How to organize your return if your departure was unplanned?

When circumstances arise that require you to leave Canada urgently without prior planning, it is always a major challenge. An unexpected departure can be caused by a variety of reasons: family emergencies, sudden dismissal or loss of financial support, a crisis in the country of residence, serious illness, or even visa revocation. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to organize the logistics of returning home “in the shortest time and at the lowest cost,” as well as to ensure that nothing is forgotten during the urgent preparations. Below is a detailed description of all the key steps and tips to help you successfully cope with this task.

Checking your legal status

First, you need to figure out the legality of your continued stay. If your residence permit or visa has been revoked, it is important to immediately contact an immigration lawyer or your local IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) office. This will allow you to find out your rights, consult on the possibility of a temporary extension of your stay, and avoid problems with deportation. If the situation is critical and a lawyer is not available, you can contact your local immigration center or the IRCC hotline, where you will be directed to the appropriate services or provided with initial recommendations.

Organizing the transportation of belongings

At the same time, you should organize the transportation of your personal belongings and documents. If your situation requires immediate departure within one day, you should limit yourself to only the most necessary items: passports, documents in your possession (residence permit, driver's license, insurance policy), a minimum set of clothes, hygiene products, IT equipment (mobile phone and charger, laptop or flash drive with copies of important files), medicines, and a sufficient amount of cash or payment cards. The rest of your belongings should be offered to friends or neighbors for temporary storage, or sent by mail via a reliable courier service with the condition that they will be forwarded to your home.

Finding a transport route

The next priority is to find a transport route. People who need to leave urgently often have to take the first tickets available, but to avoid overpaying for last-minute deals, you can use services that track hot airfare and train deals. If flights are sold out, find out about transfers to nearby airports with less traffic or flights via intermediate countries, even if this increases the travel time. Also consider traveling by bus or car to the nearest border with air service, or arrange for a car rental at a reasonable rate with a one-time payment. It is equally important to check transit visa requirements — even a short transfer through a third country may require a separate permit.

Medical needs

At the same time, you should pay attention to your medical needs. If you are taking prescription medication, check with your family doctor or pharmacy in advance to see if you can obtain additional medication or find out the opening hours of clinics so that you can buy everything you need before you leave. In case of acute illness — such as COVID-19 or exacerbation of a chronic condition — urgently contact a local hospital or clinic with international insurance so that a doctor can fill out a certificate about your condition and provide a discharge summary for further use at the airport or upon return to Canada.

Financial resources

It is important to ensure that you have access to financial resources. A sudden departure may require a significant amount of money for tickets, a hotel in a transit city, and courier delivery of your belongings. If you run out of money or your bank cards are blocked, contact relatives or friends in Canada to transfer funds through international systems such as Western Union or Wise. Also, notify your bank of your change of location to avoid your account being blocked due to suspicious activity. If necessary, consider opening a multi-currency e-wallet, which will allow you to quickly receive transfers and make payments or withdraw cash without large fees.

Booking temporary accommodation

Booking temporary accommodation is equally important. If you are leaving Canada at night, find a hotel near the airport or train station that offers a free shuttle service. Take advantage of discounts and promotions where you can save up to 30–40% even on last-minute bookings. If you are on a tight budget, consider hostels or apartments through Airbnb with instant booking. Some countries also have social networks for travelers, where volunteers offer short-term accommodation for a nominal fee.

Digital security

Don't forget about digital security when packing. If your laptop or smartphone has built-in passwords and two-factor authentication, make sure they are enabled and keep backups of important data in the cloud. Change your passwords for email, banking apps, and social media, especially if your devices have been accessed by strangers. This will help prevent unauthorized access to your accounts and personal data.

Informing family and friends

It is also important to inform your family and friends about your return plan. Agree on a time to call or send a message to those waiting for you at home: send a short status update after boarding the plane and another message upon arrival. This will allow your loved ones to avoid panic and know what to do in case of delays or route changes. If you use a messaging app with a “live location” feature, share the link so your family can see your current location.

After returning home

Upon returning to Canada, you will need to take care of any outstanding domestic issues. If you rented accommodation, notify the owner of the force majeure and arrange to terminate or extend the lease remotely. Make sure your Canadian address remains accessible for mail and courier deliveries, especially documents that may arrive later. If you are in a foreign country longer than expected, notify your insurer to avoid coverage issues.

Psychological support

Finally, assess your need for psychological support. Unexpected travel is often accompanied by stress, anxiety, and a sense of loss of control. Once you return home, take time to rest, go for a walk in nature, or meet with friends to help you adjust. If your anxiety persists, consider consulting a psychologist or your workplace's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), if available. Restoring your emotional balance will help you respond better to future unforeseen events and plan a more reliable backup strategy.

In the event of an unplanned departure from Canada, your ability to quickly orient yourself, make decisions, and engage resources will determine the success of your return. A clear plan of action — from clarifying your legal status and contacting immigration services to arranging logistics, booking tickets and accommodation, and securing financial and psychological support — will allow you to effectively overcome the crisis and return home with minimal loss of time, money, and stress. We recommend that you develop your own “worst-case scenario” for the future, including a list of contacts, backup copies of documents, and a budget for emergency expenses. This will give you a sense of confidence and help you save energy if you ever have to act spontaneously again.