Denied Entry to Canada

Being denied entry to Canada does not always mean you are permanently barred. The next step depends on why entry was refused, your immigration history, and any documents issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). A temporary resident permit, criminal rehabilitation, or an authorization to return to Canada may be relevant in different circumstances. None is a guaranteed solution.

Akrami & Associates in Mississauga helps travellers understand refusal reasons and assess possible applications before another trip.

Information checked against the government sources linked below: October 16, 2026. This page provides general information, not an assessment of your individual admissibility.

What to do after a border refusal

1. Keep every document issued by the officer, including any refusal explanation, direction to leave, or removal order.
2. Record the date, port of entry, travel purpose, and reasons discussed.
3. Gather your passport, immigration correspondence, and relevant court or sentence-completion records.
4. Address the reason for refusal before planning another attempt. Returning with the same unresolved issue can lead to another refusal.

A border refusal, a refused visa application, and a formal removal order are different situations. The documents you received help identify the appropriate next steps.

Canada assesses admissibility and whether you meet the requirements for your proposed visit. Common concerns include criminal history, security, human or international rights violations, organized criminality, medical inadmissibility, financial support, misrepresentation, and non-compliance with immigration requirements.

Criminal history and DUI offences

A conviction or an act committed outside Canada may cause inadmissibility if it meets the applicable Canadian legal test. A foreign label such as misdemeanour does not decide the outcome. The Canadian equivalent, offence date, number of offences, and sentence history matter.

Impaired driving can have serious immigration consequences. Tougher Canadian penalties took effect on December 18, 2018. IRCC assesses offences committed before that date using the penalties in force at the time. An old DUI is not automatically harmless, and a TRP is not automatically the only option.

Medical and financial concerns

Not every visitor needs a medical examination. For stays of six months or less, an immigration medical exam is generally unnecessary unless an exception applies, such as certain work involving public-health protection. Longer stays, travel history, intended work, and super visa applications can create additional requirements.

Visitors may also need to show adequate financial support and a credible purpose and plan for their stay.

Misrepresentation and immigration compliance

False information or withholding relevant facts can have serious consequences. Previous overstays, unauthorized work, and other compliance issues also require assessment. Family-member inadmissibility rules have specific exceptions; an inadmissible relative does not automatically make every temporary visitor inadmissible.

Sources: IRCC reasons for inadmissibility; impaired-driving guidance; medical-exam requirements.

The appropriate response depends on the refusal reason. A document problem may require a different solution from criminal inadmissibility or a removal order.

Review the detailed options below with your criminal history and immigration documents. Different applications may be relevant to different parts of your situation.

A temporary resident permit (TRP) can authorize a foreign national to enter or remain in Canada temporarily despite inadmissibility or certain unmet immigration requirements. An officer assesses whether the need to enter or stay outweighs the health or safety risks to Canadian society.

Explain the purpose, dates, and importance of the proposed visit. Relevant evidence may include court dispositions, proof of sentence completion, a travel itinerary, supporting letters, and evidence addressing the reason for inadmissibility. Requirements vary by case.

Issuance, duration, and any authorization to re-enter are determined by the officer. A TRP may be cancelled and does not permanently remove inadmissibility. Do not assume that it permits repeated trips or authorizes employment.

Source: IRCC temporary resident permits.

There is no single application route for everyone. Follow the current IRCC instructions for your location, nationality, and the immigration document you need.

• U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents currently in the United States: IRCC instructs applicants to use its web form to request TRP application instructions from the Los Angeles visa office.
• Visa-required applicants outside Canada: request TRP consideration through the relevant online visitor visa, study permit, or work permit application, following IRCC’s supporting-document and fee instructions.
• Citizens of eTA-required countries: use the IRCC web form to request instructions for your circumstances.
• Applicants inside Canada: the route depends on whether you need only a TRP or also a work or study permit. IMM 5708 applies to specified applications; it is an application form, not the issued TRP.
• At a port of entry: IRCC describes requesting TRP consideration from the officer. An application is not a guarantee of admission, and advance preparation is important.

Check the official instructions before submitting. Fees and submission requirements can change.

Source: IRCC: how to apply for or request a TRP.

Akrami & Associates can review your refusal documents, criminal records, immigration history, and proposed travel to help identify possible next steps. Depending on your circumstances, assistance may involve a TRP, criminal rehabilitation, an ARC, or addressing another reason for refusal.

We explain the documents and issues relevant to your situation and can assist with application preparation. Government officers make the admission and application decisions; no representative can guarantee approval.

Meet our team or book a consultation. Call 416-477-2545 to discuss your next steps.

Client experience with inadmissibility and a TRP

“Their advice on how to handle the Port of Entry process was invaluable”

— Fay Thompson, Google review

Individual experiences vary. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.