Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Permanent Resident Cards
Here are some common questions our office receives about Canadian Permanent Resident cards (also called PR cards). You may also read our website for more information about Permanent Residence Card rules and about the residency requirements for maintaining your card.
How long does it take to get a Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
If you are applying for a Permanent Residence Card at the border for the first time (that is, you are getting landing status) you will receive the card in the mail within 4-6 weeks. So the time to get your Permanent Resident card is about a month and a half. The time for everyone else to get their first PR card in Canada is approximately 6-8 weeks, give or take.
How long does it take renew a Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
If you meet the residency requirements, and there are no issues with your application, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the residence card to be processed. However, if Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) decides to investigate your matter or if they are concerned with your application, the processing time may take longer depending on the nature of the investigation they undertake. There may be up to several months delay.
Once my card is approved, where do I pick up my Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
If you are in Toronto, most likely you will be directed to the CIC office located at Yonge and St. Clair. The exact information will be provided to you in a letter sent by CIC.
When I pick up my Canadian Permanent Resident Card, what documents do I need to take with me?
CIC will send you a letter with a list of documents you will need to provide. But you should be prepared to bring all of the original documents you included in your application.
What do I do if I lost my Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
If you lose your Permanent Resident Card, you must contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada immediately (call 1-888-242-2100 or go to the nearest office) and also make an application for a new card.
How do I change my address on my Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
To change the address on your Permanent Residence Card, you may contact the CIC Call Center at 1-888-242-2100, or you may write to the office notifying them of change of address.
Can I travel or drive to the United States with a Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
It depends. You must meet the requirements to enter the US, including obtaining an entry visa from the US Consulate, as well, if it is suggested that you travel with a valid passport.
Can I travel to the US with an expired Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
This depends on various factors and we recommend that you do not travel with an expired PR card. Generally, if you have a valid US visa and a valid passport, you may be allowed entry into the US if the US immigration officer is satisfied that the purpose of your entry to the United States is only temporary. However, you will most likely encounter difficulty returning to Canada with an expired PR and you may be refused entry to Canada. Please contact one of our lawyers for further information.
Can I travel abroad with an expired Canadian Permanent Resident Card?
We recommend that you obtain a renewal of your card in advance. However, if the nature of your travel is urgent, you may ask for expedited processing of your PR card. You may leave Canada with an expired PR card, however to return you will need to obtain a Travel Permit from a Canadian immigration office abroad.
What do I do if my Canadian Permanent Resident Card expired while I am abroad?
If you are outside Canada and your Permanent Card has expired, you should go to the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate and apply for a Travel Document.
How do I expedite getting my Canadian Permanent Resident Card in case of emergency?
There are various factors that can be used to expedite the processing of the PR card. It is advisable that you contact one of our lawyers for further information.
Any information provided here does not constitute legal advice and is intended for general information only. Should you require legal advise, you are encouraged to contact a lawyer directly. All blog postings are public and are not subject to solicitor/client confidentially
I have lived with my common law spouse for 18 months in the Philippines, In December 07 she applied for a tourist visa to Canada and was denied.
Unfortunately she made a mistake on the application and put her ex husband’s address and hers under both names.
She has been separated for three years.
I want to sponsor her as a common law spouse and we have all the proof and documentation we need.
Will this error on the PR application affect her chance to be sponsored by me as a common law spouse?
I dont want to proceed until I get this question cleared up and it is difficult to get an answer.
Regards,
John F.
Hello John
There are two issues here. Firstly, the fact that you lived overseas with your Common law partner for over one year may make you eligible for a common law sponsorship application. However, proof of your cohabitation together is especially important here given you are living in another country. Also, if you are not a Canadian citizen and only a PR Resident yourself, then you have to return to Canada in order to sponsor her.
Finally, the fact that on her tourist visa she put her X husband’s address on the form may cause credibility problems. This issue can be overcome but has to be dealt with properly.
Michael Niren
I travelled to US during this winter holiday however I forgot to bring my permanent resident (PR) card with me, do you have any idea what are some of my options? Thank you very much!
I’m curious about the whole PR card thing.
My husband is an immigrant, and holds a PR card. His card was due to expire soon, so he completed the renewal application. However, his card expired two days ago, and he has yet to receive the new one.
I asked him if allowing his PR card to expire somehow affects his legal status in Canada. (He’s lived in Canada for the past 20 years.) He said the card isn’t, itself, the record of his legal status, but rather a form of proof of it. Meaning, he is a legal resident of Canada, even if the card has expired.
