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Permanent Resident Travel Document

Canadian permanent residents who need to return to Canada without a permanent resident card may be eligible for a permanent resident travel document.

For more information about permanent resident travel documents, travelling to Canada, or any other immigration issue you might be facing, speak to one of our legal experts on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.

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    Overview of Permanent Resident Travel Documents

    All permanent residents of Canada need to own a valid permanent resident (PR) card in order to enter Canada.

    However, if you don’t have a valid PR card in your possession, you may be eligible for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to allow for travel to Canada instead.

    A PRTD is a document placed in your passport that usually allows for single entry into Canada. It shows travel carriers that you are a permanent resident of Canada with a right to travel.

    Permanent residents can only use valid PR cards or PRTDs to travel into Canada by plane, boat, train or bus.

    Who Can Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document?

    You should only apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document if you:

    • Have permanent resident status in Canada
    • Don’t have a valid PR card
    • Are outside Canada
    • Will travel to Canada by plane, boat, train or bus

    In addition, in order to be eligible for a PRTD, you must:

    • Prove your identity
    • Confirm your permanent resident status
    • Meet the residency obligation of a permanent resident

    How Can I Meet the Residency Obligations for a Permanent Resident Travel Document?

    You must demonstrate that you have fulfilled the residency obligations of a permanent resident in Canada when you apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document.

    If you’ve been a permanent resident for five years or more, you must have been physically present in Canada for a minimum of 730 days within the five years immediately before you apply for a PRTD.

    If you’ve been a permanent resident for less than five years, you must show that you will be able to meet the minimum of 730 days of physical presence in Canada within five years of the date you became a permanent resident.

    You may also be allowed to count time spent outside of Canada towards your residency obligation if one of the following scenarios applied to you:

    • You accompanied a Canadian citizen outside of Canada
    • You carried out employment for a Canadian company outside of Canada
    • You accompanied a permanent resident outside of Canada

    Accompanying a Canadian Citizen Outside Canada as Part of Your Residency Obligation

    To help meet the residency obligation criteria for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, you may count each day that you accompanied a Canadian citizen outside Canada as long as this person is your spouse, common-law partner, or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age).

    In order to do this, you must provide supporting documents to prove both of the following:

    • The person you are accompanying is a Canadian citizen
    • You are the spouse, common-law partner or child of that person

    Necessary supporting documents you will need to present in your application include:

    • All passports or other travel documents that the person you are accompanying used in the five years before the application
    • Documents showing the citizenship of the person you are accompanying, including the date the person became a Canadian citizen
    • Proof of the residential addresses of the person you are accompanying for the five years before the application
    • Marriage licence or proof of common-law partnership (if you are accompanying a spouse or common-law partner)
    • Child’s birth certificate, baptismal document, or adoption or legal guardianship document (if you are accompanying a parent)

    You may also include:

    • Canadian Income Tax Notice of Assessment (NOA) for the past two years
    • School or employment records
    • Association or club memberships;
    • Any other documents you wish to submit to be considered

    Employment Outside Canada as Part of Your Residency Obligation

    To help meet the residency obligation criteria for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, you may count each day you worked outside Canada if your employment meets the following requirements:

    • You are an employee of, or under contract to:
      • A Canadian business
      • The public service of Canada
      • A province or territory

    And:

    • As a term of your employment or contract, you are assigned on a full-time basis to:
      • A position outside Canada
      • An affiliated enterprise outside Canada, or
      • A client of the Canadian business or the public service outside Canada

    Necessary supporting documents you will need to present in your application include:

    • A letter signed by an official of the business that confirms:
      • The position and title of the signing official
      • The nature of the business and how it fits the description of a Canadian business
      • Details of your assignment or contract outside Canada such as:
        • The length of the assignment
        • Confirmation that you are a full-time employee of the Canadian business working abroad on a full-time basis as a term of your employment, or that you are on contract working abroad on a full-time basis as a term of your contract
        • A description or copy of the position profile regarding the assignment or contract abroad
      • That you will continue working for the employer in Canada after your assignment ends
      • That the business was not created mainly for the purpose of meeting your residency obligation

    Accompanying a Permanent Resident Outside Canada as Part of Your Residency Obligation

    To help meet the residency obligation criteria for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, you may count each day that you accompanied a Canadian permanent resident outside Canada as long as this person meets both of the following criteria:

    • They are your spouse, common-law partner, or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age)
    • They were employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province or territory during the time you accompanied them.

