Identifications for Permanent Residents (18:VI)

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 5, 2024.

A. Permanent Resident Cards

Since June 28, 2002, all new permanent residents of Canada are issued a Permanent Resident Card (“PR Card”). The PR Card is proof of the individual’s status in Canada as a permanent resident and is required when travelling to Canada by commercial carrier or commercial airline. In general, a permanent resident of Canada cannot return to Canada by commercial carrier or commercial airline without their valid PR Card. In order for a permanent resident without a valid PR Card to return to Canada, they would need to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). The current fee application for a PR Card is $50, which must be paid each time a card is renewed or replaced.

In general, the PR Card is valid for five years from the date of issue. To maintain the permanent resident status, an individual needs to comply with residency obligation under IRPA s 28. For more information, see the Residency Obligation section below.

When a permanent resident becomes a citizen of Canada, they must return the PR Card to IRCC at the citizenship ceremony.

A permanent resident should only apply for a PR Card in one of the following situations:

• their PR Card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months;
• their PR Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed;
• they did not receive their PR Card within 180 days of immigrating to Canada; or
• they need to update the PR Card to legally change their name, change their citizenship, change their gender designation, or correct their date of birth.

If a permanent resident finds a mistake on their PR Card, they can request IRCC to issue a new PR Card. Please note shortening a long name to fit the PR card is not considered a mistake.

For more information about the application process, please see the IRCC website.

NOTE: A permanent resident without a valid PR Card is still a permanent resident. Their legal status in Canada will not necessarily change as the card expires.

NOTE: New permanent residents are not required to apply for a PR Card upon arriving in Canada. The IRCC will automatically send a PR Card once a mailing address is provided to the IRCC by the permanent resident.

B. Permanent Resident Travel Document ("PRTD")

A PRTD is a document that permanent residents can use to re-enter Canada when they do not possess a PR Card, as their PR Cards may be expired when they are outside of Canada. A PRTD is normally only valid for one single entry. Accordingly, permanent residents should apply for a new PR Card as soon as they return to Canada. To apply for a new PR Card, the permanent resident must demonstrate they meet the residency obligation under IRPA s 28.

Please note that a permanent resident can only apply for a PRTD when they do not have a valid PR Card, are outside of Canada, and will return to Canada by airplane, boat, train or bus.

Applications for a PRTD are now processed online. Review the instruction guide and document checklist to determine what documents are required for application. Once you have uploaded the documents and filled in the application form, you will have to pay a $50 application fee with a receipt or proof of payment. You will be required to submit this through the permanent residence portal.

For more information about the application process, please see the IRCC website.

Applications by paper are typically restricted for applicants who require accommodations or who have accessibility issues with the online application. Applications by paper may be possible where a visa application centre (“VAC”) accepts paper applications by mail or in person. Please contact your nearest VAC if you are interested in applying by paper.

NOTE: In limited circumstances, a permanent resident can request urgent processing of their PR Card. See the IRCC website for more information.

C. Other Identifications

As mentioned above, a permanent resident requires a valid PR card or PRTD to re-enter Canada by a commercial vehicle, such as an airplane, bus, train, or boat. However, permanent residents may enter Canada via the land border in a private vehicle with a passport and proof of their permanent residence status (i.e. their expired PR card and/or their Confirmation of Permanent Residence "landing" document ("COPR"). Some examples of private vehicles include, but are not limited to: cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles that you own, borrow, or rent, and that are not available for public use.

For more information, please refer to the website of Canada Border Services Agency.

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