Denied Entry to Canada

Have you been denied entry into Canada? Depending on the reasons for your inadmissibility, you may still be able to enter the country. Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) are issued to those who have been previously denied entry into Canada but can show exceptional circumstances, such as travel for business, to visit family, and many other reasons, as to why they should be allowed to enter the country. To determine if you are eligible to apply for a TRP to gain entry to Canada, contact us using any of the methods below.

If you are planning to come to Canada or have already been denied entry at the Canadian border, our office can provide guidance on how you may still gain entry to Canada. You will be speaking with a Senior Immigration Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in immigration law. Not only will she answer your questions to the fullest, she will also help you find the best approach to your case and lay out a road map to achieve your goal the fastest possible way, even if you need to travel urgently.

Connect with Us to Resolve Your Issue Now: 1-866-248-7501

If you do not have the required supplementary documentation to support your petition to re-enter Canada, Immigroup can help you. Please contact us at 1-866-248-7501 or info@immigroup.com to book your consultation. We will be happy to assist you.

Immigroup is a private company. We are not the government. All application forms can be found for free on the relevant government websites. Applying with a private company such as Immigroup entails service fees in addition to the fees charged by the relevant government agency. Experts will review, finalize, and submit all applications.

About Inadmissibility to Canada

If you meet the criteria for being inadmissible to Canada, you may have difficulty at customs if you ever try to enter
Canada. The most frequent reasons people are deemed inadmissible by the government are

• a criminal record
  • including Driving Under the Influence / Driving While Intoxicated (DUI / DWI);
• having been diagnosed with a contagious disease;
• having been involved in terrorism or with a group that sponsors terrorism;
• if you have previously violated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (IRPA);
• misrepresentation in order to attain status in Canada;

This means that you are not allowed to enter Canada. However, there is a way in which you can enter Canada for a pre-determined length of time.

If you know you are inadmissible or if you were denied entry at the border, you likely need a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP, formerly a Minister’s Permit). You may also be eligible to apply for permanent criminal rehabilitation. Because the processing time for Criminal Rehabilitation applications is much longer than for TRP applications and the requirements differ, you may be eligible to apply for both at the same time. This means you could gain immediate, temporary entry to Canada with a TRP while your application for Criminal Rehabilitation is in process.

Both applications can be complicated, which is why many people choose to hire consultants or lawyers to assist and represent them during the application process. Contact us for more information to determine your eligibility.

How We Can Help YouGain Entry to Canada

If you have been denied access to Canada on the grounds of inadmissibility, You may be eligible to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)  which would allow you to enter Canada for a temporary pre-determined length of time. A TRP is a temporary status document issued if you need to enter Canada soon for family, business or even tourism purposes.

Immigroup will assist you throughout the entire application process from start to finish, including:

• Determining your eligibility to apply;
• Determining the likelihood of success for your particular case;
• Ensuring your forms are complete and accurately reflect the details of your case for maximum chance of success;
• Ensuring you have the necessary and appropriate documents to support your application;
• Providing guidance on the best method to submit your application to the government for your circumstances;
• Conducting a preparation session with you prior to your entry to Canada;
• Offering Top Priority service for extremely urgent cases;
• Determining the best way to proceed once the outcome of your case is reached (applying for permanent criminal rehabilitation, applying for Authorization to Return to Canada, re-application if necessary, etc.);

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Costs of this Process

Legal Fees

Immigroup service fees usually range from around $1500 for the most basic application to around $4000 for more complicated matters. Clients with more than one instance of criminality (multiple convictions) will have more complicated cases. Top Priority service for clients who need to travel to Canada urgently carries additional costs.

If you do not know where you stand, whether you need a TRP, whether you can be rehabilitated, or if you need supplementary documentation, such as an Authorization to Return to Canada, contact us for assistance. 

Government Fees

In addition to the legal fees paid to a consultant or lawyer to assist you with this process, the applicant must also pay a fee to the Canadian government for application. Please refer to the fee schedule below.

