says to explain "the reasons you should be allowed to return."

Common stumbling blocks:

  • Assuming a departure order means no ARC. It does only if the 30 days were met and the Certificate of Departure shows the date.
  • Not keeping the Certificate of Departure. Without it, the departure date is hard to prove.
  • Answering application questions about a removal order inaccurately. Misrepresentation is its own ground of inadmissibility; see our guide.
  • Forgetting that an ARC does not cure a separate inadmissibility. A criminal record, for example, is dealt with under the rules in our guide to criminal inadmissibility and rehabilitation.
  • Not planning for the removal-cost repayment where CBSA paid.

Where the position is unclear, IRCC's page points to its contact page. A regulated adviser can read the removal order and the departure record together.

Find a regulated adviser

Migratio's directory lists advisers who have signed up with us and who show "Entitled to Practise: Yes" on the live College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants register, or who are in good standing with a law society. Each listing links to the official register so you can confirm the licence yourself before booking. Migratio is a directory and booking platform; it is not an immigration consultant and does not give immigration advice.

Questions people ask

Do I need an ARC after a departure order?

IRPR s.224 exempts an enforced departure order from the authorization requirement, but only if the person met the requirements within 30 days; otherwise it becomes a deportation order. IRCC says no ARC is needed if the person left within 30 days and has a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B).

How long after an exclusion order can I return without an ARC?

One year after enforcement, or five years if the order was issued because of misrepresentation (IRPR s.225). IRCC adds that the person needs a Certificate of Departure showing the departure date.

Can I ever return after a deportation order?

IRPR s.226(1) requires written authorization at any time after a deportation order was enforced. IRCC says the person can't return unless they apply for, and are issued, an ARC, and that there is no guarantee one will be issued.

How much does an ARC cost?

The IRCC fee list (modified 2026-09-21) shows $492.50. Processing fees are not refundable. If CBSA paid for the removal, the cost is repaid only if the ARC is approved, unless the person was under 18 when the order was issued.

Where do I apply for an ARC?

IRCC says the request goes with the application for the status wanted (visa, eTA-linked permit or permanent residence), with a letter explaining the reasons and proof of payment. Visa-exempt and eTA-exempt travellers are told to contact the nearest visa office before coming to Canada.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • Criminal Record and Canada: Inadmissibility, Rehabilitation and Temporary Resident Permits — IRPA s.36 makes people inadmissible for certain convictions or acts. IRCC describes four ways to overcome it: deemed rehabilitation, individual rehabilitation (generally five years after the sentence ends), a record suspension for Canadian convictions, or a temporary resident permit. The IRCC fee list shows $246.25 for non-serious rehabilitation and $1,231 for serious (as at 2026-09-21).
  • Misrepresentation in Canada: The Five-Year Inadmissibility Rule — Under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, misrepresenting or withholding a material fact that induces or could induce an error makes a person inadmissible for five years, and during that time a foreign national cannot apply for permanent residence. The five years run from the final determination if it was made outside Canada, or from the day a removal order is enforced if it was made in Canada.
  • Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) Applications in Canada: The Rules — An H&C request asks the Minister to grant permanent residence, or an exemption from a requirement, for humanitarian and compassionate reasons under IRPA s.25(1). IRCC calls it an exceptional measure. The IRCC fee list shows $1,260 for an adult application including the right of permanent residence fee, or $660 without it (as at 2026-09-21).
  • Canada Visitor Visa Refused: What Your Options Are — There's no appeal from a visitor visa refusal. IRCC says you can apply again at any time unless your letter says otherwise, but only new information that addresses the refusal reasons is likely to change the result. The court route is judicial review in the Federal Court.
  • Work Permit Refused in Canada: What Happens Next — There is no appeal from a work permit refusal. IRCC's two stated options are to apply again with new information or to seek judicial review in the Federal Court, which has a 15-day deadline for decisions made in Canada and 60 days for decisions made outside it. If you were in Canada, your right to keep working usually ends on the day of the decision.
  • Judicial Review of an IRCC Refusal: The 15-Day and 60-Day Deadlines — To challenge an IRCC decision in the Federal Court you first need leave. The application must be filed within 15 days if the matter arose in Canada, or 60 days if it arose outside Canada, after you're notified (IRPA s.72). Any appeal right, such as an IAD appeal, must be used first.