Permanent Resident Cards
Permanent Resident Cards
A permanent resident enjoys nearly the same benefits as Canadian citizens. However, unlike citizens, they must maintain their status by meeting certain requirements like renewing their PR card and maintaining the residency obligation. Residency obligation is simply meeting a specific number of days (at least 730 days within a five-year period) that a Permanent resident has to be physically present in Canada.
In some situations, time spent outside Canada may be factored in as part of your residency obligation.
An immigrant is eligible to apply for a Canadian permanent residency card once they become a permanent resident in Canada. The permanent residence card can be used to travel in and out of Canada in order to show proof of status, renewed (after five years or one year in rare cases) and replaced if stolen.
A permanent resident without a valid PR card but is outside Canada and need to travel back to Canada, may apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD).
Permanent Resident Travel Document (PTRD) is used to facilitate return to Canada by a permanent resident who does not have a valid PR card and intends to return to Canada by airplane, boat, train, or bus. A PRTD is often valid for a single entry. The purpose
When To Apply For a PR Card
Generally, new permanent residents are not required to apply for their first PR card. As part of the immigration process, a PR card will be automatically mailed to addresses of applicants as soon as they arrive in Canada. However, you may apply for a new permanent resident card if any of the following applies to you.
- Have an expired PR card or will expire in less than nine months (PR cards valid for more than nine (9) months are not eligible for renewal)
- Didn't receive your PR card within 180 days of entry into Canada
- A legal name changed
- Issued PR card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed
Application Eligibility
PR card applications can not be made from abroad, it must be submitted in hard copy to any of IRCC's specified Case Processing Centres for PR cards.
To be eligible for a PR card, an applicant must:
- be a permanent resident of Canada
- be physically present
- meet residency obligation
- not be a Canadian citizen
- not be under an effective removal order or convicted of an offense relating to PR card misuse
To submit the PR card application, you will need:
- Filled necessary forms
- Copy of Identity documents
- Photos (that follow immigration photo specification)
- A copy of current PR card (if applying to renew)
Bear in mind that there might be other requirements based on your particular situation.
You should apply for a new PR card if...
you didn't receive your PR card within 180 days of entry into Canada or your PR card has been stolen, lost, expired, or destroyed.