Temporary Resident Permit: $400
Application for Rehabilitation: $200-$1000 (depending on the nature of the crime)

Authorization to Return to Canada: $400

Assessment of Rehabilitation: No fee

Please note that there is a minimum cancelation fee once work has begun on a file.

Get Started with these Helpful Guides

Download a sample Temporary Resident Permit Application

Please note that the Temporary Resident Permit application uses the same form as a regular visa application unless you are applying from a country whose local visa office has a special form. See here for a list of countries whose nationals must apply with the special form.

Download a sample letter of support for a TRP

Please note this is just an example and should not be used as part of your application. Immigroup accepts no responsibility for applications rejected using this letter or its format.

Here are some examples of supporting documentation necessary to backup a TRP application:

• Receipt prooving payment of government fee
• Photos of applicant(s)
• Copies of Photo ID
• Copies of any previous Canadian status documents
• Court documents
• Reference letters

Inadmissible to Canada FAQs

How do I know if I am inadmissible to Canada?

If you have attempted to enter Canada and you were denied entry, you are likely inadmissible. If you participated in an assessment at a Port of Entry or a Diplomatic Mission, and were told you could not enter, you are inadmissible. If you fit into any of the following categories, you are inadmissible:

• security risk:
  • committed acts of espionage;
  • committed acts of subversion (i.e. attempting to topple your government);
  • committed acts of terrorism;
  • membership in an organization involved in any of the above;
• human rights violations:
  • committed war crimes;
  • committed crimes against humanity;
  • senior government official “in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions”;
• criminal activity:
  • committed a serious crime that would be punishable in Canada by a prison term of at least 10 years;
  • criminal conviction o membership in a criminal organization;
• health grounds:
  • your condition is likely to endanger public health (i.e. you have a dangerous communicable disease);
  • your condition would cause “excessive demands” on the health sector and / or on social services agencies in Canada were you to move here;
• you are unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and / or your family (or you are viewed as such by immigration authorities);
• immigration violations:
  • misrepresenting yourself to Canadian immigration or border officials o failure to comply with any part of the Immigration and Refugee Protection ACT (IRPA) for example:
    • overstaying your visa / permit;
    • working / studying without a visa / permit;
    • not living in Canada enough of the time, if you are a permanent resident;
    • attempting to re-enter Canada after being deported without the proper authorization;
  • begin subjected to a removal order.

Note: If you have an immediate family member who falls into one of the above categories, you yourself are also possibly inadmissible. If you are unsure, please contact us.


How do I know if I can get into Canada if I am classified as “inadmissible”?

If you are inadmissible on criminal or health grounds, you may be able to enter Canada under exceptional circumstances by applying for temporary resident permit (TRP).

If you are inadmissible on criminal grounds but your conviction was a long time ago, you may be able to enter Canada with an Application of Rehabilitation. If you are “deemed rehabilitated” you will not have to apply for rehabilitation or a TRP again, provided you commit no more crimes. Please note that an Application of Rehabilitation takes significantly longer than a TRP to process, so if you need to travel to Canada soon, you may want to file both applications.

If you are inadmissible for immigration violations you will likely have to support your TRP application with an Authorization to Return to Canada application.

If you are inadmissible on security grounds, human rights violations, or financial grounds, you are permanently inadmissible and cannot enter Canada.


What is a TRP?

A temporary resident permit (TRP) is a document that gives you permission to stay in Canada that for a limited amount of time, determined by the Canada Border Services Agency and / or Citizenship and Immigration Canada. TRP holders are subject to strict requirements (especially time limits) and TRPs can be cancelled at any time at the discretion of the Canadian government.


What reasons are considered valid or compelling for the granting of a TRP to an otherwise inadmissible person?
 

The Canadian government does not specify what particular reasons are regularly accepted for TRPs. They will grant them on “exceptional” humanitarian, compassionate, or human interest grounds, but these are never defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Humanitarian and compassionate grounds usually indicate that the applicant is somehow in danger if they cannot enter Canada, or that the applicant’s family is already in Canada and that they will experience hardships if the applicant is not allowed to enter Canada. Both of these cases must be proved to the satisfaction of Canadian immigration officials. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and there may be other grounds through which a TRP could be gained for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.

