Reasons you may be inadmissible to Canada
Why you could be found inadmissible
A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you can enter Canada when you apply for a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or when you arrive at a port of entry.
If you’re found inadmissible, you’ll be denied a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), refused entry to, or removed from Canada.
You could be found inadmissible for a number of reasons, such as:
- security reasons, including
- espionage
- subversion (attempts to overthrow a government, etc.)
- violence or terrorism
- membership in an organization involved in any of these
- human or international rights violations, including
- war crimes
- crimes against humanity
- being a senior official in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions
- committing a crime, including driving while under the influence of drugs or alcoholFootnote 1
- organized crime, including membership in an organization that takes part in organized criminal activity, people smuggling or money laundering
- medical reasons – this includes medical conditions that:
- endanger public health
- endanger public safety or
- causes excessive demand on health or social services (some applicants are exempt)
- financial reasons – if you’re unable or unwilling to support yourself and your family members
- misrepresentation, which includes providing false information or withholding information directly related to decisions made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
- failure to comply with any provision of IRPAFootnote 2 or
- having an inadmissible family member.
Find out more about removals.
Find out if you are eligible
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