What Is an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC)? Who Needs One in 2026
- Ansari Immigration
- 10 minutes ago
- 7 min read
An authorization to return to Canada (ARC) is official permission to come back to Canada after you were issued a removal order. Whether you actually need one depends on the type of removal order you received and whether you followed its requirements, so not everyone who was removed needs an ARC to return.
That distinction matters more than most people realize. A departure order that you handle correctly lets you return with no ARC at all, but the same order left unresolved can quietly turn into a permanent deportation order. Before you assume the worst or spend money on a non-refundable application, confirm exactly which order you received on IRCC's official authorization to return to Canada page and read the sections below.
What an authorization to return to Canada actually is
An authorization to return to Canada is not a visa and not a status. It is a separate permission an officer can grant so that someone under a removal order is allowed to come back. You usually apply for it at the same time as a visitor visa, study permit, work permit, or permanent residence application, and if you are found eligible for that application, IRCC then processes the ARC.
One important exception: if you were removed only because you were accompanying a family member who was removed, you do not need an ARC to enter Canada.
Who needs an authorization to return to Canada?
The need for an ARC depends on the type of removal order, whether it was enforced, and whether you complied with it. First, two things that are not what people assume. A Direction to Leave Canada (form IMM 1217B) is not a removal order, so it does not require an ARC. And before IRCC will even consider an ARC, the removal order must be enforced: you appear before a Canada Border Services Agency officer to confirm your departure, obtain a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B), and leave Canada.
There are three types of removal orders, and each is treated differently.
Removal order | Do you need an ARC to return? |
|---|---|
Departure Order (IMM 5238) | No, if you left within 30 days and have a Certificate of Departure. Yes, if you missed the 30 days or did not confirm your departure with an officer. |
Exclusion Order (IMM 1214B) | No, once the bar has passed (1 year, or 5 years for misrepresentation) and you have a Certificate of Departure. Yes, if you want to return before that or have no Certificate of Departure. |
Deportation Order (IMM 5238B) | Yes, always. A deportation order is a permanent bar, and you can only return if you apply for and are issued an ARC. |
Source: IRCC, Authorization to return to Canada: Who needs an authorization. Verified August 2026.
The trap sits inside the departure order. If a departure order is not enforced within 30 days of becoming enforceable, it automatically becomes a deportation order, which is a permanent bar. In practice, the document people forget is the Certificate of Departure: leaving the country is not enough on its own, and without that proof of a confirmed departure, a straightforward departure order can escalate into the most serious order there is.
What to do before you apply
Before you apply, IRCC weighs whether your circumstances have actually changed. If the situation that led to the removal order has not changed, permission is less likely. An officer looks at the reasons for the removal order, the chance you would repeat the behaviour, how long it has been since the order, your current situation, and why you want to come to Canada. These are the documents you must include with an ARC application:
A detailed letter, in English or French, explaining why you should be allowed to return (typed or printed in black ink)
Proof that you paid the ARC processing fee
A certified translation of any document not in English or French
There are two money points that catch applicants off guard. The processing fee is not refundable, even if IRCC refuses you, and if you apply again you pay it again. Separately, if the CBSA paid to remove you, you must repay those removal costs before an ARC is issued, though people who were under 18 when the removal order was issued are exempt from repaying removal expenses. As of this update, the ARC processing fee is CAD $492.50, and any removal costs you have to repay vary widely depending on when and how you were removed. Amounts can change, so confirm the current figures on the official IRCC fee list before you budget.
How to apply for an authorization to return to Canada
You do not file an ARC on its own; you submit it with the application for what you actually want to do in Canada. If you are coming temporarily, you apply for the visitor visa, electronic travel authorization, study permit, or work permit and include the ARC letter and fee, and if you are found eligible for that temporary status, IRCC processes the ARC. If you are immigrating, you apply for permanent residence and include the ARC documents and both sets of fees. IRCC returns incomplete or illegible applications without processing them, and there is no guarantee an ARC will be issued.