Human interest grounds usually refer to the cultural, scientific, academic (or other) import of the applicant’s work. For example, such grounds are used as the basis to allow an otherwise inadmissible eminent physicist to enter Canada to attend a conference on physics. Human interest grounds must be proved to the satisfaction of Canadian immigration officials by the applicant and those sponsoring the event(s) or conference(s). These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Other exceptional circumstances may be acceptable on a case-by-case basis but entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer. If you are unsure if your grounds will be accepted, you may contact us for a consultation.


I am inadmissible on criminal grounds. Can I apply for a TRP?

That depends on the type of crime(s) you committed. It also depends on where the crime(s) was committed.

For convictions for crimes that would be punishable within Canada by a maximum sentence of over 10 years in prison:

If you committed that crime in Canada and have since been pardoned for it you are admissible (if you need a Canadian Pardon, we can assist you with this process as well. Contact us for more information.

If you committed the crime in another country and have received a pardon, you may be able to apply for a TRP, if the pardon is recognized by Canadian Immigration & Citizenship (CIC). In order to find out if your pardon is recognized, you must contact your local Canadian visa office.

If your pardon is not recognized by CIC, or you committed the crime in Canada but have never received a pardon, you can still file an application for rehabilitation if at least 5 years have elapsed since the completion of your entire sentence. However it is extremely unlikely you will be eligible for a TRP before you have been deemed rehabilitated.

If your crime was an act that would be punishable in Canada by a maximum imprisonment of less than 10 years:

• If you committed the crime(s) in Canada and have been pardoned you are admissible.
• If you committed the crime(s) in Canada and have not been pardoned, it depends on the type of crime:
  • For an indictable offence, you can fill out an application for rehabilitation if at least 10 years have elapsed since you completed your entire sentence;
  • For two or more summary offences, you can fill out an application for rehabilitation if at least 5 years have elapsed since you completed your entire sentence;
  • For a single summary offence, you should be admissible but it is advisable to apply for an assessment at a Port of Entry (if you live in the US) or at a visa office before you attempt to enter Canada;
• If you cannot wait the 5 or 10 years required of your conviction you can attempt to get a TRP.
• If you committed the crime(s) outside of Canada and have received a pardon, you can apply for a TRP, provided the pardon is recognized by Canadian Immigration & Citizenship (CIC). In order to find out if your pardon is recognized, you must contact your local Canadian visa office.
• If the pardon is not recognized by CIC, you can fill out an application for rehabilitation if at least 5 years have elapsed since you completed your entire sentence. If you cannot wait for the application for rehabilitation to be processed, you can apply for a TRP.
• If you committed the crime(s) outside of Canada and have not been pardoned you will need to fill out an application for rehabilitation if at least 5 years have elapsed since you completed your entire sentence. If you cannot wait for the application for rehabilitation to be processed, you can apply for a TRP.
• If less than 5 years have elapsed since the completion of your entire sentence, you can apply for a TRP.

You can apply for rehabilitation by mail or in person at any visa office, or at any Port of Entry if you are applying from the US (though the process is different).

Note: If you are applying in person at a Port of Entry or within Canada and you have not already been deemed admissible through an assessment by Canadian immigration officials, there is some element of risk to you and anyone accompanying you whose status is also in question. If you apply at a port of entry and are not allowed to apply for a TRP, you will be asked to return home immediately. If you do not do so, you may be detained, forcibly removed or even arrested and charged. If you apply for an assessment within Canada and are not allowed to apply for a TRP, you will be asked to leave Canada voluntarily. If you do not agree to leave voluntarily, you will be detained, or forcibly removed from Canada, and / or arrested and charged. If you are in Canada without permission, it is best that you leave the country immediately and apply for a TRP or application of rehabilitation from outside the country.

What is an Application for Rehabilitation?

