Detailed Guide to Canada PR Card

Canada is one of the most welcoming countries for permanent residents, which is why people from all over the world apply for permanent resident status here. A Permanent Resident (PR) card is an essential document for anyone who holds PR status in Canada. It serves as proof of your residency and allows you to travel in and out of the country freely.

In this article, we will explain the process of obtaining a Permanent Resident (PR) card in Canada, the eligibility requirements, the application steps, and how to renew or replace your card if necessary.

Table of contents

• What is a Canada PR Card?
• How to Obtain a Canada PR Card On Arrival?
• Canada PR Card Renewal
• Canada PR Card photo requirements
• Get Your Canada PR Card Photo Online
• Take Your PR Card Photo With a Phone
• Canada PR Card Costs

What is a Canada PR Card?

Permanent Residence Canada (the so-called "Maple Leaf Card") allows to live and work in Canada, enjoying the same rights and social benefits as Canadian citizens. At the same time, they do not receive a Canadian passport: it is only possible with citizenship.

You can obtain a PR Card of Canada on a Permanent Resident Visa by starting the process directly at the airport.

What does the Canadian PR card provide? The main features are as follows:

• Health insurance;
• Ability to live anywhere in Canada;
• Study;
• Work;
• Apply for Canadian citizenship.

If you're traveling outside of Canada, you must show your PR card when returning to the country. If you don’t have a valid PR card or travel document, you may not be allowed back into Canada.

The PR card is typically valid for five years, though in some cases, it may be issued for just one year. It's important to renew your card before it expires if you plan to travel outside Canada.

How to Obtain a Canada PR Card On Arrival?

Canada permanent residence is granted on an immigrant visa, which is issued to the following categories of people:

• Family Class;
• Independent applicants;
• Refugees;
• Entrepreneurs;
• Investors and some others.

New permanent residents do not need to apply for a PR card separately. The card is automatically issued after you are granted permanent resident status.

At the port of entry (such as an airport or land border), you will meet with a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer who will verify your immigration documents and confirm your status as a permanent resident.

To receive your PR card, you must provide a valid Canadian address to immigration authorities. This is essential, as the PR card will be mailed to the address you provide. You can give the address directly to the officer when you land, or update your address online through the IRCC website within 180 days. You can provide the address of your rented accommodation, hotel reservations. The address of your friends is also acceptable if you plan to stay with them. The original of your Permanent Residence Canada card will arrive at the address you provided.

Immigration Canada staff will give you paperwork, including the IMM5292 form. Before you receive your PR card, this document will verify that you are legally in Canada. You will also need this form when you apply for a number of Canadian documents, including citizenship.

The PR card will be processed automatically and mailed to the provided address. The typical PR card wating time is about 45 to 90 days, but this may vary based on processing volumes or specific situations. During this period, you have a status of a permanent resident, even if you don’t yet have your physucal PR card. You can still access benefits and services as a permanent resident, but you may face travel restrictions without the card. In case of emergency travel, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) at a Canadian visa office abroad to re-enter Canada.

The Canada PR Card application fee is zero. You do not have to pay for its processing.

You can track the status of your application or immigration document replacement here.

Learn more about the process of obtaining a card at this link.

Canada PR Card Renewal

To renew your Canada PR card, you must meet the residency requirement of having been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within the last five years and still hold permanent resident status. Gather required documents, including your current or expired PR card, a copy of your passport or travel document, two passport-sized photos, and proof of residency (such as pay stubs or tax returns). Then, complete the application form (IMM 5444) and pay the $50 CAD renewal fee online.

Here you can find detailed guidelined on how to apply for a PR Card online .

Once your documents are ready, mail your completed application to the address provided on the IRCC website. Processing typically takes 45 to 90 days, and you can track the status online. Be sure to submit your application at least six months before your PR card expires to avoid delays.

If you need to travel outside Canada while your renewal is being processed, you will require a valid PR card to re-enter. If your card hasn’t arrived and you must leave, apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) at a Canadian visa office abroad to return to Canada.

Canada PR Card Photo Requirements

The PR card photo criteria are the same as the Canadian passport photo requirements. If the image provided does not meet the stated parameters, IRCC may reject your application.

Follow the criteria below:

• The required PR Card photo size is 50x70 mm;
• The photo can be either in color or in black and white;
• The photo must be free of shadows, highlights and other flaws;
• The facial expression must be neutral;
• The picture background card must be white;
• Vision glasses with transparent lenses are acceptable;
• Headwear is only allowed for religious beliefs.
• Photos must be printed with your name and date of birth on the back of the card;
• You must provided a recent picture to be easily identified.

Here is an example:

Get Your Canada PR Card Photo Online

With Visafoto's online photo editor, you can have your PR card picture ready in just a couple of minutes. This is especially convenient if you are abroad. Thanks to the online service, you can take your document photo from any location, 24/7! Simply take a selfie or ask someone to take your picture, upload it to Visafoto, and download a ready-to-apply PR card photo for Canada.

First, take a photo of yours under daylight like this one:

You will get 2 files: a digital one (you can use it for other ID applications in the future) and a printable template.

Take Your PR Card Photo With a Phone

Wondering, “Where can I take a PR card photo?” Skip the trips to the photo studio and use the 7ID Photo App, the mobile version of Visafoto. Simply take a clear photo, upload it to the app, select the country and document type, and the app will resize the image to meet the PR card photo requirements. For digital submissions, your photo needs to be 1200×1680 pixels, with half of the image's height being your head. For printed photos, the size is adjusted to 5×7 cm.

Canada PR Card Costs

The Canada Permanent Resident card fees are as follows:

• New PR Card (for new permanent residents): There is no fee for first-time PR card issuance when you are granted permanent resident status.
• The fee to renew or replace an existing PR card is $50 CAD. This fee applies if your card is expiring, expired, lost, stolen, or damaged.

PR Card fees must be paid online through the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website when submitting your application.

Last Update: October 2024