You received the great news—“decision made”. Congrats, you’re about to get permanent residency status in Canada!
What happens next? What should you do before coming to Canada? How does the landing process work?
Before coming to Canada
If your permanent resident application is approved, you will be asked to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office where you applied in order to receive your permanent resident visa.
You will get two important documents:
- The confirmation of permanent residence (with identification information, photograph…)
- An entry visa
The confirmation of permanent residence has an expiry date by which you must arrive in Canada. This doesn’t mean you have to settle in Canada by that date, but it does mean you must travel to Canada and become a landed immigrant before the confirmation of the permanent residence expiry date. After that, you may come back to your home country and prepare for your actual arrival if you wish.
You must have your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and your visa with you when you arrive in Canada.
When landing in Canada
When you arrive in Canada with a permanent residence status, you become a landed immigrant. This is a very important step.
Note that there are two cases here:
- If you received your permanent residence status abroad: Most people will fly to Canada and land at an airport. The busiest the airport, the more likely it is that officers will be familiar with immigration papers, that there will be interpreters available if needed etc. In the East, Montreal and Toronto are good choices.
- If you received your permanent residence while you were already in Canada: this is a bit weird, but you have to exit Canada and re-enter (even if it’s five minutes later!) in order to become a landed immigrant. The French have an expression for it: “faire le tour du poteau” (to go around the flagpole). Most people will go to the U.S.A. and re-enter Canada immediately. Walking, driving or biking to Canada are all acceptable options! Officers on both sides of the border are used to it and you shouldn’t have any problem. I did it in 2005 to become a landed immigrant.
Whether you arrive by air or by land, you will first meet an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The officer will ask to see:
- Your passport
- Your valid permanent resident visa
- Your confirmation of permanent residence
- If you immigrate through a category that requires you to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself (for example, the skilled worker category), the officer will need to see the supporting documents, such as a recent bank statement.
There are a few routine questions to establish your identity and to make sure you gave correct information that matches your application, but this usually only takes a few minutes. Make sure you have all your documents with you and everything will be fine!
Be aware that you will be asked to declare items you bring to Canada. Take a moment to check out what you can and cannot bring in Canada, and what you must declare. You may want to check “How do I bring my belongings with me?” as well.
After that, the officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. He will also confirm your Canadian mailing address. Your permanent resident card will be mailed to you at this address.
The permanent resident card
A permanent resident card is a small wallet-sized card and a very valuable document, which allows you to prove your status in Canada or when travelling in and out of the country.
Permanent resident’s cards are not issued on the spot when you arrive in Canada. They are mailed to your Canadian address within a few weeks. If you do not have a Canadian address at the time you land in Canada, you must supply one to CIC within 180 days (plenty of time!). There is no fee for the permanent resident card applied for at the time of the landing process. It usually takes about 30 days to receive the permanent card after you land in Canada, but it varies (you can check the current processing time here).
The permanent residence card is normally issued for 5 years. It can be renewed if you wish to remain a permanent resident, or you may not need it anymore if you apply for Canadian citizenship after three years of residency!
…And then what?
After landing in Canada, some people decide to go back to their home country for a little while to finalize their move and settle their affairs. Some have houses to sell, some have to finish their work etc. This is perfectly acceptable. Once you become a landed immigrant, you are free to travel in and out of Canada!
However, if you leave Canada before you receive your permanent resident card, you may need to apply for a single-use permanent resident travel document to return to Canada. If you hold a passport from a country that does not need a visitor visa to come to Canada (such as with an American or a U.E passport), you should be able to enter Canada without your permanent resident card. See the list of countries which require a visa to visit Canada or read the article I need to leave Canada but I do not have my PR card yet for more information.
Be aware that to keep your status as a permanent resident in Canada, you must meet the residency requirement. This means that you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period. If you don’t, you will lose your permanent residence status (and yes, it does happen a lot).
If you stay in Canada after landing, you can start applying for Canadian IDs (such as your SIN card), looking for a job, a place to live etc.
Your rights and duties as a permanent resident
As a permanent resident in Canada, you have both responsibilities. You can:
- Live, work or study anywhere in Canada
- Receive most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, such as health coverage
- Be protected under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Note that as a permanent resident, you cannot vote or hold certain jobs that have a high-security clearance.
