Frequently Asked Questions - Permanent Resident Card
I’m a new permanent resident of Canada. Do I need to apply for a permanent resident (PR) card?
No. You will automatically receive your first permanent resident card by mail. That is part of the immigration process.
Within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident, you must send your Canadian address to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) using our Address notification tool. CIC will then mail your first card to you, within four to six weeks. If you do not send CIC your address within 180 days, the PR card will be cancelled and you will have to apply for a new one.
Who can apply for a permanent resident card?
To apply for a permanent resident card, you must:
- be a permanent resident of Canada;
- be physically present in Canada;
- not have been asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country; and
- not be a Canadian citizen or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
When should I apply for a permanent resident card?
You should apply for a permanent resident card if:
- you intend to travel outside Canada;
- you did not get your permanent resident card after you gave CIC your Canadian mailing address, and it has been more than 180 days since you entered Canada; or
- your card was lost, stolen or destroyed, and you want a new one.
How do I renew my permanent resident card?
To renew your permanent resident card, you must:
- fill out a Supplementary Identification Form (IMM 5455);
- fill out an Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444); and
- send both forms in the same envelope to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
How long will it take to process my permanent resident card?
Check the current processing times for information.
How much does a permanent resident card cost?
It costs C$50 per person to apply for a permanent resident card.
How do I pay the fee for my permanent resident card?
You can pay:
- online with a credit card; or
- at a financial institution (such as a bank)
- before going to the bank, you will need to get an official Fees Receipt (form IMM 5401). You can order this form online or from the Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.
No other payment method is accepted.
Will I get my permanent resident card by mail?
New permanent residents inside Canada
Yes. If you are a new permanent resident, you will get your permanent resident card by mail.
New permanent residents outside Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not mail permanent resident cards to addresses outside Canada.
Existing permanent residents inside Canada
Starting April 30, 2012, CIC will be running a one-year pilot project to send permanent resident cards to most applicants directly by mail. However, some permanent residents will still be required to pick up their PR card at the local CIC office as part of a quality assurance exercise.
When the local office gets your card, staff will contact you to schedule an appointment to pick it up. If you cannot go to your appointment to pick up your card, contact the Call Centre and explain your situation. Do this at least a day before your appointment. If you do not pick up the card at the local office within 180 days, the card will be destroyed and you will have to re-apply.
Should I submit passport photos with my permanent resident card application?
No. Permanent resident card photos are not the same as passport photos. Here are the specifications for permanent resident card photos.
I urgently need to leave Canada. How can I get a permanent resident card quickly?
If you have not yet applied for a permanent resident card
If you have not yet applied for a permanent resident card:
- send by registered mail an Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444) to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia;
- include a photocopy of your plane, bus, train or boat ticket (if this is not available, send a travel itinerary or e-ticket with proof of partial or full payment for the ticket); and
- write URGENT - Proof of travel on the envelope (if you use registered mail or a courier, please write the same thing on the outside envelope).
There is no guarantee that the card will be ready before you leave. However, CIC will try to process your application as quickly as possible.
If you have already applied for a permanent resident card
Fax this information to 1 (514) 496-8670:
- a photocopy of your plane, bus, train or boat ticket (if this is not available, send a travel itinerary or e-ticket with proof of partial or full payment for the ticket);
- the tracking number of your envelope, if you have sent your application by registered mail or by courier;
- your first and last names;
- your client identification number (if available);
- your date of birth;
- your home address;
- your telephone and/or fax number;
- your e-mail address; and
- the date you sent your application.
CIC will e-mail, call or fax you within two business days of getting your fax. There is no guarantee that the card will be ready before you leave. However, CIC will try to process your application as quickly as possible.
I need to leave Canada and I do not have a permanent resident card. Can I later re-enter Canada?
If you plan to return in a non-private vehicle, such as a plane or bus
If you plan to return to Canada in a commercial vehicle–such as a plane, train, boat or bus–you must apply for a travel document for permanent residents at a Canadian visa office abroad before returning to Canada. The travel document is only valid for one entry.
See a list of visa offices outside Canada.
If you return in a private vehicle, such as your own car
If you return to Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, you do not need a permanent resident card. You can use your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) instead. An officer will ask you questions to make sure you meet all of the residency requirements before allowing you to come back to Canada.
When you return to Canada, apply for a permanent resident card if you intend to travel outside Canada again.
What happens if my permanent resident card expires while I am outside Canada?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not mail permanent resident cards to addresses outside Canada.
If you want to return to Canada and you do not have a valid permanent resident card, you will need to get a permanent resident travel document. Send an Application for a Travel Document to a Canadian visa office abroad. Once you return to Canada, apply for a permanent resident card if you intend to travel outside Canada again.
How can I avoid delays or refusals in processing my permanent resident card application?
To avoid delays or a refusal, ensure that you:
- properly fill out and sign the application form(s),
- fill out Section F (Solemn Declaration) if your card was
- lost,
- stolen,
- destroyed or
- never received;
- include all the documents listed on the Document Checklist at the end of the form;
- include the supplementary identification form;
- pay
- include the proof of payment with your application.
If I am granted citizenship, what happens to my permanent resident card?
Once you are granted citizenship, you are no longer a permanent resident. CIC will collect your PR card at the citizenship ceremony.