Citizenship / PR Card

Canada Citizenship / PR Card

Your journey to becoming fully integrated in Canada culminates with obtaining your PR Card and eventually, Canadian Citizenship. The PR Card serves as your official proof of Permanent Resident status, a vital document for re-entering Canada from abroad, and is typically valid for five years. Once you have established your roots and met the residency requirements—which include being physically present in Canada for a certain number of days—we guide you through the process of applying for citizenship.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Application for a permanent resident card

Once approved for Canadian permanent residence, individuals can get a permanent resident card (PR card). The validity of this PR card is usually for five years, but in some rare cases, it may be valid for one year only. This card can be a valid travel document for visiting Canada’s borders. It is recommended that permanent residents get their PR card; with this card, they get permission to travel outside Canada’s borders and show proof of status if needed. If your PR card expires, it does not mean your permanent resident status also expires. If a person goes through a legal procedure, that time they can only lose their PR status. Even if you do not meet the permanent resident residency obligation, your PR status can be affected until a legal decision is made on your status.

A Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) can be applied by those permanent residents who have no valid PR card and are outside of Canada but wish to visit Canada.
The PRTD provides the facility to visit Canada, where individuals can apply for a PR card renewal or replacement.

Permanent Resident Card Application

New permanent residents do not need to apply for a PR card. They will be automatically mailed a PR card when they immigrate to Canada and determine their Canadian mailing address.

Only individuals who meet one of the following criteria must apply for a PR card:

You didn’t receive your PR card within 180 days of immigrating to Canada.
Your PR card is expired or will expire in less than nine months
Your PR card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or.
You legally changed your name and need to update your PR card.
PR card applications must be submitted in hard copy to one of IRCC’s specified case Processing Centres for PR cards.

The Canadian permanent resident card used to be called the Maple Leaf Card. This is because the card used to include a printed maple leaf, Canada’s national symbol.

Urgent Processing PR Card

In certain situations, it may be possible for the Canadian government to expedite processing of a permanent resident card. To qualify for urgent permanent resident card processing, you must be traveling within the next three months due to the following:

A job opportunity.
Your serious illness.
The death of a family member.
* Work related to your current job or.
The serious illness of a family member.

It should be remembered that even if an individual is eligible for an urgent procedure, the Canadian government cannot promise they will process applications urgently or that PR cards will be received at the exact time. It’s, therefore, recommendable for emergencies to always keep a valid PR card.

If your PR card is reaching the expiry date, and you have not yet appealed for Canadian citizenship, in this case, you may be able to apply for a permanent residence card renewal.