How to Apply for a PR Card (Permanent Resident Card)
New permanent residents get their first PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ automatically after landing — no application needed. Renewals and replacements use paper form IMM 5444, cost $50, and take about 3 months. You must be in Canada to apply and to collect the card.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Know when you do and do not apply
You do NOT apply for your first card — IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ mails it automatically after you land as a PR (allow up to 180 days; update your address within 180 days of landing via the IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ web form if you move). You DO apply for renewals (cards expire every 5 years) and replacements (lost, stolen, damaged, or legal name change). You must be physically in Canada when you apply and when the card is delivered.
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- Go 30 min to gather records
Meet the residency obligation
To renew, you must have been physically in Canada at least 730 days in the last 5 years (or be within 5 years of landing and on track). Days can also count if working abroad for a Canadian company or accompanying a Canadian citizen. IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ checks this — keep travel records, boarding passes, and employment letters.
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- Fill / Prepare 1–2 hours
Complete form IMM 5444
The form covers your personal history, addresses for 5 years, employment, and travel history. List every absence from Canada with dates. Do not sign the form until instructed — it must be signed in front of the process (or as directed by the instruction guide) and any sections for a representative completed.
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- Submit & Pay 1 day + mail time
Pay the $50 fee and mail the package
Pay online via the IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ payment tool, print the receipt, and include it with your form, photos, and copy of your passport bio page. Mail to the PR CardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Keep tracking numbers — lost files mean starting over.
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- Wait 10–14 weeks
Wait and watch for the decision letter
Renewals take about 10–14 weeks; new cards after landing take up to 6 months. IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ may ask for extra documents (a "document request letter") — respond by the deadline or the application closes. Check status online with your UCI/application number.
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- Follow Up Varies
If your card expires while abroad
A PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ is only a travel document for returning to Canada commercially. If it expired while you are outside Canada, apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) at the nearest visa office — you must still meet the 730-day rule. Do not board a flight to Canada without a valid PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ or PRTD.
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- Receive —
Activate your card
Your new PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ arrives by mail at your Canadian address and works immediately — no activation needed. Check the name and expiry date. Keep your landing paper (Confirmation of Permanent Residence / COPRConfirmation of Permanent Residence — The document (now usually electronic, eCOPR) proving you were approved for Canadian permanent residence.Click for official info ↗) forever: it is your legal proof of status even if the card is lost.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I travel with an expired PR card?
Not back to Canada on a commercial carrier — airlines require a valid PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ or PRTD before boarding. Inside Canada and for exiting by land to the US, your expired card plus other ID is usually fine for carriers, but you will need a PRTD or valid card to return.
I did not get my first card after landing. What do I do?
If 180 days have passed since landing and no card arrived, submit the IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ web form with your landing details. The most common cause is an old address — cards are not forwarded by Canada Post.
My card was lost or stolen. Is the replacement process the same?
Yes, but you must also report the loss. Use the same IMM 5444 form, tick "replacement", include the fee, and if it was stolen attach the police report number if you have one.
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