I looked around the Internet and couldn’t find any information about expired PR cards, other than how it relates to travel.
I’m curious if an expired PR card has any other relevance, other than prohibiting international travel (or, at least, the ability to return to Canada). Is the PR card essentially a travel document, or is not having a valid one grounds for some kind of action against the person?
- Curious…if not a bit worried…
Hello Jodi A
You do not have to worry if your husband remains in Canada after his PR Card expires. He can wait for the renewal while in Canada. Problems may arise if he travels before his PR Card is renewed. If he does, he may have to go to the nearest Canadian consulate to get a travel permit to return to Canada
Hi Wendy
If you forgot your PR card and left Canada, you can go to the nearest Canadian consulate and explain to them the situation and ask for a travel permit to return to Canada.
Hello ,
I have got a Valid Visa for the US. I have not received Canada PR Card. I came back to my home country due to some urgent work. Can I apply for temporary visa from US or from any other country to travel to Canada by road from US?
Thanks and regards
Ajjampur
I am a Canadian citizen living overseas, I want to sponsor my common law spouse. We have all that is required, joint lease, monthly receipts, utility bills, gym membership in both names, we have purchased property in both names, bought a car, have emails, phone bills when I am in Canada showing we talked daily etc.
Other than the fact she put both our address and her husbands in the box for addresson the TRV application I think we are OK, how do we deal with this issue.
Regards,
John.
I have submitted my application for my permanent resident card in Canada under the common-law family class. I have gotten lots of mixed answers but am wondering what the approx total time from when I sent in my paperwork until I would possibly have my permanent resident card in my hand would be. Also, I am applying in Quebec: does speed things up or slow things down any?
Thank you so very much!
My PR card will expire on 12 Jan 2010. I have applied for Renewal of my PR card on 10 Sep 2009. I will be going to India on 15 Jan 2010 and will be back on 15 Apr 2010. On 02 Nov 2009 I have sent photocopy of air ticket to the PR Card Processing Center for urgent processing of my application. According to processing time of the PR card renewal applications I may not receive my new pr card before end of Feb 2010. Please advise whether I can still travel with expired PR card and apply for travel document from abroad before coming back to Canada.
Hello
If you are overseas and you have not received your new PR Card, then you will have to apply for a “facilitation document” (travel document”, at your local Canadian Embassy. There is no guarantee that they will issue you one however. You have to provide a reasonable explanation as to why you did not receive your PR card renewal
Hello, my PR Card is expiring in Feburary 2010 and I am planning on leaving Canada for tow weeks in January. I will be back in Canada Before February. Can I stay in Canada during my card renewal? Is it legal since I won’t be travelling anywhere with my expired card? I read that it takes several weeks or even months to process a new card in some cases. So my question is that is it ok for me to stay in Canada while applying for a new PR card?
Hello
Yes you can remain in Canada while your PR Card renewal application is in process. A PR Card is for travel as a Canadian Permanent Resident. If you are staying in Canada, and not travelling, while your PR Card is in process, then you should have no problems.
Hi
I applied for Canadian immigration and got my PR residence visa in June 2009, afte rwhich I travelled to Canada and landed in Toronto for the first time on 19th Sept 2009 three months back.
The problem is that my PR card has still not arrived at my Canadian friends address that I had given at the airport .I live in Dubai and now I am seriously concerned as how do I get my PR card. I did not intend to move for the next one year. I tried calling on the CIC call centre number but its only to be called from within Canada
What can i do to get my PR card without complications as I have heard that they might not send the PR card to my friends address if they found out that I was not in the country?
Generally, you have to pick up your PR card personally and it is not usually mailed. You have to have a Canadian address but you should pick up your PR card at a local CIC Centre. You may want to hire an immigration lawyer to act on your behalf to investigate this matter.
Hello,
I have a PR card and have almost lived in Canada for 2 years out of the five (almost, by 3 months). I lived here for a year prior on a working/holiday visa.
I need to move back to Denmark in a month or two, for personal reasons, and my canadian fiance is coming with me. We are planning on staying for years and planning on starting a family.
Am I able to travel back to Canada and if I need, to renew my PR card after the 5 years expires? Or do I have to stay exactly 2 year?. What can happen if I don’t?
When renewing your PR card, you have to show that you have resided in Canada for at least 2 years within the 5 year period that your PR card is valid for. However, if this is not the case, you can still be approved for a renewal on humanitarian and compassionate grounds that justify your absence from Canada. Further if you are accompany your spouse who is Canadian the time away from Canada will nevertheless count towards your days for PR.
