Authorization to Return (ARC)

Have you ever been issued a departure order, deportation order or exclusion order?

If you have been the subject of a removal order from Canada you will probably need an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) if you want to return. Whether you need one depends on the type of removal order that was issued.

Types of removal orders:

Look at the document you received from Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency before you left Canada. The form number will tell you the type of removal order. There are three types of removal orders.

If you received a Departure Order and:

• left Canada within the required 30 days and
• verified your departure with a Canadian immigration officer at the port of exit

then you do not need an ARC. You may return to Canada subject to normal examination at the port of entry.

Please Note: If you left the country without verifying your departure, or more than 30 days after the Departure Order was issued, the Departure Order automatically becomes a Deportation Order and you need to apply for an ARC.

If you were issued an Exclusion Order and:

• 12 months have passed since you left Canada and
• you have a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B) showing the date you left Canada

you do not need an ARC. You may return to Canada subject to normal examination at the port of entry.

You NEED an ARC if you wish to return to Canada less than 12 months after the Exclusion Order was issued or do not have a Certificate of Departure.

Deportation Order

If you have been the subject of a Deportation Order you will NEED to apply for an ARC.

Please Note: If you were deported because of criminal inadmissibility, you will need to apply for criminal rehabilitation first. You may also need a Temporary Resident Permit to be allowed into Canada. So in addition to the ARC you may also require other documents to enter Canada. Please contact us for further clarification on this. We are here to help you move forward!