PR Card Services
An Overview
A Canadian Permanent Resident Visa is a document that allows immigrants to stay, work, and live in Canada without any time limit. It is issued by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), based on several factors such as career opportunities, security, quality of living, environment, and more.
Benefits of a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa
- Live, Work, and Settle in Canada: With a PR Visa, you can live, work and settle in Canada without any restrictions. This means you can enjoy the same benefits and rights as Canadian citizens.
- Higher Income: As a Canadian Permanent Resident, you can earn double of what you are earning now, depending on your profession and experience.
- Family Visa: If married, your spouse and children can also fly with you without any additional family visa.
- Free Education and Employment: Your children get free education, and your spouse gets the right to work for any company in Canada.
- Medical Benefits: Canadian government sponsors medical treatments for you and your entire family.
- Canadian Citizenship: After staying for three years, you can apply for Canadian citizenship.
5 Main Categories for Canadian Permanent Residents
Express Entry: Through certain economic immigration programs, the express entry program manages applications for permanent residence for immigrants who can apply for jobs where there is a lack of skilled Canadian workers available.
Business Immigration: Canada’s business immigration program is for those immigrants and newcomers who have experience in owning, managing, or investing in businesses in Canada.
Family Class Immigration: Through several sponsorship programs, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their family members to immigrate to Canada.
Canadian Experience Class: The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program aimed at helping temporary foreign workers and foreign students apply their work experience and education towards their applications for permanent residency.
Provincial Nominee Program: The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a program for workers who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific Canadian province or territory.
A Permanent Resident (PR) Card is an important document that serves as proof of the holder’s status as a permanent resident of Canada. The card is valid for a period of five years and must be renewed before it expires to maintain the holder’s status as a permanent resident in Canada. In this article, we will discuss the process and requirements for renewing a PR card.
When to Apply for PR Card Renewal?
You should apply for a PR card renewal in the following situations:
Your PR card has expired or will expire within the next nine months.
Your PR card is lost, stolen or destroyed.
You have legally changed your name.
PR Card Renewal Requirements and Eligibility
To be eligible for a PR card renewal, you must meet the following requirements:
You must be a permanent resident of Canada.
You must be physically present in Canada.
You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days out of the five-year period preceding the renewal application.
You must not be under a removal order.
There are certain exceptions to the 730-day residency requirement. For instance, if you are traveling with a Canadian citizen who is your spouse, common-law partner, or parent, or if you are employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the federal public administration or public service of a province, you may be exempt from meeting the residency requirement.
PR Card Renewal Application
To apply for a PR card renewal, you must prepare an application package that includes:
A completed Application for a Permanent Resident Card renewal form
A document checklist
Photocopies of your identification documents
A copy of the receipt confirming payment of fees
If you have legally changed your name, you must provide supporting documentation, such as a marriage certificate or a court order.
In some cases, you may be able to apply for a PR card renewal on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, even if you have not met the residency requirements.
You must submit your application from within Canada. You must be physically present in Canada when you submit your application and when you pick up your new PR card from an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office.
PR Card Renewal Processing Time
The processing time for a PR card renewal application can take several weeks or even months, so it is advisable to apply well in advance of the expiry date of your current card. If you need to travel outside Canada and your PR card has expired or your renewal application is still pending, you may be able to expedite the processing by providing evidence of an emergency.
How to receive a Canadian PR Card
Your Permanent Resident Card shows that you have PR status in Canada. If you travel outside Canada, you will need to present your PR card and your passport when you come back on a commercial vehicle, like an airplane, boat, train, or bus. If you don’t have a valid PR card or are not carrying it, you need to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document before returning to Canada by a commercial vehicle.
A PR Card is usually issued for five years but can sometimes be issued for one year instead. It is valid until the expiry date listed on the card. Canada only sends PR cards to addresses within the country. In some cases, you may have to pick up your card in person at one of the Canadian government offices. If you find a mistake on your PR card, you can ask for it to be reissued. At times, we shorten a name on the card if it is too long to fit.