An application for rehabilitation is a way of applying to determine if you are no longer inadmissible on criminal grounds. Under most circumstances it must be filed at least 5 years after the completion of your sentence, at the nearest visa office (or in the US at a Port of Entry). For particularly serious crimes it must be filed after 10 years. Early applications can be made, and may be granted under very special circumstances. An application for rehabilitation must be submitted even if you are only applying for the free assessment to determine the length of your inadmissibility.

If your application is accepted, you will no longer require TRPs to enter Canada.

If I inadmissible because of crime, must I submit an application of rehabilitation?

Not necessarily. Canadian immigration officials may deem you rehabilitated when you apply for entry into Canada if enough time has passed since your sentence ended (depending on the type and severity of the crime). The best way of discovering your status is through an assessment. An assessment determines whether you are already “deemed rehabilitated” by the Canadian authorities, whether you must apply for rehabilitation, or whether it is impossible for you to enter Canada because of your criminal past. The responsibility to prove you are rehabilitated lies with you so it is best to at least submit an assessment.

What is the difference between deemed rehabilitation and an application for rehabilitation?

If you were inadmissible to Canada on criminal grounds you can become admissible if enough time has passed since your crime (depending on the nature of the crime). If you more than satisfy these rules you may be deemed admissible by Canadian immigration officials without having to pay to apply for rehabilitation. Canadian immigration officials can perform a rehabilitation assessment by request at overseas visa offices (or Ports of Entry in the United States) which will inform you whether or not you are now admissible. It is possible to attempt to enter Canada without the assessment if you meet the requirements posted on CIC’s website. However, this is not recommended because admission is never guaranteed and you are more likely to be allowed to enter Canada provided you have made some kind of attempt to show the immigration officials you are rehabilitated.

I am inadmissible on health grounds. Can I apply for a TRP?

The onus is on you to prove to the Canadian immigration authorities that your condition does not render you inadmissible. If you are coming to Canada for less than six months, you are not subject to a medical examination. It is therefore possible, though definitely not recommended, that if you have a medical condition which makes you inadmissible, you could apply for a temporary resident visa – provided it is for less than six months – and be accepted. However, failure to disclose your communicable disease would be an immigration violation and make you doubly inadmissible. You should not do this under any circumstances.

If you are the spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of a Canadian permanent resident, you are admissible to Canada even if your condition will not cause excessive demand on the health or social system. Convention refugees and protected persons are similarly exempt from this category of inadmissibility. However, a communicable disease that endangers the public safety of Canada is still grounds for inadmissibility, regardless of the nature of your application.

If you think Canadian immigration authorities would regard your condition as grounds for inadmissibility, or you have been told by Canadian immigration authorities already that your condition makes you inadmissible, the onus is on you to convince them and a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) that your condition either

1. is not a danger to the public safety of Canada and / or
2. will not impose excessive demands on the Canadian health and social systems. If you cannot do this, you will remain inadmissible.

If there are compelling humanitarian, compassionate or public interest grounds to allow you to enter Canada for a brief time despite a medical condition that makes you inadmissible, then you may be granted a TRP, but only at the discretion of immigration officials and a DMP. The restrictions on your TRP may be severe.


I am inadmissible to Canada because of a removal order. Can I apply for a TRP?

Whether or not you can return to Canada depends on how you were asked or ordered to leave in the first place:

• Departure order (IMM 5238)
  • If you complied with the departure order within 30 days and notified a Canadian immigration official of your departure, you can apply for a TRP and may even be granted a visa (depending on circumstances);
  • If you did not comply with the departure order within 30 days, the departure order became a deportation order (see below);
  • If you did not notify Canadian immigration officials of your departure, the departure order became a deportation order (see below);
• Direction to leave Canada order (IMM 1217B)
  • This order is not a removal order, whereas the other three are removal orders. If you complied with this order then you should be able to re-enter Canada normally and you should be granted a visa (if applicable);
• Exclusion order (IMM 1214B)
  • If it has been 12 months since you left Canada and you have a Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B) proving that fact, then you can apply for a TRP;
  • If it has been less than 12 months since you left Canada according to your Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056B) you must apply for an Authorization to Return to Canada along with your application for a TRP. Some visa offices – specifically those serving visa-exempt countries - have their own forms. Otherwise, you must apply using the temporary resident visa form, which you would also use to apply for a TRP;
  • If you do not have your Certificate of Departure, you must apply for an Authorization to Return to Canada along with your application for a TRP;
• Deportation order (IMM 5238B)
  • Anyone subject to a deportation order must complete and submit an Authorization to Return to Canada along with the application for a TRP.

