Can I Come Back To Canada After Being Asked To Leave? Understanding Canadian Removal Orders

Published: October 3, 2022 | Last Reviewed: August 26, 2026

If you or someone you love receives a Canadian removal order, it is understandable to be concerned about what it means for your family, employment and future in Canada.

However, a removal order does not always mean you can never return.

Whether you can come back, when you can return and whether you need an Authorization to Return to Canada, commonly called an ARC, depend largely on the type of removal order, whether it was properly enforced and whether you remain otherwise admissible.

Our Vancouver removal order lawyers can review the order and help you understand the options that may be available.

Key Takeaways About Returning To Canada After Removal

• Canada has three principal types of removal orders: departure orders, exclusion orders and deportation orders.
• If you comply with a departure order within the required 30 days and properly confirm your departure, you generally do not need an ARC simply because of that order.
• If a departure order is not properly enforced within 30 days after it becomes enforceable, it can automatically become a deportation order.
• An exclusion order generally prevents return for one year after enforcement.
• An exclusion order issued for misrepresentation generally prevents return for five years after enforcement.
• A deportation order permanently bars return unless the person obtains an ARC.
• An ARC does not erase the underlying reason you were inadmissible. You must still satisfy Canada’s normal immigration and admissibility requirements.
• How you leave Canada matters. Obtaining proof that the removal order was properly enforced can be crucial to a future return.

What Type Of Canadian Removal Order Did You Receive?

Your ability to return to Canada depends first on identifying the type of document you received.

Under Canada’s immigration system, the three principal removal orders are:

1. A departure order
2. An exclusion order
3. A deportation order

Each has different consequences.

It is also important to distinguish an actual removal order from a Direction to Leave Canada. IRCC’s current guidance states that a Direction to Leave Canada is not itself a removal order and does not, on its own, require an ARC.

What Is A Departure Order?

A departure order generally requires you to leave Canada within 30 days after the order becomes enforceable.

The critical issue is not simply leaving the country.

To comply properly, you generally need to confirm your departure with the Canada Border Services Agency and obtain a Certificate of Departure.

Current IRCC guidance on Authorization to Return to Canada says that you normally do not require an ARC if:

• You left Canada within the required 30 days, and
• You have a Certificate of Departure confirming when you left.

You may later seek entry to Canada through the normal immigration process, provided you otherwise qualify and are admissible.

What Happens If You Do Not Comply With A Departure Order?

Failure to comply can have much more serious consequences.

If a departure order is not enforced within the required 30-day period, it can automatically become a deportation order.

That changes the rules for returning to Canada because a deportation order requires an ARC.

If you have received a departure order and are uncertain about your deadline or how to confirm your departure, speak with a Canadian immigration lawyer before leaving.

What Is An Exclusion Order?

An exclusion order prevents a person from returning to Canada for a specified period after the order is enforced.

For most exclusion orders, that period is one year.

If the exclusion order was issued because of misrepresentation, the period is generally five years.

After the applicable period has passed, you generally do not need an ARC solely because of that exclusion order if you have proof that the order was properly enforced.

You must still satisfy the requirements of whatever immigration document or status you need to return.

Can You Return Before An Exclusion Order Ends?

Potentially, but you will generally need an ARC if you want to return before the one-year or five-year exclusion period has expired.

An ARC is discretionary. It should not be treated as automatic permission to come back.

If your exclusion relates to inaccurate information or withheld information in an immigration application, our Vancouver misrepresentation lawyers can also assess the underlying inadmissibility issue.

What Is A Deportation Order?

A deportation order is the most serious of the three standard removal orders.

Once enforced, a deportation order permanently prevents the person from returning to Canada unless they receive an Authorization to Return to Canada.

Unlike an exclusion order, there is no period after which the deportation order simply expires.

This does not mean that an ARC will necessarily be approved.

IRCC will assess the circumstances and decide whether permission to return should be granted.

What Is An Authorization To Return To Canada?

An Authorization to Return to Canada is written permission allowing a person who remains subject to a removal-related restriction to return to Canada.

Whether you require one depends primarily on:

• The type of removal order
• Whether the removal order was enforced
• Whether you complied with the order

IRCC’s current ARC guidance was updated in July 2026 and emphasizes that receiving an ARC does not eliminate the requirement to otherwise be admissible to Canada.

What Does IRCC Consider In An ARC Application?

