Temporary residents: Individual cancellation of temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, work permits and study permits
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
On January 31, 2025, new authorities regarding individual cancellation of temporary resident documents came into force.
These regulatory changes give designated officers explicit authority to cancel electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), temporary resident visas (TRVs), work permits (WPs) and study permits (SPs) on a case-by-case basis.
These instructions apply to IRCC employees only.
These instructions apply to immigration documents only, not to applications.
Note: These individual cancellation authorities are separate from changes implemented on March 15, 2024 that automatically cancel in GCMS by operation of law TRVs, eTAs, and temporary resident permits (TRP) when a removal order is made, and SPs and WPs when a removal order becomes enforceable.
On this page
Regulatory provisions
The following tables provide an overview of the new individual cancellation authorities under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
Discretionary cancellations
| Cancellation authority | TRV | eTA | SP | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inadmissibility | 180.1(a) | 12.07(a) | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Did not/Does not meet R179 |
180.1(b) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Issued TRP after TRV or eTA |
180.1(c) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Will not leave by the end period of authorized stay |
180.1(d) | 12.06(j) | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Refused eTA, WP, SP or TRV after issuance |
180.1(e) | 12.06(k) | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Subject to A22.1(1) declaration |
180.1(f) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ineligibility: Ineligible under R12.06 |
N/A | 12.07(b) | N/A | N/A |
| Administrative error | 180.1(g) | 12.07(c) | 222.7 | 209.01 |
Cancellations by operation of law
| Cancellation authority | TRV | eTA | SP | WP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change of status: Becomes permanent resident | 180.2(a) | 12.08(a) | 222.8(a) | 209.02(a) |
| Passport lost, stolen or destroyed | 180.2(b) | 12.08(b) | N/A | N/A |
| Passport abandoned | 180.2(c) | 12.08(c) | N/A | N/A |
| Deceased individual | 180.2(d) | 12.08(d) | 222.8(b) | 209.02(b) |
Important: If an inadmissibility and/or eligibility requirement was waived at the time a decision was rendered on the foreign national’s application, for example, by way of a temporary public policy, the immigration document cannot not subsequently be cancelled because the foreign national is inadmissible or ineligible due to that same requirement.