You may lose your permanent status if you don’t meet the residency requirements or if you are convicted of a serious crime.
After three years in Canada as a permanent resident, you may choose to apply for Canadian citizenship if you meet the requirements.
Canada is a wonderful place. Having lived there my entire life, I know that you have made the right choice in deciding to live here. Best of luck!
Thank you for your input! I do love this country 🙂
Hi,
I landed in toranto on 25 March 2011 and still waiting for PR card.
I have to travel back to my home country. what should i do or what are the option i have?
please guide me.
regards
Abdul D
When are you going back home? I remember it took a few weeks to receive my PR card.
My question is how to apply for residence in canada. The internet website is very confusing i’m not a skilled worker i just want to move. Can you give me any advice ? Thank you.
Melissa
There are a lot of links available here, I’ll let you do research:
How long after getting approved for permanent residents will i have in the US before i have to enter Canada?
After the medical results how long does it take to get a call in to submits your passports
It depends on the visa office and on the type of immigration category you applied for.
Hello Zhu,
what do you think about our case? last April this year we supposed to have our permanent residence.Unfortunately,during the interview my husband ask if he has another dependent and he has a son outside marriage but we don’t have any idea about the child anymore it’s been 10 years since they saw each other.We lost contact and the embassy is asking the address and the birth certificate of the child.We do not have any documents to submit.At the moment our case is in the Prime Minister secretary in Whitehorse Yukon.So,what will be your assessment in our case?thanks for your time.
CHIN
Hi,
I’m not sure I really understand your case and I’m not an immigration consultant. I don’t understand how your case could be at the office of the PM like you said either…
I’m pretty confused here.
Your site is realy helpful but i just need to ask one more question! If ever i got my request passport (i need to do my exit) and i wanted to have a vacation in Philippines, do u think i can do that as my exit too? Or i need another visa to enter canada again? Thank u!! Hope u can help me with this!! Like i will go to philippines for a vacation then come back to canada and get a stamp as a landed immigrant! Do u think its possible?
It depends where you are from! You usually have a certain period of time to land in Canada.
Hello Sir,
I appiled fro canada PR and I have question, I recently received an email from CIC asking me to submit my Passport for PR visa (along with my wifes passport). but when i come back from Bufaloo to canada by car, will they stamp on my PR Visa? actually I am planning for a vacation next month and I want to use this pr visa while comming back and then I want to stamp it.
I am in a confusion, if they stamp on my visa while coming from buffalo, i will not be able go for my vacation an dreenter rite??
Please advise??
Regards
GURU
Your visa will be stamp when you enter Canada so yes, from Buffalo to Canada if that´s your route.
Hi!
I am a newcomer the information on your web page was really helpful, to me thank you so much
Regard mo
I´m glad it helped you, and welcome to Canada!
thank u so much for your information has helped alot with our application for FSW federal skilled worker visa. just preaparing recce visit for this year. Fingers crossed our application is appoved in time for next year .
I’m glad the blog helped you! Crossing my fingers for you.
Hi
I have looked everywhere for an answer but no one could help me my husbands status got updated decision made we have been waiting for his passport to come once the status has been updated how long after should he be accepting his passport my husband lives in india if u could plz help I’ve tried calling Delhi but they won’t talk to me I’ve emailed but no response.
Hi,
I’m not sure I understand your question. If the status says “decision made”, it means he will soon receive a letter regarding the decision. If it’s positive, he will have to send his passport to have the visa stuck in it.
Hi Zhu,
I have some questions for you but I dont Want everybody to read it so could you email me to talk about it please.
Thank you
Good Morning Sir/Madam,
My name is cicily,I am working in Alberta,as a temporary foreign
worker,One year ago i applied for Permanent Residence (Provincial
Nominee),Recently I got COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) and
Immigrant visa.
Currently I am on Vacation, I am visiting India,My questions are as under.
Q-1 once we enter in Canada, at port of entry immigrant officer will
fill my COPR then i will get PR Card with in 32 business days or
so,During theses 32 days am i allowed to work in Canada.?
