Permanent Resident Card
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/index.asp
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).
Since June 2002, all new permanent residents automatically receive their first Permanent Resident Card as part of the immigration process.
If you came to Canada as a permanent resident before June 2002, you were issued an Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000). This is one of the documents you may need to support your application for your first, or replacement, Permanent Resident Card.
If you received permanent resident status before June 28, 2002, you may apply for a Permanent Resident Card. This also applies if you became a permanent resident after this date and did not receive a card at that time, or you need to replace an expired, lost or stolen card.
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.
Learn about:
The above links explain how to obtain, renew or replace a Permanent Resident Card. To learn about being a permanent resident in Canada, see About being a permanent resident in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
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You are eligible for a Permanent Resident Card only if you have entered Canada through the immigration process and have been granted permanent resident status. You can find out more about being a permanent resident in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
If you become a Canadian citizen, you do not need a Permanent Resident Card.
You can apply for a Permanent Resident Card if:
you are a permanent resident of Canada and
you are not a Canadian citizen or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
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You will need to gather certain documents to obtain your first Permanent Resident Card, or replace one that is expired, lost or stolen. Collect these documents as early as possible, especially if you plan to travel soon. You can check application processing times in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
The information on this page is for you if:
If you are applying to immigrate to Canada, you do not need to apply for a card using the process on this page. Your Permanent Resident Card will be issued to you as part of the immigration process.
If you had permanent resident status in Canada before the Permanent Resident Card was introduced in June 2002, and you still have permanent resident status, follow the steps below to apply for your Permanent Resident Card.
1. Obtain an application kit
You can download and print the application kit you need from Find an application form or guide in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. The application you need is called Permanent Resident Card.
You can also ask for an application to be mailed to you (in Canada only) by contacting the CIC Call Centre.
2. Read the guide
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure that you are eligible for a Permanent Resident Card before you submit your application.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents
Follow the instructions in the guide. Be sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application will not be processed. It will be returned to you with a request for the missing information.
Include the following documents with your application:
Your Permanent Resident Card (if your card has expired or if the information on it is out of date or inaccurate).
A copy of your valid passport or travel document, or a copy of the passport or travel document you held at the time you became a permanent resident. Please note that if photocopies are not clear, your application will be returned to you.
Photos. Consult the Photo Specifications Appendix in the guide for more information. If your photos do not meet our requirements, they will not be accepted.
Any other identity documents specified in the Document Checklist (which is part of the application kit). Please follow the directions in the Document Checklist closely.
4. Pay the fee and get the original receipt
You can pay the fee at most banks in Canada.
You can also pay online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Be sure to print your IMM 5401 receipt of payment form and include it with your application. Note that some credit cards issued outside of North America are not compatible with the online payment system.
5. Mail the application form and documents
The application kit will provide the address for mailing your application. Be sure your application is complete. Include the original receipt for your application fee and all other supporting documents outlined in the document checklist.
Lost, stolen, destroyed or expired immigration documents issued by the Government of Canada can be replaced. To have documents replaced, you must complete an application and pay the $50 processing fee.
If your Permanent Resident Card is lost, stolen or destroyed, immediately contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page). If your card has simply expired (or is due to expire), you do not need to contact the Call Centre.
You will have to complete an application for a new Permanent Resident Card. Follow the steps for How to apply for your Permanent Resident Card on this page.
Complete your application as instructed in How to apply for your Permanent Resident Card on this page.
Include a copy of your plane tickets with your application, and write “Urgent—Proof of travel included” on your envelope. An agent from the processing centre will examine your application quickly. Your travel itinerary will not be accepted as proof of travel.
If you mailed your application before the processing times posted on our website and have not yet received your card, please send us the following information by fax at (514) 496‑8670:
surname and given name
client ID number (if available)
date of birth
home address
telephone number
email address (if applicable)
date you mailed your application (if applicable, include the tracking number) and
a copy of your plane ticket.
If all these requirements are met, we will examine your request and contact you within two business days to inform you whether it is possible to speed up the process.
You can check the status of your application by contacting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre or by going to Check how long it may take to process my case in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
If your application is complete and you meet the requirements for permanent resident status, you will receive a letter telling you where to pick up your Permanent Resident Card in person.
When you pick up your card, you must provide proof of your identity. Please bring with you the original versions of the documents you sent with your application.
CIC will not process incomplete applications. If your application is incomplete, it will be returned to you with a letter. The letter will tell you what information you still need to provide or what fees you still need to pay.
You must return the application after you have added the missing information or fees that are described in the letter. Your application for a Permanent Resident Card will be processed after CIC receives the missing information and fees with the application.
If you do not provide all the required information or fees, your application will be returned again with all other information and fees that you have sent. This will further delay the processing of your application.
Frequently asked questions:Permanent Resident Card
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1, Who is a permanent resident?
2, I am immigrating to Canada. When will I receive my Permanent Resident Card?
3, What if I’m already a permanent resident? How long does it take Citizenship and Immigration Canada to process my application for a new or replacement Permanent Resident Card?
