Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) is the official proof of your status as a permanent resident in Canada and it is also a travel document.

A PR Card is a document required by permanent residents, including children, who plan on travelling outside of Canada and returning to Canada by any commercial transporter, such as a plane, train, boat or bus. The PR card can be renewed every five years but renewal is not mandatory.

Assessing your eligibility

To be eligible for a PR Card, you must:

• be a permanent resident of Canada
• be physically present in Canada
• not be under an effective removal order
• not be a Canadian citizen or a registered Indian under the Indian Act and
• not be convicted of an offense related to the misuse of a PR card

The PR card can be revoked if:

• a new card is issued;
• the permanent resident becomes a Canadian Citizen or loses permanent resident status;
• the permanent resident dies; or
• the PR card is lost, stolen, or destroyed.

Permanent Residents outside of Canada 

If you are currently outside Canada and do not have a valid PR Card to return to Canada, you will need to obtain a travel document from a Canadian visa office.