Q-2When immigration officer will fill my COPR at port of entry,Will
he/She give me any receipt?
Thank you for your support in this matter,
Cicily George
To answer your questions:
1) Yes, you can work as soon as you land in Canada, even if you haven’t received the actual PR card. Employers typically want to see your SIN card (you can apply after you land), PR card are for travel purpose.
2) I honestly can’t remember whether I got a receipt but you do have the visa in your passport.
Fantastic answer! Thank you. About to enter Canada with my recently acclaimed PR and my Citizen husband, but want to visit a friend in Spain within the first month. Great to know I can leave soon after arriving, and return with no issues.
Cheers,
Christina
You should have no problem. And welcome to Canada! I hope you will like it here 🙂
I arrived in Canada as a landed immigrant in May 2009 with my husband and daughter and I’ll complete 3 years of living in Canada this year in May. I am planning on leaving Canada due to the job scenario and relocate to Dubai. I will however apply for my citizenship before leaving. Since I’ve completed the eligibility criteria of staying 1065 days, will there be any issues for obtaining a citizenship due to leaving the country?
Well, technically no but you still need to be in Canada to take the test and then the oath.
The Visa office had just requested for my passport 2 weeks ago and had sent right away a week ago. So hopefully anytime next week, I will be getting my passport back. I haven’t resigned yet from my job at the moment and am planning to just take 6-8 weeks leave on my work just land to Canada, wait for my PR card and come back to my work and on Christmas, I will finally tender my resignation to my company and be permanent in Canada. Do you think I will not be getting any problem later on doing this? Would the immigration be asking me if where and what will I do if I will be getting out of Canada? If it is in case they ask me, would it just be fine to tell them that I will just finish my work in 5 month, cause it takes time before our company will be able to get me a replacement. Cheers,
No worries, lots of people “land” in Canada and then return home for a few weeks/months to wrap things up. It’s common. Just don’t forget to come back to Canada!
Hi,
My family and I have applied 7 years ago to go to Canada and I recently got the medical examinations mailed to London (I live in Kuwait)… I’m waiting for the Visas now.
I have 2 kids in elementary school… I’m a Telecom Engineer and hold an MBA degree.
I don’t know any body in Canada !
How can I get a job and put my children in a good school?
Thanks
Well, it all depends where you want to settle. I advise you to read and to start doing research on specific cities.
Hi!
I was just going through blogs regarding Canadian immigration and came across yours and it’s helpful since it’s not super-technical! :p I have a question: What happens after receiving the PR card? I’m waiting for both, the PR card and SIN card, and they should be arriving soon, but was wondering where I should go from there. Living with my husband in the US for at least another year and a half and was confused regarding how the whole citizenship process works. Thanks in advance! 🙂
You are still a long long way from applying for citizenship, as you can only apply after three years as a permanent residence, and if you’ve been physically present in Canada for 1095 during these three years.
This category will give you more info:
So after you land in Canada (come to Canada with the PR visa in your passport), you will eventually receive your PR card, SIN card, you can apply for a health card. But that’s about it, no citizenship yet!
Thanks so much for your response! 🙂 Got my PR card, but not planning to go to Canada till at least his school ends. This will be one long process!
It’s always a long process but I like to think it is worth it 😉
I live in US and I just received the Confirmation of Permanent Residency. I am not ready to move permanently yet, but I am planning to drive (by land) this month to Montreal from NY to start the permanent residence card process. Can I bring my car with me without importing it? Would the border officer let me enter my US car for few day? I am just going to stay for a week mostly visiting. BTW GREAT SITE!! THANKS FOR SHARING!
Hi,
That’s a great question, and I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for it because I never imported a car! Commonsense would be that you won’t have issue but I would contact CBSA just to be sure. And welcome to Canada (even for a short trip!).
Dear Zhu,
i didn’t understand about getting the PR while being inside Canada, why to get out even for 5 minutes and go in again?
I took my immigration visa then i went for the first time in my life to Quebec, stayed for 1 month, got my PR then left to my country, i didn’t go to Canada since 2 years so actually i still have 1 year to go then live 2 years there to renew my PR.
2nd question: Does it make any problem being outside Canada for 2 years?
