Departure order
Statutory definition
Regulation 224 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227, provides that a departure order becomes a deportation order if the person has not left Canada within 30 days of the order coming into force, or has not confirmed their departure with a CBSA officer.
Explanation
A departure order is issued for less serious inadmissibility grounds. The person has 30 days to leave Canada voluntarily after the order comes into force. If they confirm departure with a CBSA officer at the port of exit, the departure is recorded and the departure order is satisfied.
A departure order does not automatically bar re-entry. After leaving, the person may apply for a new visa through the normal immigration process (subject to the underlying inadmissibility ground being resolved).
If the person does not leave within 30 days of the order coming into force, or fails to confirm departure, the departure order automatically becomes a deportation order with permanent re-entry consequences.
How this term is used
The distinction between departure, exclusion, and deportation orders matters significantly for future re-entry prospects. Anyone served with a removal order should confirm the type of order and comply with the relevant confirmation of departure procedure to avoid the departure order automatically escalating to a deportation order.