Canada likes to welcome new people. It offers many options for people who wish to live here. But, it also has firm rules. People who do not obey rules can face problems. They may need to go back to the country they left.

Removal from Canada

If someone does something bad, they may be asked to leave Canada. This person will get a Removal Order. There are three kinds:

• Departure Order – The person must leave Canada. They get 30 days to leave after the order is given.
• Exclusion Order – The person must leave and can’t return for one year. Those who lied in their application can’t return for five years.
• Deportation Order – The person can’t return to Canada at all.

People who receive a Removal Order can argue against it in court. They can also request to return to Canada. To do this, they need to ask for an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC).

Reasons a Permanent Resident (PR) may be forced to leave Canada

1. Not being honest. If they lie in their application, they might be told to leave Canada.
2. Doing something really bad. This includes:
   • Security – Doing actions that make Canada not safe.
   • Human and international rights violations – This includes crimes in war, and other really bad actions.
   • Serious criminality – Being found guilty of a bad action that could land them in prison from six months to 10 years.
   • Organized criminality – Being part of a group that does bad actions.
3. Losing permanent resident status – If they are not a PR anymore because:
   • they did not live in Canada for the required time,
   • if they are given a Removal Order, or
   • they gave up their permanent residency,

   they can be removed from Canada if they stay more than the time allowed.

4. Doing something really bad before coming – If they were allowed to enter and then later found to be a possible threat to the people.
5. Being seen as a threat – If the government believes that a permanent resident could be a threat to the country’s safety, they may start the process to make them leave. This could be because they are doing actions that could harm the country’s safety.

Can Canadian citizens be deported?

People who are born in Canada, or who have become citizens, can’t be forced to leave the country.

This can only happen if the person is no longer a citizen. There are some situations where this can happen. For example, if the person lied in their application, if they do bad things like hurting others, or if they secretly work for a different country.
 
Sources: Removal from Canada, Canada Border Services Agency; Deportation, Legalline.ca; and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Government of Canada. Accessed October 4, 2023.