Hi Michael,
I’m a Filipino citizen, currently in Cebu City, Philippines. I am a permanent resident of Canada. My permanent resident card expires on March 31, 2010 and my husband (Canadian citizen) and our 3 children are returning to Canada April 27, 2010. I have tried asking this question to the Canadian Embassy in Manila – but have not received a response to my email.
Question: Can I apply for a temporary travel document BEFORE my card expires? (I was told in Canada that the card would have to expire before I could apply for a new one – that’s why I ask)
Would I need to travel to Manila to do this, or would the Canadian Consulate in Cebu City be able to help me with this?
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Estrella D.
My husband lost his PR card along with his Canadian drivers license in August of 2009. We sent in the documents in September and after following up for several months have only receive a message from them today stating they need additional documentation. The notice on the website states it takes them 100 plus days to open a letter and we have to leave the country for a couple weeks this June. Is there a way to expedite the process. Could he apply for a visitors visa to Canada just to ensure we would be able to reenter the country in June.
Thanks
Hello
Your husband could apply for a travel permit outside Canada at an Embassy for his return. Regarding his application for a new PR card, I would have to look into this matter and see what could be done to expidite the process.
Hello Estrella
You should be able to apply for a travel document before your card expires. In your application, you should include a cover letter that clearly explains your situation. I am not sure whether the Canadian Consulate in Cebu would accept such applications. A safer bet would be to apply in Manila.
Hi!
I recently lost my PR card. Unfortunately, that PR card would expire this october 2010. Is it possible to just apply for citizenship instead of reapplying for a new card? And is there any way I can get a replacement card ASAP? I have an urgent trip to the US this April.
Thanks.
If you have met the residency requirements for Canadian citizenship the it is possible to apply for citiizenship. Generally, you would need to have resided in Canada for three years within the last four years of applying. You can get a new PR card on an urgent basis. To do this you have to show Immigration your travel plans.
When picking up my first PR card, what if I misplaced my original IMM 1000 document but have the rest of my ID including my passport, health card, etc. Will they still issue my PR card to me?
Not having your IMM 1000 could be a problem. If you have a certified true copy of it then you may be ok–otherwise you may want to apply for a new one first.
Hi,
I’m living in Canada and my PR card will expire on Aug 9, 2010. I’ll need to travel to US for several days in July and will be back on July 13, 2010. Is it ok that I use the PR card to come back to Canada when the card is so close to expiration?
I plan to renew the card at once after I return. I believe that I should be in Canada during the whole renewal process?
Thanks so much.
I sent out the application to renew my PR Card. I sent a copy of my UK Passport.
My problem is that I also need to renew my UK passport due to travel, but what if I am not in possesion of my UK Passport when I need to pick up my new PR Card.
Or if I am in possession of the new UK Passport+the old UK Passport will it be possible to get the new PR card?
Please Help
If you are not in possession of a valid Passport, you may have difficulties obtaining your PR Card. You should have at least a certified true copy of your UK passport. When you are notified to pick up your PR Card, you also may wish to send them a request to postpone the pick up until you get your new UK passport.
Hello,
Generally speaking you can use your current PR card to reenter Canada so long as it remains valid even if close to expiry.
Hello,
I would like to know if it is possible for me to renew my PR Card while I am abroad. I have some business situation that forces me to stay abroad. My PR Card expires in December and I’ve met the residency obligation. Can I complete PR Renewal application forms and receive my PR Card while I am abroad?
Thanks in advance!
Dear Nad,
Please note that you can be outside of Canada when you apply for a renewal of your PR Card. However, you have to come to Canada to pick up your new card once your PR card renewal is approved.
Hope this clarifies the issue.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyers.
hi ,
I have been working in Toronto for last 3 years on a work permit. Now i want to apply for PR here .How do i decide if i should apply under Canadian Experience class or Federal Skilled worker class ?Also my current WP expires on 30th June 2011. If i apply for a PR before that ,can i continue to stay and work here and also travel to India in between ?
Thanks
Hi Rajat,
If you are currently working in Canada, your current employer has made an offer to give you a permanent job if you are accepted as a federal skilled worker (FSW) and your temporary work permit is valid both when you apply for a permanent resident visa and when the visa is issued, it may be easier for you to apply for a FSW with arranged employment. You can apply for both CEC and FSW, but you are required to submit new applications with new fees and will have to choose under which one the permanent resident status will be granted.
However, before making this choice, we would require more information including your work experience in Canada and educational background. For a more detailed evaluation, please feel free to consult one of our immigration lawyers.
