The Canadian permanent resident card (Canada PR Card)

The Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) is proof of your permanent resident status in Canada.
The card may also be used as photo identification and is used at ports of entry to prove your permanent resident status when entering Canada on return from abroad.

Detailed article onCanadian permanent residents.

What is a permanent resident card (PR Card)?

The Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) is an identity document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The card carries a person’s photograph and proof of their permanent resident status. Once a person has been granted permanent resident status and has completed formal entry into Canada, they can receive a PR Card.

Detailed article onGuidance on answering questions from the CBSA on entry to Canada, by category.

The card serves as a valid travel document when entering Canada and is normally valid for five years, although in very rare cases it may be valid for only one year. It is recommended that all permanent residents obtain a PR Card so that they can easily prove their lawful status, as the card was introduced in 2002 as an alternative to using printed immigration documents for that purpose.

You need a valid permanent resident (PR) card to prove that you are a permanent resident when returning to Canada from another country. Read on to find out what to do if your PR Card expires while you are outside Canada.

How long does it take for a permanent resident card to arrive in Canada?

IRCC aims to maintain a service standard of around one month (30 days) processing time for new PR Cards—although this may vary depending on circumstances that can affect IRCC’s ability to process cards within that timeframe.

Similarly, the department aims to renew or replace lost PR Cards within around two months (60 days). You can check the latest processing times for PR Cards usingthe IRCC online processing times tool.

How long is a permanent resident card valid in Canada?

As noted earlier, most PR Cards are valid for up to five years, although they may occasionally be issued with a validity of one year only. Importantly, your permanent resident status does not expire with your PR Card—you simply need to renew the card in order to continue proving your valid permanent resident status in Canada.

Once your PR Card has expired you can no longer use it as a travel document, which can particularly affect those returning to Canada from abroad. Permanent residents are advised to apply to renew their PR Card within the six months before the card expires.

Is my permanent resident card a permanent residence permit?

Your PR Card is not a permanent residence permit in Canada. This means that the term and validity of the PR Card do not determine how long you will be a permanent resident in Canada. The document is simply a means of confirming status; it is not intended to describe the nature and duration of your stay in the country.

There is, however, one important way in which a PR Card functions like a permanent residence permit – it is required in order to enter Canada on international trips. On arriving at a Canadian international port of entry, or border, a permanent resident must present their PR Card to prove their status and secure lawful entry before being allowed into Canada again. Read on to find out what to do if you are outside Canada when your PR Card expires.

As the name suggests, permanent residence is meant to be permanent. This is why permanent residents in Canada enjoy many of the same rights and privileges as Canadian citizens. Losing permanent resident status is not an automatic process, and it must bedone voluntarily, even if you do not meet thephysical presencerequirements needed to maintain your status and apply for Canadian citizenship.

What are the benefits of a permanent resident card in Canada?

The main benefit of holding a PR Card is being able to prove your permanent resident status in Canada, and to travel to Canada from abroad without restriction or difficulty.

As a permanent resident in Canada, you are able to:

• Live and work anywhere in Canada;
• Access universal healthcare and social services;
• Sponsor your family members to come to, and even live in, Canada;
• Access free education for your children;
• Move on to Canadian citizenship once you meet the eligibility requirements; and
• Enjoy broader rights and freedoms in Canada than temporary residents.

Do you need a permanent resident card to travel to Canada? What should I do if my permanent resident card expires while I am outside Canada?

You need a PR Card to return to Canada, as the card serves as an official status document in Canada.

If you are a permanent resident whose PR Card expires while you are outside Canada, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). A PRTD is an official temporary document proving your permanent resident status in Canada – it can be used (once) to provide evidence to travel companies and border officers that you may travel to Canada as a permanent resident when you do not have a PR Card.

This document is temporary and exists principally to assist Canadian permanent residents whose PR Card has expired while they are abroad.

Importantly, if you hold neither a valid PR Card nor a PRTD and are planning to travel to Canada as a permanent resident, you may not be allowed to board a flight, train, bus, boat (or other commercial means of transport) bound for Canada.

I am a new permanent resident of Canada. Do I need to apply for a permanent resident card?

For a first PR Card (on flying to and entering Canada), new permanent residents do not need to apply to receive their document. Once a new permanent resident has declared their address in Canada when passing through border customs (or updated the IRCC address tool with their current address), their first PR Card is automatically posted to them around a month after entry.

How do I renew or replace my PR Card?

• Visit the IRCC website athere. Download the application package available on the IRCC website. The package contains all the necessary forms to be completed. If you are applying to renew your PR Card, make sure you include your expired document with the application. A document checklist is also available so that you can check all the documents required;
• Pay the application fee online – to do this you will need a PDF reader, a printer, a valid email address, and a credit or debit card. Once payment is made, make sure you print your receipt and include it with your application; and
• Submit your application—once all the necessary steps are complete, you will need to send your application to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Note that there are two different addresses depending on whether you send the application by post or by courier.

How do I qualify for urgent processing of my permanent resident card?

In certain cases, IRCC will choose to expedite the processing of a PR Card on the basis of a number of factors in the applicant’s circumstances. To qualify for urgent processing of your PR Card, you must be planning to travel within the next three months because of:

• A job opportunity;
• Your own serious illness;
• The death of a family member;
• Work relating to your current job; and/or
• The serious illness of a family member.

Even where you qualify for urgent processing, IRCC cannot guarantee that it will be able to renew or replace your PR Card in time.

What is a temporary travel document and how can it help me when I do not have a permanent resident card?

As a general rule for travel to Canada, all commercial carriers require Canadian permanent residents to present a PR Card before boarding; in addition, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires a status document (such as a PR Card) from all international travellers at any Canadian port of entry.

Canadian permanent residents who are outside Canada and do not hold a Canadian Permanent Resident Card may apply at a Canadian Immigration Visa Office for a Travel Document allowing them to be carried back to Canada by a commercial carrier.

Before issuing a Travel Document, the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer must be able to confirm, from the documents submitted, the identity of the applicant and that the applicant was a Canadian permanent resident. In addition, the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer must be satisfied that the applicant has complied with the residency obligations of a Canadian permanent resident.