An ARC is discretionary, which means there is no guaranteed approval simply because someone wants or needs to return.

IRCC currently requires an ARC applicant to provide a detailed letter explaining why they should be allowed to return to Canada.

Depending on the circumstances, relevant issues can include:

• Why the original removal order was issued
• How much time has passed
• Whether you complied with the removal process
• Why you want to return to Canada
• Your current immigration circumstances
• Whether the issue that led to removal has been addressed
• Your history of compliance with Canadian immigration law
• Family, employment or other connections to Canada

The supporting evidence should be tailored to the reason for the original removal and the purpose of the proposed return.

Does An ARC Make You Admissible To Canada Again?

Not necessarily.

An ARC deals with the removal order’s effect on your ability to return. It does not automatically resolve a separate ground of inadmissibility.

For example, if you were removed because of criminal inadmissibility, you may still need to address the criminal inadmissibility issue separately.

Our Vancouver criminal inadmissibility lawyers can assess whether rehabilitation, a Temporary Resident Permit or another immigration remedy may also be required.

Likewise, a person removed because of security inadmissibility may face additional legal issues beyond obtaining permission to return.

Why Is Confirming Your Departure So Important?

One of the most avoidable problems occurs when someone physically leaves Canada but does not ensure that the removal order has been properly enforced.

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, enforcement generally involves appearing before an officer to verify departure, obtaining a Certificate of Departure, leaving Canada and being legally authorized to enter the destination country.

If the government does not have the required record of your departure, you may encounter unexpected problems when you later apply to return.

Keep copies of any Certificate of Departure and related immigration documents.

Can You Appeal A Removal Order Instead Of Leaving Canada?

Sometimes, but not everyone has a right of appeal and deadlines can be short.

Depending on your immigration status and why the removal order was issued, possible options may include:

• An appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division
• A Federal Court judicial review
• A request for a stay of removal
• A pre-removal risk assessment in qualifying circumstances
• Other immigration remedies

Appeal rights are restricted for certain inadmissibility findings.

If you have received a removal order and are still in Canada, our Vancouver immigration appeals and judicial review lawyers can assess whether the order can be challenged and whether a deadline is approaching.

Frequently Asked Questions About Returning To Canada After Removal

Can I Come Back To Canada After A Departure Order?

Potentially, yes. If you left within the required 30 days and properly confirmed your departure, you generally do not need an ARC because of the departure order. You must still meet Canada’s normal entry requirements.

What Happens If I Left Canada Without Confirming My Departure?

This can create problems because the removal order may not have been properly recorded or enforced. In the case of a departure order, failure to comply within 30 days can cause it to become a deportation order.

How Long Does An Exclusion Order Keep Me Out Of Canada?

Most exclusion orders prevent return for one year after enforcement. An exclusion order for misrepresentation generally prevents return for five years.

Can I Return Before My Exclusion Order Expires?

You generally need an ARC if you want to return before the applicable exclusion period ends.

Is A Deportation Order Really Permanent?

A deportation order permanently bars return unless an ARC is granted. There is no automatic expiry period comparable to an exclusion order.

Is An ARC Guaranteed If My Family Lives In Canada?

No. An ARC is discretionary. Family connections can be relevant to explaining why you want to return, but they do not guarantee approval.

Can I Apply For Permanent Residence After Being Deported?

Potentially, but the deportation order and any underlying inadmissibility issues must be addressed. IRCC permits an ARC to be considered in connection with a permanent residence application where required.

Do I Need An ARC If I Was Only Given A Direction To Leave Canada?

According to IRCC’s current guidance, a Direction to Leave Canada is not a removal order and does not itself require an ARC. You remain subject to normal examination when seeking entry.

Can A Lawyer Help Me Return To Canada After Removal?

A lawyer can review the original removal order, determine whether it was properly enforced, identify any continuing inadmissibility issue and assess whether an ARC or another immigration application is appropriate.

Speak With Our Vancouver Removal Order And ARC Lawyers

Receiving a removal order can have serious consequences, but it does not necessarily mean that returning to Canada will never be possible.

The most important steps are to understand exactly which order was issued, comply with applicable requirements and determine whether an ARC or another immigration remedy is required before attempting to return.

Border Solutions Law Group assists clients with removal orders, Canadian immigration inadmissibility and immigration appeals and judicial reviews.

Call our Vancouver immigration lawyers at (604) 684-4211 or contact Border Solutions Law Group online to arrange a consultation.