Prepare for arrival – Sponsor your spouse, partner or children

When you arrive in Canada, you must show your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your permanent resident visa to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officer at the point of entry to Canada. The officer will make sure your travel and immigration documents are correct.

• The CIC officer will check that your permanent resident visa has not expired. The expiry date is shown on the visa. You cannot use the visa after the expiry date. Permanent residence visas cannot be extended, so make sure you use it within the time limit.
• You must bring with you a valid passport or travel documents. If presenting a passport, it must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic government service or a public affairs passport.
• You will have to answer questions like the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. The CIC officer asks these questions to verify certain information on the application.
• You must inform the visa officer of any funds you are bringing into Canada (cash, stocks, bonds, money orders, traveller’s cheques, etc.).

If there are no problems when you arrive in Canada, the CIC officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also use the address on your COPR to have your permanent resident card mailed to you. Make sure your Canadian address on the COPR is correct.

Permanent residents are given the permanent resident card as proof of their status in Canada. Your card will be mailed to your Canadian address after you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident.