Guide 5529 - Applying for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)

Canada’s entry rules Permanent residents (PR) of Canada must carry and show their valid permanent resident card (PR card) or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) when boarding a flight to Canada, or travelling to Canada on any other commercial carrier. If you do not carry your PR card or PRTD, you may not be able to board your flight, train, bus or boat to Canada. It is your responsibility to make sure your PR card is still valid when you return from travel outside Canada and to apply for a new PR card before your current card expires.

• Applying anytime, 24/7
• Quick and easy upload of all your information, including payment
• No printing required

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Before you apply
• Step 1: Gather documents
• Step 2: Fill out the application
• Step 3: Pay the fees
• Step 4: Submit the application
• What happens next?
• Appendix A: Residency obligation

This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails.

For legal information, consult the following documents:

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Overview

Who should use this application guide?

Use this application if you are a permanent resident (PR) outside Canada who does not have a valid Permanent Resident card (PR card) to return to Canada.

The permanent resident travel document (PRTD) is a temporary official document proving your status as a PR in Canada. It proves to transportation companies that you’re allowed to travel to Canada as a permanent resident if you don’t have a valid PR card in your possession.

You need a PRTD if:

• you are a PR outside Canada without a valid PR card
• you plan to travel to Canada by any commercial transporter, such as a plane, train, boat or bus and
• you need to apply to renew or replace your PR card when you return to Canada

If you’re travelling in a private vehicle such as a car, truck, motorcycle or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow or rent, you can use your PR card, PRTD or other documents to return to Canada.

These documents are not valid for travel to Canada:

• Record of Landing (IMM 1000)
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)

Who should not apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document?

• Canadian citizens
• Foreign Nationals who do not have PR status
• Permanent residents with a valid PR card in their possession
• Permanent residents who want to voluntarily give up (renounce) their permanent residence status
  
• Past Permanent Residents who have lost their PR status

Note: Permanent residents inside Canada should apply for a PR card online through the Permanent Residence Portal.

What are the requirements?

To apply for a PRTD you need to:

• prove who you are;
• confirm your PR status; and
• meet the residency obligation of a permanent resident.

Use the Document Checklist (IMM 5644) (opens in a new tab) to make sure you have all the documents needed. Send the checklist with your application.

Important information:

If we approve your application your application, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how and where to submit your valid passport or travel document as we need it to attach your PRTD.

Send photocopies of all identity and immigration documents, including your valid passport or travel document. Do not send originals, as they will not be returned to you. See the document checklist for more details.

Legal name change

If you are a permanent resident and changed your name outside of Canada, submit:

• a foreign passport or other national authoritative document that shows your new name; and
• an official document linking the old and new names.

NOTE: IRCC will issue a PRTD counterfoil based on the name on your passport. If you had a name change abroad, the name on your foreign passport provided with your application should reflect the new name and you must submit the supporting documents above.

Before you apply

Who may use this application?

You may use this application to apply for a PRTD if you don't have a valid PR card to return to Canada.

You cannot apply for a PR card while overseas. Once you receive your PRTD, you can travel to Canada. You can apply for a PR card online through the Permanent Residence Portal once you have returned to Canada .

Important information: A PRTD is issued for a single entry or multiple entry to Canada. If you meet the residency obligation and are requesting a multiple entry PRTD, you may include a cover letter that explains your circumstances with your application for consideration.

Note: Multiple entry PRTDs cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your passport.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for a PRTD, you must:

• be a permanent resident outside Canada;
• confirm your PR status;
• not be in possession of a valid PR card;
• meet the residency obligation of a permanent resident;
• not be a Canadian citizen;
• not be a permanent resident who wants to voluntarily give up (renounce) their PR status, and
• not have lost your PR status.

Step 1: Get your supporting documents

What documents do I need?

Use the Document Checklist (IMM 5644) (PDF, 2.19 MB) to confirm which documents you need.

Include the completed document checklist with your application.

Important information: If any of the required documents are missing, or copies are not clear, your application will be returned to you.

Note: We may ask for more documents at any time while we are processing your application. If you do not submit the requested documents, there will be delays in processing.

You must complete and submit these documents:

• Copy of your current and valid passport.
• Copies of all pages of the passport(s) or travel document(s) used in the past five (5) years immediately before the application, including your valid passport or travel document. Do not send original documents, as they will not be returned to you. Please ensure these are legible, to avoid delays in processing.
• Proof showing that you have met the residency obligation in the past five (5) years immediately before the application or since becoming a PR if it has been less than 5 years. Please refer to Appendix A: Residency Obligation.
• Fees: Copy of the receipt showing the amount paid.

Additional forms and supporting documents to include, if they apply:

• Authorization to travel for minors – Provide parent or legal guardian permission to travel and documents giving consent for children to travel as unaccompanied minors. Note: Children under 18 years of age who are travelling alone must carry written information about the person who will be responsible for them. If a child in this application is under a custody order or is travelling with one parent, you must provide proof of custody or the other parent's consent for the trip. Children travelling without their custodial parent(s) need a letter of permission to travel from the non-accompanying parent(s).
• To be considered on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, include supporting documents that support your request to keep your permanent residence. See the "Humanitarian and compassionate grounds" section of the instruction guide for more information.

If you’re applying from China and have a Chinese passport

• You must include an “Inquiry of Exit & Entry Record” from China.
  • It must show a record of your entry to and exit from China for 5 years before the date of your application.
  • You can get the document from the local Public Security Bureau.
  • Make sure you translate the document to English or French.

  Step 2: Fill out the forms

  You’ll fill out this digital form online through the Permanent Residence Portal

  • Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5444E)

  You must type your full name exactly as shown on your passport to digitally sign your application.

  Note: If you cannot apply online and require accommodations, including for accessibility reasons, you can apply by paper.

  If you require additional context on specific questions on the IMM 5444 form, please visit our step by step instructions on how to complete the form. You must answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, we will return your application and processing will be delayed.

  If you need more space, include another sheet of paper with your application and at the top of the page, print your name and the number of the question you are answering clearly in black.

  You must also complete and submit the following forms:

  If you are applying online, you will fill out and upload these PDF forms into the portal. If you are applying by paper you will need to complete these PDF forms and include it with your mailed application.

  Additional forms (if they apply):

  • Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB), or
    • you and your immigration representative must sign this by hand

    Warning: It is a serious crime to provide false or misleading information on these forms. We may verify your responses

    Technical issues

    If you’re having technical issues with the portal, contact us using the web form

    • under type of application/enquiry, choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu
    • in the text box, specify what you’re applying for
    • upload screenshots from your account that show us
      • the page where you’re having problems
      • the error message(s) you get

      If you need to upload a number of images, find out how to combine them into 1 document.

      Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

      Who may use this form?

      Complete this form only if you:

      • are appointing a representative;
      • have to update contact information for your previously appointed representative; or
      • are cancelling a representative’s appointment.

      If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they are required to complete their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

      Who is a representative?

      A representative is someone who provides advice, consultation, or guidance to you at any stage of the application process, or in a proceeding and, if you appoint them as your representative by filling out this form, has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

      You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not.

      When you appoint a representative:

      • you also authorize IRCC and CBSA to share information from your case file with this person in place of you. Please note the representative will receive all correspondence from IRCC or the CBSA, not the applicant;
      • your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome;
      • the representative is authorized to represent you only on citizenship or immigration matters related to the application you submit with this form; and
      • you can appoint only one (1) representative for each application you submit.

      Important information: You must notify IRCC if your representative’s contact information changes, or if you change your representative, or cancel the appointment of your representative. For more information on updating IRCC with your representative’s information, please see below section - Notify IRCC about any changes.

      There are two (2) types of representatives.

      Uncompensated Representatives:

      Uncompensated representatives do not charge fees or receive any other form of consideration or compensation for providing advice or services to represent you before IRCC or the CBSA.