I believe you can now “land” at CIC offices instead of exiting the country, things have changed in the last few years. But this is the process to officially become a “landed immigrant”! Most people aren’t in Canada when they receive the PR.
In order not to lose your PR status, you have to abide by the physical presence requirements: To keep your status as a permanent resident, you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp#keep_status). So you can be outside Canada for two years, but you will have to live in Canada for at least two years in that five-year period.
I have got immigration to Canada. I opted for two cities when applying for the immigration i.e Toronto and Vancouver. But my Confirmation of permanent residence paper shows my destination as Toronto. I wish to go to Vancouver as a number of friends and relatives stay there. Could i go directly to Vancouver… Please reply I have got a very short notice for booking my tickets..!!!
Thanks
It doesn’t matter where you land, as long as you didn’t apply as a provincial nominee.
I got the provincial nominee permanent residence. I applied for Winnipeg, Manitoba, but on my confirmation, the city of dest is: Waywayseecappo, Manitoba. I really don’t know why but what I’m worrying about is whether I can still live and work in Winnipeg.
Please, help me to understand! Thank you so much!
Hi,
I’m not sure why that city ended up being your destination, as this is a First National reserve (see here: . You should contact CIC, I can’t say much considering I haven’t seen your application. Sorry!
Hello
I have been accepted as a resident permanent in Quebec. I have the csq and my admition visa has been received last week.
I’m planning to move to land in Montreal and move to calgary 3 days later after completing the paperwork because I have seen my fiancee for about a year and half. My question is
1- would I be able to travel to calgary knowing that I would not have the permanent resident card send to me at that time?
2- will I be accepted to enter Calgary?
3- If yes, what card would I use to travel from montreal to Calgary?
Thank you
You do not need a permanent resident card to travel within Canada, from one province to another.
Thank you very much for your quick reply.
I’m also wondering whether I could land in Calgary, spent some days there before I head to Montreal just save some money (going to Montreal, from Montreal to Calgary, and calgary back to Montreal).
Do you think I would be accepted in Calgary, would the immigration office in Calgary be able to process my paper (SIN, and permanent resident card)
Thanks
It may be complicated to land in Alberta since you applied for permanent residence to Quebec. I would land in Quebec to avoid any problem. Traveling after you land won’t be an issue though. On a side note, you have to apply for your SIN at a Service Canada centre, this is not done when landing 😉
Thank you,
I will take no risk
No worries, and welcome to Canada!
Hi Zhu,
Thank you for information. You clearly explain the all the answers that I could not find from Government website.
I have few more questions to clarify and I wish you can give me some advice.
1) I applied for the Canada Experience Class PR and just received request e-mail of submitting my passport to Detroit. I’m currently out of Country, so I have to mail my documents and passport(I’m sending copy of my passport since I’m citizen which includes visa-exempt to enter Canada. I just want to confirm this)
2) I will use mailing address of my friend who is in Canada right now. After Detroit sends me Confirmation of Valid Residency(Is that what they will give to me? Sorry little confusing of what they will provide me after submitting copy of passport/documents), my friend will mail that back to me. And all I need to do is to check my expire date on that documents and enter Canada?
3) You said PR Card will take about month, If I leave Canada, before I obtain the PR Card, I dont have to apply for any temporary visa? (since I can enter Canada without any visa?)
4) You think I can use service in Canada embassy in S.Korea rather than me going through all the mailing??
Thank you for your help in advance!!
Hello,
I’m a bit confused because I don’t know what is your citizenship (American, if I understand correctly, right?) and I don’t have the details on your application.
If that can help, I received my PR visa at the Paris office when I was in Canada, so I mailed my passport and someone picked up the visa for me, and mailed me my passport back (through FedEx, not regular post ;-)). I don’t think you can submit a copy of your passport, the visa, i.e. the confirmation of PR which looks like a visa, must be affixed in your passport.
All you need to land as an immigrant to Canada is your PR visa affixed into your passport. Can’t remember anything else, but then paperwork changes and I landed in 2005 so double-check that.
You should be able to renter Canada easily if you are American, unlike those who need a tourist visa. That said, it’s probably better to wait to get your PR card.
