CBSA Active Removal Warrant in Canada: What It Means

If you have been told that CBSA has an active immigration warrant, or you missed a CBSA removal appointment, get case-specific legal advice promptly. The word “warrant” can refer to different enforcement circumstances. The documents, the statutory basis and the status of any removal order all matter.

Have a CBSA reporting or removal date? Call 647-909-7777 or request a case-specific consultation.

What is a CBSA removal warrant?

CBSA states that when a person subject to an enforceable removal order fails to attend a removal interview or the scheduled removal date, the Agency may issue a Canada-wide warrant for arrest. If arrested, the person may be detained until removal is carried out. A warrant is not the same document as a removal order, and the precise legal basis should be confirmed from the case record.

Section 55(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act separately authorizes an officer to issue an arrest and detention warrant in specified circumstances, including where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person is inadmissible and is a danger to the public or unlikely to appear for an immigration process. The facts and legal basis in an individual case need to be reviewed.

What should you do if you think a warrant may be active?

• Do not ignore CBSA letters, reporting instructions or a removal date. Keep copies of every notice and note when and how it was received.
• Gather the file documents. This may include the removal order, directions to report, CBSA correspondence, identity documents and any IRB, Federal Court or immigration decisions.
• Speak with a licensed immigration representative promptly. Explain any upcoming reporting date, removal date, missed appointment, detention, or contact from CBSA so the urgency can be assessed.
• Do not assume that submitting an application automatically stops removal. Whether a legal step is available and whether it affects enforcement depends on the specific decision, deadlines and applicable rules.

If someone is already detained, the detention review process is separate and time-sensitive. Read about immigration detention reviews.

Can a warrant be cancelled or removal postponed?

There is no single answer for every file. A representative can review the warrant information, the underlying enforcement steps and any unresolved legal process to identify what options may still be available. A request or application should not be treated as a guarantee that a warrant will be withdrawn or a removal date changed.

For an overview of removal orders and enforcement issues, see our removal orders and deportation service page. Where relevant, also review the PRRA information page.

Official information

The CBSA explains its removal process and when a Canada-wide warrant may be issued on its Enforcing removals from Canada page. Read the current wording of section 55 in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Need help with a CBSA removal matter?

Book a case-specific consultation to review the removal order, reporting instructions and available options. Book a consultation or call 647-909-7777.

This article provides general information, not legal advice. The available steps depend on the person’s documents, procedural history and deadlines.