      Uncompensated representatives include:

      • Friends, family members or other third parties who do not, and will not, charge a fee or receive any other consideration for their advice and services;
      • consultants, lawyers and Quebec notaries, and students-at-law under their supervision, who do not, and will not, charge a fee or receive any other consideration to represent you.

      Note: You do not have to pay someone for them to be your representative. IRCC will conduct business with an uncompensated representative if an applicant appoints them on their behalf.

      Compensated representatives:

      Compensated representatives charge a fee or receive some other form of consideration in exchange for the representation that they provide.

      It is important to know that anyone who represents or advises you for payment - or offers to do so - in connection with IRCC proceedings or applications is breaking the law unless they are an authorized representative or they have a specific agreement or arrangement with the Government of Canada that allows them to represent or advise you. This applies to advice or consultation which happens before or after a citizenship or an immigration application is made or a proceeding begins.

      IRCC will only conduct business with compensated representatives who are in good standing with their designated regulatory body. For more information see - Find out if your representative is authorized.

      Note: If a representative is being paid or compensated by someone other than you, the representative is still considered to be a compensated representative.

      Authorized representatives are:

      • consultants who are members in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC);
      • lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their supervision;
      • notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision.

      If you appoint a compensated representative who is not a member in good standing of one of these designated bodies, your application will be returned. Learn about using a representative.

      General Application Information

      Appoint a representative

      • Check box to indicate if you are appointing a representative to represent you with your application process. Complete sections A, B and D.

      Cancel a representative

      • Check box to indicate if you are canceling a representative. Complete sections A, C and D; and
      • Check both boxes and complete all sections if you are cancelling a representative and appointing a new one at the same time.

      Section A – Applicant Information

      Question 1

      Write your last name (surname or family name) and given name(s).

      Write your date of birth.

      • the name of the office where the application was submitted; and
      • the type of application you have submitted.

      Write your IRCC’s Identification (ID) or Unique Client Identifier (UCI) number (if known). If you have not dealt with IRCC since 1973, you will not have a UCI or a Client ID.

      Section B – Appointment of Representative

      Question 5

      Write your representative’s full name.

      If your representative is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), a law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec , print their name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

      Check one box to indicate if your representative is uncompensated or compensated.

      • the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC); or
      • a Canadian provincial or territorial law society; or
      • the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

      Write your representative’s contact information.

      If you are appointing a student-at-law to represent you, include their supervising lawyer’s information including their membership ID.

      Note: By indicating your representative’s e-mail address, you are hereby authorizing IRCC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific e-mail address.

      Question 8

      To accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf, your representative must:

      • sign the declaration; and
      • date the declaration.

      Section C – Cancel the Appointment of a Representative

      Question 9

      Fill in this section if you wish to cancel the appointment of a representative. Write the representative’s full name.

      Complete all sections of the form if you wish to both cancel a representative and appoint a new one.

      Section D – Your Declaration

      Question 10

      By signing, you authorize IRCC to complete your request for yourself and your dependent children under 18 years of age.

      For sponsorship application, your spouse or common-law partner does not have to complete a separate request. If your spouse or common-law partner is included in this request, they must sign in the box provided.

      Release of information to other individuals

      To authorize IRCC to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete the form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (PDF, 593.57 KB).

      The person you designate under that form (IMM 5475) will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, they will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with IRCC.

      Where to submit the IMM 5475 and IMM 5476 forms

      Paper applications

      If you have not yet submitted your immigration or citizenship application:

      Send this form along with your application to the office listed in the guide of your application.

      If you have already submitted your immigration or citizenship application:

      You may use this Web form to upload IMM 5475 or IMM 5476.

      If you know which IRCC office is processing your immigration or citizenship application, send the completed form to the office mailing address. Consult IRCC office mailing addresses.

      Online applications

      If you have not yet submitted your immigration or citizenship application:

      Upload this form along with your online application

      If you have already submitted your immigration or citizenship application:

      You may use this Web form to upload IMM 5475 or IMM 5476.

      Notify IRCC about any changes

      You must let IRCC know if any information changes regarding the person you authorized to represent you on your application.