{"id":2137,"date":"2026-11-11T01:22:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T01:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/refugee-cessation-travel-home-passport\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T01:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T01:22:17","slug":"refugee-cessation-travel-home-passport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/refugee-cessation-travel-home-passport\/","title":{"rendered":"Refugee cessation after travelling home or renewing your passport: the risk to your PR and what to do"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 10, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2019, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 10, 2026: sections 40.1, 46 and 108 of the Act and the Federal Court’s 2026 decision in Asrat checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The fix:<\/strong> a full response at the Refugee Protection Division hearing showing you did not intend to put yourself back under your home country’s protection. After a cessation decision, judicial review in the Federal Court.<\/p>\n

The deadline:<\/strong> 15 days from the cessation decision to apply to the Federal Court (IRPA s.72<\/a>). There is no appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division.<\/p>\n

Why a lawyer:<\/strong> a cessation finding can end permanent residence automatically. The hearing is often the only real chance to explain the trips. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The lawyers who review these refusals<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

If you came to Canada as a refugee and later travelled back to your home country, or renewed or used its passport, the Minister can ask the Refugee Protection Division to find that your refugee protection has ceased. If the Division agrees on the basis that you put yourself back under your country’s protection, you lose permanent residence automatically, even if you have lived here for years. The test looks at whether you acted voluntarily, whether you intended to rely on your home country’s protection, and whether you actually got it. Reasons such as caring for a dying parent can matter, and the Federal Court has sent cases back where the Division did not weigh them properly.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, represents refugees and permanent residents at cessation hearings and in the Federal Court; this guide is by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.<\/p>\n

What does section 108 say?<\/h2>\n

Under section 108(1)<\/a>, refugee protection ends if, among other things, “the person has voluntarily reavailed themself of the protection of their country of nationality”, has voluntarily reacquired that nationality, or has “voluntarily become re-established” in that country. Under section 108(2), the Division decides this “on application by the Minister”. If it agrees, the claim “is deemed to be rejected” (section 108(3)).<\/p>\n

Why can I lose PR?<\/h2>\n

Under section 46(1)(c.1)<\/a>, a person loses permanent resident status on a final cessation decision “for any of the reasons described in paragraphs 108(1)(a) to (d)”. Section 40.1 then makes the person inadmissible. A cessation based only on changed conditions in your home country (section 108(1)(e)) does not take away PR.<\/p>\n

In Slepcsik v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration)<\/em>, 2025 FC 1840, the Federal Court upheld the automatic loss of PR against Charter challenges. That remains the law.<\/p>\n

Why this needs a lawyer<\/h2>\n

One lawyer, one file, every step:<\/strong><\/p>\n