Permanent Resident Card
Note: If you require your PR card urgently, please follow the instructions.
The Permanent Resident Card is the official proof of your status as a permanent resident in Canada.
This wallet-sized plastic card is required for all permanent residents of Canada seeking to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus).
There have been some changes to the look of the PR Card, as well as some of its security features. The new cards began circulating August 24, 2009.
If you are a new permanent resident, you will automatically receive your new card as part of the immigration process. Current permanent residents may apply for a PR Card if they:
- received permanent resident status before June 28, 2002;
- became a permanent resident on or after June 28, 2002 but did not receive a PR Card at that time; or
- need to replace an expired, lost or stolen PR Card.
If you received permanent resident status before June 28, 2002, you were issued an Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000). You may need this document to apply for your first, or replacement, PR Card.
Since June 2002, all new permanent residents automatically receive their first PR Card as part of the immigration process.
Check the expiry date before you plan to travel outside Canada. Current processing times for a PR Card application are on this website.
You can also view the service standard for an initial PR Card. This details the specific level of service you can expect to receive under normal circumstances.
The Permanent Resident Card expires every five years. Check the expiry date and apply for a new one well before you plan to travel outside Canada.
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