4, What documents do I need to apply for my first card, or to replace my Permanent Resident Card?
5, How will my card be delivered to me?
6, Can the Permanent Resident Card be mailed to me if the Citizenship and Immigration Canada office is far away?
7, Will other government agencies in Canada ask to see my card?
8, Why did Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduce the Permanent Resident Card?
9, How does the Permanent Resident Card improve the ability of Citizenship and Immigration Canada to secure Canada’s borders?
10, Do I require a Permanent Resident Card if I’m returning to Canada by car?
11, What happens if my card expires while I am outside Canada?
12, Do children of permanent residents need a Permanent Resident Card too?
13, If I have been granted citizenship, what happens to my Permanent Resident Card?
1, Who is a permanent resident?
A permanent resident is a person who has immigrated to Canada. To keep permanent resident status, a permanent resident must live in Canada for at least two years in a five-year period. Learn more about being a permanent resident of Canada in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
You should receive your card within four weeks of officially entering the country as an immigrant. If you do not have a mailing address when you arrive in Canada, you must provide your address to Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC) as soon as possible by contacting the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page). You will receive your card about four weeks after you give your address to CIC.
Go to Check how long it may take to process my case in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Incomplete applications will cause a delay, so please check that your application is complete and that it includes all the documents required to be processed.
The Document Checklist in the application guide explains all the documents you need. The application guide is under Find an application form or guide in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
If you are a new permanent resident, you will receive your Permanent Resident Card by mail.
If you are already a permanent resident and are applying for a first card, or if you are replacing a card, you must pick up your card in person to confirm your identity. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office closest to where you live will send you a notice by postal delivery when the card is ready. The notice will tell you how to make an appointment to pick up your card. Your Permanent Resident Card will be cancelled if you do not pick it up within 180 days of receiving the notice from CIC. If your card is cancelled, you will need to apply again and pay another application fee.
If you are already a permanent resident and you are applying for your first Permanent Resident Card, or if you are replacing a card, you must pick up your card in person to confirm your identity.
If you are unable to go to your appointment to pick up your card, you should contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page) and explain your situation. Do this at least a day before the appointment to pick up your card.
Other government agencies may ask to see your Permanent Resident Card to confirm your status in Canada. Your status as a permanent resident may need to be confirmed to receive some programs and services. Please keep this card in a safe place when it is not in use.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced the Permanent Resident card to:
increase border security
improve the integrity of the immigration process and
provide holders with secure proof of their permanent residence status when re-entering Canada on a commercial carrier (plane, train, boat and bus).
9, How does the Permanent Resident Card improve the ability of Citizenship and Immigration Canada to secure Canada’s borders?
The card gives holders reliable proof of their permanent residence status in Canada. The high-tech security features make the card extremely resistant to tampering or duplication. The card simplifies document screening for transportation officials because all permanent residents must produce the card when boarding a commercial carrier to Canada.
The Permanent Resident Card is required to re-enter Canada by commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus) only. This requirement does not apply if you are travelling by car.
If you wish to return to Canada and don’t have a valid Permanent Resident Card, you will need to obtain a permanent resident travel document from a Canadian visa office abroad. For a list of visa offices, go to Find a CIC office in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. An application kit is available in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. Once you return to Canada, you should apply for a Permanent Resident Card.
Yes. Every permanent resident seeking to return to Canada by commercial transportation needs a Permanent Resident card. However, children of permanent residents who were born in Canada are Canadian citizens and need a Canadian passport to travel, not a Permanent Resident Card.
Once a grant of citizenship is awarded, you are no longer a permanent resident and your card will be revoked.
This application is for people with permanent resident status in Canada, who are applying for their first Permanent Resident card (PR card) or for a renewal or replacement of a PR card.
The PR card is a status document that provides secure proof of permanent resident status.
The following changes are now in effect:
Permanent Card applicants are no longer required to obtain the signature of a guarantor or make a statutory declaration in lieu of a guarantor.
Permanent residents applying to renew their PR card:
may hold on to their still valid PR card and return it to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada officer when they pick up their new card;
should return it with the application for a new card, if the card has already expired.
In all cases, a replacement card will not be issued until the previous card is returned or otherwise accounted for.
Some of the files below are available as Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If the Adobe download site is not accessible to you, you can download Acrobat Reader from an accessible page. You can also visit the Adobe site for online conversion tools for PDF documents.
This application includes the following items:
Instruction Guide [IMM 5445]
> also in PDF format PDF, 640 KB
Application for a Permanent Resident Card [IMM 5444] PDF, 252 KB
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] PDF, 55 KB
Document Checklist [IMM 5574] PDF, 59 KB
Supplementary Identification [IMM 5455]
You will need an original Supplementary Identification form for each person applying for a PR Card.
Fees Receipt [IMM 5401]
You have two options to obtain a fee receipt.
Pay your fees at a financial institution in Canada
You will need an original fee receipt.
Complete our online order form to obtain the Supplementary Identification form, the fee receipt form or a complete application by mail.
If you are unable to or do not wish to use the online order form, you may also order by contacting our Call Centre.