The wait to get your permanent residency approved and processed can feel like forever. After all, getting your PR card is not something insignificant. It is a big step in your life as you turn to the country of Canada as your new legal home. You’ve received great news from IRCC about the PR card application status, and you have finally landed in Canada. Now all that’s left to do is get your PR card Canada. But first, let’s understand the basics:
What Is The Permanent Resident Status?Â
A permanent resident of Canada is someone who has been given the status of permanent residentship by the Government of Canada and is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents are citizens of other countries that have chosen to immigrate to Canada and continue their life here. To become a permanent resident, the IRCC must approve your application.Â
What is The Permanent Resident Card?Â
As the name suggests, a PR card is a proof that you have been granted the status of a permanent resident by the IRCC. If and when you leave the country and have to enter again through a commercialized vehicle like airplane, bus, boat or train, you need to present your passport and your Canadian PR card to enter the country again. If you are a permanent resident traveling outside the country without a valid permanent resident card, apply for a permanent resident travel document before you return to the country via any commercial vehicle (get advice before applying so as to not lose your permanent resident status).
The most important thing you need to do is make sure that the IRCC has your valid mailing address in Canada within 180 days of being admitted to the country to receive your permanent resident card. The same goes for anybody who applied for permanent resident status and got it approved but haven’t yet to provide their updated mailing address to the IRCC. If within 180 days, you fail to provide your mailing address to the IRCC, you will need to apply for your PR card again and pay the $50 fee for the card.Â
PR cards are sent to a Canadian address. So, always provide an address where you will be staying for the foreseeable future and, if not, provide the address of family or friends so that you can safely receive your PR card.Â
How Long Does It Take To Get A PR Card After Approval From Canada?Â
If you have applied for your PR card and received news from the IRCC about the approval of your PR card application, the PR card processing time can go up to 45 days. It can easily take 45 days or 6-8 weeks for your PR card to physically reach you, if it is not a renewal case. If you are opting for a PR card renewal, it takes up to 104 days. To keep yourself up to date, check out the IRCC website.
What Should I Do After Landing with PR Status?Â
Once you have received your PR status, it is time to wait for your PR card to arrive in its physical form. Ensure that you have provided the IRCC with a valid address where you will be staying for the next 6 to 8 weeks at least. Or give the address of your family and friends who may be based in Canada.
How Can You Check Your PR Card Status After Landing In Canada?Â
Simply go to the Government of Canada’s website and check your application status to get a better idea about the status of your PR card.
Can I Leave Canada Before Getting My PR Card?Â
You will need a valid PR card to enter Canada again through commercial transportation. If you are aware of your plans beforehand, you must apply for your PR card renewal or wait for it to arrive. Canadian PR cards are sent to only Canadian addresses, and that is why you cannot get them delivered elsewhere. If you are outside Canada without a valid PR card, you will need a PRTD or Permanent Resident Travel Document to enter. You can apply for this from outside of Canada!
How Long Does A PR Card Take To Arrive?Â
If it is a new card, it will take about 6-8 weeks to arrive. If you are waiting for a renewed card, it may take up to 104 days to arrive.Â
Which Countries Can I Visit With Canadian PR?Â
You can visit these destinations without a visa if you have Canadian PR:
- Dutch Caribbean RegionsÂ
- Anguilla
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Qatar
- Saint Maarten
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
How Is The PR Card Delivered?Â
The PR card is delivered via mail to the address provided to the IRCC by you.Â
If you are looking for legal help to help you through the process we at Chaudhary Law Office would be happy to help you.Â
Hello,
I am a Canadian Citizen currently living in Bangladesh. My wife got the PR status when she first landed in Canada in 2006. However, we did not apply for a PR card. My wife got back to Bangladesh in 2006 after living for 6 months in Canada and since then we both have been living in Bangladesh. Now, can she qualify to apply for a PR travel document?
Looking forward to hearing back from you and get valuable advice
Moin Ahmad
Spouse: Advocate Dilshad N. Manna
Hello a PRTD is possible but there may be other options that can help safeguard her permanent resident status, depending on the other circumstances that MR. Chaudhary would probe about your wife’s situation. You can start that process through the link:
https://chaudharylaw.com/book-an-appointment/ (selecting the ‘service’ of 170 or 500).
If you have any questions about the above please let me know.
I am planning to go Canada at AIP programme with PR visa.
In this case how many days will take to get PR card in canada after landing
the target time is eight weeks, but this varies from person to person.
we land in Canada, we will apply for the PR we provide the Canadian address and then come back to native country.
can we get the PR by mail in the native country after received by some of our relative in Canada?
and than enter Canada with PR physically card again?
This works in some cases.
We landed in Canada on 24 March 2023 with COPR from India. The new PR Card processing time says 29 days. We are expected to return to India on 21 April. Will we get the PR card by 21st April if not can we leave Canada and have a friend mail us the PR cards. Will we still need a PRTD to return to Canada?
You need a prtd if you do not have a permanent resident card when boarding an airplane bound for canada
I have applied for the PR card renewal at the end of February (via mail). I still have not received any communication from them (not even an email of confirmation), although the courier confirmed that the application was received. Should I worry? Is it normal that after 60 days still I have no communication from them?
If the permanent resident card renewal is based on accompanying a spouse or working outside of Canada for a Canadian employer, those types of cases take longer than normal
I have applied for the PR card renewal at the end of February (via mail). Is it normal that after 60 days still I have no communication from them?
Some cases have taken 90 days
Hello,
My mom landed in Januray 6th 2023 and became a permanent resident. However, we haven’t received the PR card yet.
What should I do?
The webform can be used and if nothing arises, then the call centre can be used (if you can reach an officer) and if neither of those leads to a response then you may need legal advice.
I landed in canada with my family in July 2022. I provided the address at the boarder and received my PR Card in september and my husband received it in december. However my 3 kids did not receive it to-date!! I Called Ircc they want me to submit a new PR request for my 3 kids. Is this normal?
Unfortunately you likely have to comply with the request.
I got my eCOPR on June 16. It’s been almost a month now but I still haven’t got the physical PR card. The PR portal shows my photo is in review. How long will take to get the card?
some cases have taken eight weeks
Hi I applied for renewal of pr card and I got approved and they have submitted on august 17 and I still didn’t receive my pr card . How long should I wait to get my pr card mailed to me
Sometimes delays are used to help ensure that you are meeting the permanent resident obligation. If you have an urgent reason to have the card issued sometimes you can express that to the authorities in the hope that there will be an expedited process.
I am planning to go Canada at AIP programme with PR visa.
In this case how many days will take to get PR card in Canada after landing , i got to the process to obtain the First PR card is 21 days , please advice.
If leave my family in Canada and I travel outside Canada to settle other things in India , how can I return ?
In this case my family gets their PR ? and how about myself?
Hello your questions unfortuately do not provide sufficient background to allow a response, but you can email your question to the email address contained in the webform at https://www.chaudharylaw.com