A Permanent Resident Card is issued to the new Permanent Residents who arrive at Canada. The PR Card is issued within 180 days of their arrival at their Canada mailing address. For new permanent residents there is no application process for acquiring the PR Card unless they do not inform their mailing address to the concerned Canadian government department within 180 days of their arrival. You may have to collect the PR Card from one of the Canadian offices if not sent to the mailing address.

The PR card is issued normally for 5 years but in some instances can be issued for 1 year and is valid till the expiry date mentioned on the card.

PR card is a proof that you are a permanent resident of Canada while you are travelling outside Canada but does not indicate that you’re a Canadian Citizen. The PR card is required for new permanent residents to travel back to Canada from any destination by plane, train, bus or boat as it is checked while entering back to Canada.

Incase while travelling you do not have your PR card than you need to carry the permanent resident travel document which is valid for one entry.

Permanent Residents need to apply for a PR card in instances where :

1)    PR card has been lost, stolen or destroyed
2)    PR card is not received within 180 days of arrival
3)    PR card has expired or will expire in 9 months.(you are still a permanent resident if your card expires)
4)    PR residents legally change their name and need to update on the PR card.

The application process includes getting the application package which has all the guidelines and document checklist, processing fees which is non-refundable and submitting the application with supporting documents.