What is an authorization to return to Canada (ARC)?

If you have been ordered out of Canada, or physically removed, you may need to apply for an authorization to return to Canada (see above). This authorization is the way the Canadian government grants you permission to apply for a TRP (as removal orders make you otherwise inadmissible to Canada). Depending on where you are applying, there may be a separate form or you may apply on a temporary residence visa (TRV) form (the same form on which you would apply for a TRP). For example, the visa offices in Vienna and in London both have their own ARC forms. It is best to contact the visa office near you before applying.

I am inadmissible to Canada because I violated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Can I apply for a TRP?

There are a number of types of violations of the IRPA that can render you inadmissible: misrepresentation, failure to respect the time limits of your visa or your permit, failure to respect the restrictions for permanent residents, and anything which makes you the subject of a removal order.

Misrepresentation is considered fraud. It includes using fake or altered documents to enter Canada, gain status in Canada or gain Canadian citizenship. These documents may include passports or other travel documents, visas, diplomas and other education certificates, vital statistics certificates (i.e. birth, death, marriage), and any kind of criminal records or police certificates. If you misrepresented yourself to Canadian immigration officials, you could be subject to the following penalties:

• inadmissibility for two years
  • therefore you must wait at least two years since you left Canada to apply for a TRP;
• revocation of your status
  • in this case you will have to apply for a TRP to re-enter Canada but there is no guarantee you will be granted one;
• criminal charges
  • in this case you will be inadmissible for 5 years after completing the entirety of your sentence and you will have to apply for an application of rehabilitation after that time. If you have not received a pardon it is very unlikely you will be deemed rehabilitated, even if you have waited 5 years;
• a removal order
  • see above.

If you overstayed your visa or permit you can attempt to apply for a TRP within Canada but most likely you will be met with a removal order (unless there are exceptional circumstances). You should leave Canada and seek an assessment at the visa office in your country of origin. This assessment will tell you whether you can apply for a visa or a TRP.

If you are a permanent resident who failed to comply with the permanent resident condition regarding days in Canada, you should stop traveling immediately and stay within Canada until you again comply with the regulations. Applying for a TRP should only be a last resort if you are outside of Canada when you violate the condition and are not allowed to return. You may need to obtain an Authorization to Return to Canada in this case.

I am inadmissible to Canada because of membership in an organization classified as terrorist by the Canadian government but I have not participated in any acts of terrorism or subversion. Can I apply for a TRP?

No.

I was a member of a government sanctioned by the international community. Can I apply for a TRP?

It depends one whether or not Canadian immigration classifies you as a “senior” member, i.e. someone with responsibility for the government actions that resulted in the imposed sanctions. The only way you could answer this question would be to ask for an assessment at the visa office nearest your country.

I was a member of an organization characterized as subversive decades ago, but now it is a political party with an active role in government. Am I inadmissible?

Most likely, it depends on whether your organization has been classified as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government. This is the kind of decision that would be made by Canadian immigration on a case-by-case basis and the only way you would be able to discover whether you are inadmissible or admissible would be through an assessment or a TRP application.
 

Which nationals are visa-exempt and why does it matter for a TRP?

In order to apply for a TRP, you must apply using a temporary resident visa form, unless you are from a country where you don’t need a visa, and then you must use special forms from your closest visa office. Here is the list of countries where special forms are required:

*Citizens of Israel require an Israeli Passport to waive the visa requirement. Holders of any other Israeli travel document must apply for a visa.

*Citizens of Lithuania and Poland must possess biometric passports to waive the visa requirement. Holders of traditional passports must apply for a visa.

*Citizens of Taiwan must possess passports contain their ID number in order to waive the visa requirement. Holders of passports that do not include the ID number must apply for a visa.