Do I need to apply for my Permanent Resident Card?

All newly arriving immigrants will receive the PR Card as part of the immigration process.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will mail your PR Card to you, after the information and photograph on your Confirmation of Permanent Residence document is confirmed by a IRCC official when you arrive in Canada.

If you did not provide your mailing address to IRCC at the point of entry, do so as soon as possible. You can update your address online or you can contact the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

If you do not provide Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) your address within 180 days of the date of your admission, you will need to reapply for your PR Card and pay the applicable fee.

Do I need a PR Card?

It is not mandatory that you have a PR Card, unless you are going to travel and return to Canada on a commercial carrier (by land, sea or air).

For more information, read Do I really need the PR Card to travel back to Canada? and I need to leave Canada but do not have my PR card yet. What should I do?

How can I renew or apply for a PR Card?

If you need to replace or renew your PR Card, or if you landed before 2002 and never got a PR Card, you can download the Guide and Application Form for the Permanent Resident Card from IRCC's website.

If you need help to fill out the application form, contact a local settlement agency. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "settlement services" in your area.

Your application will be processed (see current processing times) and your PR Card will be mailed to you. In some cases, you may get a letter from IRCC asking you to pick up your PR card at a local IRCC office.

IMM 1000 Holders

Do not throw away your IMM 1000 document, even after you get your PR Card. It is still an important document that you will need for future use (for example, citizenship and pension applications). Make sure you keep it in a safe place, with other important documents you have.

Who is eligible for the PR Card?

According to the Guide, to be eligible for a Permanent Resident 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.

For More Information

Permanent Resident Card Guide and Application Form - This application is for permanent residents who are applying for an initial, renewal or replacement Permanent Resident Card.
Rights and Responsibilities for Permanent Residents - Find out what you need to know about living in Canada as a permanent resident.
IRCC Help Centre - A tool that helps answer frequently asked questions on immigration matters. It offers several ways of searching through the information available, including search by keyword. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - The federal department responsible for Canadian immigration, refugees and citizenship. Its website has information on immigration policy, programs and services, application kits, and more.