Canada•North AmericaVaries
492.5 CAD
Varies
No
Not Required
Allowed
No
Not Required
An ARC is required for individuals who have been issued a removal order and wish to return to Canada.
An ARC (Authorization to Return to Canada) is required for anyone who has been issued a removal order and wants to re-enter the country. It is not a standalone visa — it must be submitted with a temporary or permanent residence application and costs CAD $492.50.
Eligibility varies by order type: departure orders require the ARC if the 30-day exit window was missed; exclusion orders require it if returning within 1 year (or 5 years for misrepresentation). If CBSA funded the original removal, those costs must also be repaid before approval.
This visa is ideal for foreign nationals with an enforced removal order who have resolved the underlying grounds for inadmissibility and need to re-enter Canada.
Must have a removal order that has been enforced by a CBSA border services officer
Departure order: ARC required if you did not leave Canada within 30 days or did not notify a BSO of departure
Exclusion order: ARC required if returning within 1 year of enforcement, or within 5 years for misrepresentation
Deportation order: ARC always required
Must resolve underlying inadmissibility before ARC can be issued
If CBSA paid for your removal, must repay those costs before ARC is issued
Application must be submitted together with a temporary or permanent residence application
Education
none or higher
Detailed letter explaining why you should be allowed to return
Proof of payment
Documents related to previous removal
| IRCC Online Portal IRCC Online Portal — ARC application submission | Fill online |
| IMM 5940 Document Checklist: Applicants in the USA applying for an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) | Fill online |
| Application Steps | Prepare temporary or permanent residence application; Submit ARC application alongside residence app… | canada.ca |
| Blockers | Active removal order without ARC approval; Unpaid CBSA removal costs (must be settled before ARC is … | canada.ca |
| Dependent Visa | Dependents must apply separately | canada.ca |
| Fee Breakdown | Processing fee: 492.5 CAD | canada.ca |
| Fees | CAD 492.50 | canada.ca |
| Forms | IRCC Online Portal | canada.ca |
| Forms · IMM 5940 · description | Document Checklist: Applicants in the USA applying for an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) | canada.ca |
| Forms · IMM 5940 · name | IMM 5940 | canada.ca |
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