If you cannot resolve the underlying reason you were found inadmissible, an ARC alone will not fix it. Where the removal was tied to a criminal record, you generally have to resolve that criminal inadmissibility first, often through rehabilitation. And if you have a compelling short-term reason to travel before everything is resolved, a temporary resident permit can temporarily overcome both the inadmissibility and the ARC requirement, at an officer's discretion.
Not sure whether your removal order even requires an ARC, or whether your inadmissibility has to be resolved first? A 30-minute consultation with Ansari Immigration can map your specific situation before you pay a non-refundable fee. Confused about which order you received? Ask a general question in the comments, we read every one, and keep it general, for advice on your own case use a consultation.
Why this matters for your immigration application
An ARC decision turns on persuasion and timing, not a checklist. Applying while your circumstances look unchanged, or before you have resolved a criminal inadmissibility, usually means a refused application and a non-refundable fee spent for nothing. Knowing whether you were issued a departure, exclusion, or deportation order, and whether your departure was properly confirmed, tells you whether you even need an ARC, whether you can simply return once a bar has passed, or whether a temporary resident permit is faster. It helps to understand how removal orders are issued at an admissibility hearing, too.
Frequently asked questions about the authorization to return to Canada
What is an authorization to return to Canada (ARC)?
It is official permission to return to Canada after a removal order. Whether you need one depends on the type of order (departure, exclusion, or deportation) and whether you complied with it, and you usually apply for it together with a visa, permit, or permanent residence application.
Who needs an authorization to return to Canada?
Anyone who wants to return under a deportation order, or under an exclusion order before the 1-year bar (5 years for misrepresentation) has passed, or after a departure order they did not properly enforce with a Certificate of Departure. If you left on a departure order within 30 days with a Certificate of Departure, you do not need one.
Do I need an ARC after a departure order?
Only if you did not leave within the 30 days or did not confirm your departure with a border officer. If you left on time and hold a Certificate of Departure, you can return subject to normal examination. An unenforced departure order automatically becomes a deportation order after 30 days, which does require an ARC.
How do you apply for an authorization to return to Canada?
You submit the ARC with your visa, permit, or permanent residence application, including a detailed letter explaining why you should be allowed to return and proof you paid the processing fee. IRCC processes the ARC once it finds you eligible for the underlying application.
How much does an authorization to return to Canada cost?
The ARC processing fee is CAD $492.50 as of this writing, and it is non-refundable. If the CBSA paid for your removal, you must also repay those removal costs, which vary widely by date and type of removal, before an ARC is issued. Amounts can change, so check the current figures on the official IRCC fee list.
Is an authorization to return to Canada guaranteed?
No. IRCC states there is no guarantee an ARC will be issued. An officer decides based on factors like the reason for the removal order, how much time has passed, whether your circumstances have changed, and your reason for coming to Canada.
Related Posts
Admissibility Hearing Canada: What It Is and What to Expect: How the removal orders behind an ARC are issued, and what happens at the hearing.
Criminal Inadmissibility Canada: Deemed Rehabilitation and How to Overcome a Criminal Record (2026): How to resolve the criminal inadmissibility that often has to be fixed before an ARC.
What Is a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) in Canada?: Another step in the removal process, for people facing removal who fear returning to their home country.
Why work with Ansari Immigration
An ARC is one of the few applications where the honest first answer is often "you may not need one."
Ansari Immigration will tell you plainly whether your removal order even requires an ARC, whether a bar has already passed, whether your inadmissibility must be resolved first, or whether a temporary resident permit is faster, before you spend a dollar on a non-refundable fee. Every file is handled by the firm's licensed RCIC regulated by CICC, with flat, transparent fees quoted upfront, additional family members quoted separately, and consultations at $80 for 30 minutes.
Which part of the ARC process is most unclear for you, the removal-order type or the letter? Tell us in the comments, and when you want your own situation reviewed, book a consultation with Ansari Immigration and we will map your options.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.
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