Hi,
I just became a PR in Canada. What is going to happen if I want to return to my home country in order to continue my education for about a year or two. What is going to happen to my PR status in Canada? Am I going to lose it?
Thanks.
Hi,
Please help me with some information regarding landing and getting a PR card. My husband and I plan to fly into Canada(Toronto) in mid December as skilled workers. I want to stay in Canada for 3-4 weeks and then get back to the Netherlands. But, my husband can stay longer. Does the issuance of PR take more than 3-4 weeks? Is it possible to fly back without picking up my PR card? Can my husband pick up my PR Card or should I present myself?
Thanks in advance,
Samira
Dear Mary,
When you renew your PR card, you have to have resided in Canada for at least 730 days within the five year period. So, if you are going to be absent only for 3 months, there should not be a problem.
If you are away from Canada for more than 730 days, you won’t be eligible to renew your PR Card. However, you can still be approved for a renewal on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds to justify your absence from Canada.
In addition, if you accompany a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident outside Canada, you may count each day away from Canada towards your days for PR, provided that you meet certain further conditions.
Hope this helps.
Dear Samira,
You have to pick up your PR card in person. If you do not pick up your card within 180 days, it will be cancelled.
If you fly back without your PR Card, you would have to apply for a Travel Document at your local Canadian Embassy to be able to come back to Canada.
If you are applying for a Permanent Residence Card at the border for the first time (that is, you are getting landing status) you will receive the card within 4-6 weeks.
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I applied for my PR in July, 2010 and have not been issued a PR yet. I am planning to visit the Philippines in February, 2011. What do I need to do in order to return to Canada? What is the processing time for PR now?
I have a PR Card, which will expire before I leave for the U.S. by car. Because of the long processing time for a renewal, I will not have received a new PR Card before I leave. I’m traveling by car and have my “Confirmation of Permanent Residence” letter, which shows a validity until 2014. Will that suffice for re-entry into Canada by private vehicle?
What kind of information can we change on a Canadian PR card?
thanks
Hi Gene,
A permanent resident of Canada can apply for a Travel Document issued by a Canadian visa office abroad. It takes about 4-6 weeks to get a PR Card. The current processing time for PR applications is 41 days for newly arriving permanent residents.
Dear Kevin,
If you are outside of Canada when your PR Card expires, you must contact a Canadian Visa office to obtain a Travel Document to enter back into Canada. When appying to the Canadian office abroad to obtain a Travel Document, you would have to show that you have resided in Canada for at least 2 years in the five year period. However, if you have not met this residency requirement, you could make humanitarian and compassionate arguments as to why you have been outside of Canada for longer than two years. The decision to issue you a Travel Document is discretionary and depends on the visa officer reviewing your file.
Hope this helps.
Hi Pawan,
Normally, people like to change their names or addresses.
If you want to change your address, you may contact the CIC Call Center at 1-888-242-2100, or you may write to the office notifying them of change of address.
If you changed your name because of a change of civil status, you must get a new PR card with the updated information.
Hi,
I have Permanent Resident status in Canada. I would really appreciate if you can answer a few queries:
(1) I am in Canada right now and was wondering as to how is one’s residency duration counted.
(3) I applied for sponsorship application to sponsor my wife and when I didnt hear back from the concerned CPC office then they could not find my documents. I checked with the mailing company and its already been delivered. I have been asked to wait for 30 days but I doubt they’ll be able to find the documents. Should I resubmit the application to sponsor my spouse?
Dear Saurabh,
To keep your status as a permanent resident, you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period.
I would follow up with the CPC office after 30 days. If the office still cannot find your material, I would re-send it to avoid any further delays.
Dear Alicia Kim,
Thanks for your reply.
My Canadian PR Card indicates that I am originally from India. However, recently, I got a British passport. I want to go to Canada. Am I going to face any problems at the border because my British passport indicates my Indian nationality?
Dear Pawan,
As Canada recognizes dual citizenship, it should be fine. But, you should bring documentation that demonstrates all your citizenships.
Hi,
I just want to ask if there will be any possibility of visa denial when I apply for a U.S. tourist visa if I have a pending Permanent Resident application in Canada under the FSW category. Thanks!
Dear Romina,
It is possible to pursue a tourist visa application. However, you may have to provide documentation demonstrating your ties to Canada. Since each consulate has its own way of processing applications, it is advisable that you refer to the consular specific instructions for further detail.
Hope this helps.
Someone stole my passport which had my student visa in it. I have a wedding to attend in a month and would like to know the fastest way to get back my student visa. Please help me.