Whether you need an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) depends on your removal order, whether it was enforced and whether you complied. A Certificate of Departure, form IMM 0056B, proves that the order was enforced. Rules checked on canada.ca on October 30, 2026 (IRCC’s ARC pages are dated July 23, 2026).
Key facts
- A Direction to Leave Canada, IMM 1217B, is not a removal order and does not require an ARC.
- A departure order, IMM 5238, requires departure within 30 days of becoming enforceable.
- An exclusion order normally prevents return for 1 year, or 5 years where misrepresentation applies.
- A deportation order, IMM 5238B, permanently bars return unless an ARC is issued.
- A Certificate of Departure is form IMM 0056B and confirms that a removal order was enforced.
- If the CBSA paid for your removal, you repay the removal costs before an ARC is issued, unless you were under 18 when the order was issued.
Do you need an ARC after leaving Canada?
You may need an ARC if you did not comply with the applicable removal order, did not obtain a Certificate of Departure or want to return before an exclusion period ends. A deportation order requires an ARC for return.
According to IRCC’s page on who needs an authorization, the answer depends on three points: the type of order, whether the CBSA enforced it and whether you followed its requirements. A Direction to Leave is different because it is not a removal order. You normally face an examination by a border services officer at the port of entry rather than an ARC requirement.
How do removal orders and Certificates of Departure work?
A Certificate of Departure is proof that your departure was confirmed and the removal order was enforced. You obtain it by appearing before a CBSA border services officer at an airport or land border, departing Canada and being authorized to enter the destination country.
| Document | What it means | When an ARC may be needed |
|---|---|---|
| Direction to Leave Canada, IMM 1217B | It is not a removal order. | No ARC. You remain subject to normal examination at the port of entry. |
| Departure order, IMM 5238 | Leave within 30 days after it becomes enforceable and obtain a Certificate of Departure. | You need an ARC if you do not leave within 30 days or do not notify a border services officer. If it is not enforced within 30 days, it automatically becomes a deportation order. |
| Exclusion order, IMM 1214B | Return is restricted for 1 year after enforcement, or 5 years for misrepresentation. | You may not need an ARC after the period ends if you have a Certificate of Departure. You need one without the certificate or to return sooner. |
| Deportation order, IMM 5238B | Return is permanently barred. | You need an ARC to return. |
Keep the Certificate of Departure with your immigration records. If you are unsure whether departure was confirmed, do not assume that leaving Canada alone resolved the order.
What does IRCC consider in an ARC application?
Officers assess the reasons for the removal order, the chance that the behaviour will happen again, the time since the order, your current situation and why you want to enter Canada.
These factors make the explanation personal to your history. Gather records that address the order and your present circumstances. IRCC also says you must resolve the inadmissibility before it will issue an ARC. If the order came from misrepresentation, see North Vista Immigration’s page on misrepresentation; if it came from a criminal conviction, its guide to criminal rehabilitation explains that route.
What should your ARC application include?
Your application needs a clear letter, supporting records and proof of payment for the ARC fee. The requirements and route depend on your travel document and the application you are making.
Prepare the explanation
- Write the letter in English or French.
- Explain why you should be allowed to return to Canada.
- If a departure order became a deportation order, explain why you did not leave within 30 days.
- Arrange certified translations for documents that are not in English or French.
- Include proof of the ARC fee.
Read the official ARC application instructions before submitting documents.
Use the route that matches your travel status
- Visa-required travellers: apply online with the temporary resident application.
- eTA-required travellers: apply online for the eTA or permit, then submit ARC documents when asked.
- Visa- and eTA-exempt travellers: contact the nearest visa office before coming to Canada.
- Permanent residence applicants: apply for the ARC with the PR application and pay both fees.
What if CBSA paid for your removal?
If CBSA paid for your removal, you must pay the processing fee and removal costs before an ARC is issued. IRCC asks for the removal-cost repayment only if the ARC is approved, and fees are not refunded.
A person who was under 18 when the removal order was issued is exempt from the removal-cost repayment rule. IRCC’s fee list gives the current amounts. Check the official ARC guidance before applying for the current requirements.
Can a TRP replace an ARC?
A temporary resident permit (TRP) may be available only for compelling reasons when inadmissibility has not been resolved. It is discretionary and does not permanently overcome inadmissibility.
A TRP is therefore not a general replacement for an ARC. First identify the removal order, confirm the departure record and address the inadmissibility issue. If your situation includes removal concerns, North Vista Immigration also provides information about deportation and removal assistance.
Why two people who both left Canada get different answers
Leaving Canada is not the same as having a removal order enforced. Someone who left under a departure order within 30 days and confirmed departure with a CBSA officer can usually return through normal examination. Someone who left without confirming departure may now hold a deportation order and need an ARC. The order’s form number and the Certificate of Departure tell you which case you are in.
For someone in Mississauga or elsewhere in the GTA, start by locating the order and checking whether a CBSA officer confirmed departure. Then check whether the order was a departure, exclusion or deportation order. Do not book travel before checking the applicable requirements and route.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Certificate of Departure in Canada?
A Certificate of Departure, form IMM 0056B, confirms that a removal order was enforced. You obtain it by appearing before a CBSA border services officer at an airport or land border, confirming your departure and leaving for a country that authorizes your entry. It can affect whether you need an ARC to return to Canada.
Do I need an ARC after a departure order?
You may not need an ARC if you left within 30 days after the departure order became enforceable and obtained a Certificate of Departure. You may need an ARC if you did not leave within 30 days or did not notify a border services officer. If the order was not enforced within 30 days, it automatically became a deportation order.
How long does an exclusion order affect return to Canada?
An exclusion order normally prevents return for 1 year after enforcement. The period is 5 years where the order involved misrepresentation. You may not need an ARC after the applicable period has passed if you have a Certificate of Departure. You need an ARC without that certificate or if you want to return sooner.
Does a deportation order always require an ARC?
Yes. A deportation order permanently bars return to Canada unless an ARC is issued. Leaving Canada does not remove that requirement. You should identify whether the order was a deportation order, gather the order and departure records, and follow the ARC route that matches your visa, eTA, exemption or permanent residence application.
Can a TRP solve an inadmissibility problem instead of an ARC?
A temporary resident permit may be considered for compelling reasons when inadmissibility has not been resolved, but it is issued at an officer’s discretion. A TRP does not permanently overcome inadmissibility. You should distinguish the TRP question from the ARC question and address the underlying inadmissibility before planning your return.
Next, find your removal order and your Certificate of Departure and note their form numbers. If you want them reviewed before you apply or travel, book a consultation through North Vista Immigration’s Authority to Return to Canada page. North Vista is a regulated immigration consultant in Mississauga; it cannot promise that an ARC will be issued.