Canada will increase deportation recovery fees in 2021 – escorted or unescorted removal costs
Staying in Canada is a privilege for foreign nationals. However, they could lose this privilege if they become inadmissible to Canada. On the contrary, permanent residents have the right to remain in Canada. Nonetheless, they could lose this right under specific inadmissibility clauses. Therefore, some foreign nationals and permanent residents could receive removal orders from Canada. If the government pays for their removal (deportation), they are responsible for paying it back. The recovery costs have remained intact in the past 25 years. However, Canada will increase deportation recovery fees in 2021.
- Why Canada deports people?
- What are the current deportation recovery fees?
- How does the government collect deportation recovery fees?
- What are the proposed deportation recovery fees?
- When will the changes come into effect?
- Let us help!
WLetUsHelphy Canada deports people?
Before discussing the deportation recovery fees, let’s cover some basics. Sometimes people who are staying in Canada become inadmissible. Therefore, they could receive a removal order. While the term “deportation” is quite common, a removal order could be any of the following three types:
- Departure Order: You need to leave Canada within the next 30 days and report your departure to the authorities. However, if you do not leave Canada at the specified time or do not report your departure, the departure order automatically turns into a deportation order.
- Exclusion Order: You need to leave Canada within the specified time and not return to Canada within the next 12 months. However, if the exclusion order is because of misrepresentation, you may not return to Canada within the next five years.
- Deportation Order: You need to leave Canada within the specified time, and you may not return to Canada unless you receive an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC).
What are the current deportation recovery fees?
If CBSA pays for a person’s deportation, they currently charge the following amounts in Canadian dollar:
- $750 when the removal is to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon; and
- $1,500 when the deportation is to any other country.
I use deportation and removal interchangeably in this article. However, keep in mind the distinction.
How does the government collect deportation recovery fees?
Canada usually does not collect the costs of removal unless the person decides to return. Of course, when they file an ARC application, they must also refund the deportation recovery fees.
What are the proposed deportation recovery fees?
As you can see, the current fees do not reflect today’s realities (e.g. the airline ticket, escorting the person, etc.). Therefore, Canada has proposed the following fees to replace the existing ones (in Canadian funds):
- $3,250 for removal without an escort;
- $10,900 for an escorted removal; and
- $1,300 for detention fees.
Consequently, the proposed recovery costs are independent of the destination.
When will the changes come into effect?
CBSA proposed the increase in deportation recovery fees on May 16, 2020. However, according to Toronto Star, the changes will likely come into effect late in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
Let us help!
If you have faced any immigration issues, fill out the following forms. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Of course, we could assist you with removal order issues whether CBSA expects recovering deportation recovery fees or not. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session with me.
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Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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