What Is Administrative Deferral of Removal (ADR) in Canada? A Simple Guide

Can’t Return Home? Canada May Pause Your Removal Through ADR

or Can an Immigration Consultant Help When an ADR (Administrative Deferral of Removal) Is Issued in Canada?

There are times when people come and ask can Immigration Consultants help when an ADR (Administrative Deferral of Removal) is issued in Canada? To this my answer is “YES”, an immigration consultant can assist, but with limitations, since ADR is automatically issued by CBSA (Canada Border Security Agency) and not something you apply for. So, to understand more lets understand what Administrative Deferral of Removal is.

Administrative Deferrals of Removal is a temporary measure by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It protects certain people from being removed (deported) from Canada for a limited time due to dangerous or unstable conditions in their home country.

In Simple Words:

If you’re supposed to leave Canada but your home country is going through something very serious – like:

• War

• Natural Disaster (earthquake, flood)

• Severe political unrest (or violence)

Then Canada may pause your removal for humanitarian reasons. This pause is called an Administrative Deferral of Removal.

Who gets an ADR?

It applies to people who already have a removal order (such as refused refugee claimants or others without legal status), but cannot be safely returned to their country at that time.

For example:

• If you are from a country recently hit by a war or civil crisis, Canada may stop deporting people back to that country — even if their immigration cases are closed.

You don’t need to apply for ADR — it’s automatically applied when CBSA makes the decision to pause removals to a specific country.

How is ADR different from a Temporary Suspension of Removals (TSR)?

• TSR (Temporary Suspension of Removals) is more formal and longer-term, often for countries with ongoing instability.

• ADR is short-term and flexible ADR — CBSA uses it for emergencies or sudden situations.

Feature	ADR(Administrative Deferral)	TSR(Temporary Suspension)
Duration	Short-term, emergency-based	Long-term, formal suspension
Who decides?	CBSA	IRCC/CBSA
Type of crisis	Sudden wars, disasters, emergencies	Ongoing conflict, long-term danger
Applies to	People already under removal	Same

What happens if you’re under ADR?

If ADR applies to you:

• You will not be removed from Canada during the deferral period.

• You must stay in status or cooperate with immigration processes.

• It does not give you permanent status — it’s not a path to PR or refugee status by itself.

• You may be allowed to apply for a work permit or other temporary relief while you remain in Canada.

Important Note:

Once the conditions improve in your home country, CBSA can lift the ADR — and you could again be subject to removal unless your immigration situation changes.

Administrative Deferrals of Removal (ADR) is a temporary pause on deportation when someone’s home country becomes unsafe due to war, natural disaster, or crisis. It protects people on humanitarian grounds, but it’s not permanent immigration status.

What we can do? or What an immigration Consultant can do:

1.      Explain Your Status Clearly: Help you understand what ADR means for your case:- You are not being removed right now- But you do not have legal permanent status

2.      Review Your Options: While you're under ADR, a consultant can help you:

a.       Apply for a work permit (if eligible) under section 206 or 207 of IRPR

b.      Apply for permanent residence through:

• Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds

• Spousal or Family Sponsorship

• PR Pathways (if you qualify in other streams)

3.      Prepare a Strong H&C or Asylum Application (if eligible): If you fear returning due to ongoing risk, a consultant can help prepare a new claim or request PR on humanitarian grounds.

4.      Communicate with CBSA

a.       In some cases, consultants can:

• Follow up on the status of removal

• Submit updated documents (e.g. medical, hardship info)

• Make a request to delay removal if ADR is about to be lifted and country conditions are still bad

What A Consultant Cannot Do:

·        They cannot request or apply for ADR — it's entirely up to CBSA based on country conditions.

·        They cannot stop removal once ADR is lifted unless a new legal process (e.g. H&C or refugee claim) is in place.

Final Note:

ADR gives you time, not status. Use that time wisely — a licensed immigration consultant can help you explore your best long-term legal options so you're not left vulnerable when ADR ends.