No idea about the Canadian embassy. I don’t think they will help much since they are not a visa office.
HI Zhu,
I’m Korean which includes the visa exempt country. This is the part that I received as instruction to follow.
3. Passport(s)
If you are a citizen of a country that is required to obtain a visa to visit Canada, you are required to submit your original passport and the original passport of any accompanying family member. If you are a citizen from a country that is exempted to obtain a visa to visit Canada under Regulation 190 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, you are only required to send a copy of your passport and of the passport of any accompanying family member.
To find out if you are visa-exempt or not under Regulation 190, consult this CIC webpage.
We require a VALID passport for you and for every accompanying family member. Passports for you and all accompanying family members must be submitted together. There must be at least one blank visa page in each passport. If there are children included in your passport there must be blank visa pages for them as well. Please note that Immigrant visas cannot be placed in Diplomatic, Official or Military passports..
Very confusing but I was thinking about sending copy of passport rather than passport since it is more safe. So, I guess my friend can get a mail for me and send it back to me.
I heard there is expire date to enter Canada after you get passport back. Do you need to enter before 3months or 6?
Then I’m sorry but I have no idea. You should contact CIC. The instructions you receive don’t make much sense to me, as far as I know, all immigrants about to land in Canada but have the actual PR visa affixed into their passport.
The “expiry date” to land in Canada depends on when you apply for the visa, and when your medical check expires. The date you must land before will be on your PR visa, it depends on people.
I am an American working in Detroit and married to a Canadian, residing in Windsor. I have just received my PR approval and plan to land next week. I plan to retain my citizenship in U.S. thus since I am married to a Canadian, do I have to renew my PR status every 5 years?
Regards
I have no idea how American citizenship laws work, but if you choose not to apply for Canadian citizenship (typically after three years in Canada as a PR if you meet other requirements), yes, you will have to renew your PR card every five years. It’s just the card you need to renew, you can keep your PR status. Just make sure you meet the requirements and that you don’t lose the PR status (yes, it happens!) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp#keep_status):
Hi,
We have been accepted as resident permanent in Quebec.(living at Montreal. We would like to land in Canada but not willing to go to the boarder. Is it possible to land in Montreal? One of my friend did this? I would like to the procedure Please….
I don’t think I understand your question. If you are flying to Canada, you can land in Montreal at the airport. Your friend may have had to travel to the U.S. land border because he was already in Canada when he received the visa. If you are coming from abroad, you generally land at the airport.
Hi there,
This is a very interesting article. I have received my entry visa. Like you mentioned above, I am amongst the category of people who are not ready to settle yet. Is it alright to land in canada and then leave canada within 2 days? This is because i have a job in my home country and i cant leave now. Will the border officer insist for a mailing address in Canada as i wont have one.
Thank you,
Nikita
You can leave Canada within two days, no questions asked. However, you do need a mailing address in Canada to receive your PR card. If you don’t have one, you must give an address at a later date. Just make sure you will be able to re-enter Canada without the PR card, this can be an issue if you usually need a tourist visa to go to Canada.
Also make sure to keep your PR status: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp#keep_status.
What happens with Confirmation of Permanent Residence paper after I arrive in Canada? After I receive PR card? Do I need to keep a copy / original of Confirmation of Permanent Residence paper? Or will it be collected by CIC at some point (when I get my PR card)? I have been recently asked by CIC to present this paper (for a name correction) but I am pretty sure I no longer have this paper. Thank you for response.
I remember that my copy was stapled into my passport, at the visa page. It was only taken off when I went to the citizenship test three years later. You should contact CIC, they should be able to tell you what to do.
My son received his PR documents from embassy (Sposered by his Spouse)and has booked his seat in Lufthansa which will land him at Montreal first. His spouse is from vancuour. My question is can he land at Montreal or do he have to land at Vancuover first?
If he didn’t apply for permanent residence through Quebec and doesn’t have a CSQ, it can get complicated to land in Quebec.
Hi, my wife has just received her approval for permanent residency in the mail. Normally how much time are you allowed to land i.e. before your residency visa expires? thanks
Depends on when you took the medical exam. The date by which you need to land is on the visa.