    Necessary supporting documents you will need to present in your application include:

    • Documents showing the person you are accompanying meets the residency obligation
    • All passports or other travel documents the person you are accompanying used in the five years before the application
    • Marriage licence or proof of common-law partnership (if you are accompanying a permanent resident spouse or common-law partner)
    • Child’s birth certificate, baptismal document, or adoption or legal guardianship document (if you are accompanying a permanent resident parent)

    You may also include:

    • School or employment records
    • Canadian Income Tax Notice of Assessment
    • Association or club memberships
    • Any other documents you wish to submit to be considered

    Keeping Your Permanent Resident Status on Humanitarian or Compassionate Grounds

    If you’re unable to meet the residency obligations of permanent residency when applying for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, you may still be able to keep your permanent resident status on humanitarian or compassionate grounds.

    To do this, you must show that there were exceptional circumstances or factors beyond your control that have kept you living outside Canada.

    Factors that might be acceptable include unusual, undeserved, or disproportionate hardships you would face if you lost your Canadian permanent resident status.

    In order for your PRTD application to be considered on these grounds, you must:

    • Fill in the ‘Humanitarian and compassionate grounds’ section of the ‘Application for a Permanent Resident Card (PR card) or Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) [IMM 5444]’ form
    • Provide proof that there are compelling humanitarian and compassionate factors in your personal circumstances that justify keeping your permanent resident status
    • Describe why you were not able to meet the residency obligation
    • Describe the extent of any hardship the loss of residency status would cause to:
      • Yourself
      • Family members who would be directly affected by this decision
      • The best interests of any child directly affected by this decision, if this applies to you

    There are no specific guidelines regarding the supporting documents you need to submit. However, you should provide documents and information on any aspect of your exceptional circumstances that would justify keeping your permanent resident status.

    An officer will consider the factors of your case and will make a decision based on the information and documents you provide with your application.

    Get in touch with us if you require assistance with your PRTD application. Contact Us

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      How to Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document

      Overview of How to Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document

      You normally have to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document on paper, submitted to your nearest visa application centre (VAC).

      However, some VACs may either be closed or no longer accept PRTD applications as a result of COVID-19.

      If this applies to you, you may be able to submit an online application for a PRTD by email.

      How to Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document by Post

      If your local VAC is still open and accepting PRTD applications, you must apply by post.

      To apply, you must submit all of the following in a sealed envelope:

      • All your supporting documents
      • Your completed Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5444)
      • The Document Checklist

      This must then be mailed to your nearest VAC.

      How to Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document by Email

      You will only be allowed to apply by email if your local VAC is closed or is no longer accepting Permanent Resident Travel Document applications.

      The steps to apply via email are as follows:

      1. Read the instruction guide on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website before you complete your application.
      2. Review the Document Checklist (IMM 5644) and:
        1. Complete all the required forms listed
        2. Make electronic copies of all the required documents you need to provide (each document must be less than 5 MB in size)
      3. Complete, sign and scan the Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5444) form.
      4. Pay your fees and get a copy of your receipt.
      5. Send an email to IRCC.COVIDPRTD-TVRPCOVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca that includes:
        1. The subject line: “PRTD application: [put your name here]”
        2. Your scanned application
        3. Copies of your supporting documents (including travel information)
        4. A copy of your receipt

      You must provide all information and documents when you submit your application. If your application is incomplete or missing information, it will be returned to you.

      What Documents Do I Need to Include With My PRTD Application?

      In addition to the completed application form, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application:

      • Proof of residency requirements if you were outside of Canada for 1095 days or more in the past 5 years
      • A receipt of payment of fees
      • Completed Document Checklist
      • Your current, valid passport
      • Copies of all pages of all previous passports or travel documents used in the past 5 years immediately before you apply
      • Copies of supporting documents that show you meet the residency obligations
      • Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if it applies to you
      • Supporting documents that support your request to keep your PR status if you’re applying on humanitarian or compassionate grounds

      What Are the Fees and Processing Times for Permanent Resident Travel Documents?

      Permanent resident travel documents cost CAN$50 to obtain. This fee is not refundable after applying for a Permanent Resident Travel Document.

      The processing times for PRTDs can vary greatly based on:

      • The volume of applications received by IRCC
      • How easily they can verify information
      • How well and how quickly you respond to any requests or concerns
      • Whether the application is complete

      However, PRTDs will generally take between a few weeks and a few months to process.

      What Happens After I Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document?

      After you submit your application for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, a VAC agent will review it to make sure that it is complete and has all the documents specified in the checklist.

      A visa officer will then assess your application to determine whether you have met your residency obligations and whether you are still a permanent resident of Canada. They will also decide if you need to attend an interview.

      If Your Application is Approved

      You will be issued a PRTD counterfoil in your passport. You will have your passport and other original documents returned to you.

      You will be allowed to travel to, and enter Canada, usually for a single entry only.

      Once you’re in Canada, you will be able to re-apply for a valid PR card.

      If Your Application is Refused

      You will receive a refusal letter, explaining the reasons for the refusal and your appeal rights. You will have your passport and other original documents returned to you.

      If you submitted false documents with your application, these will not be returned to you.

      If you believe your application was wrongly refused and you wish to appeal, we can help. Speak to one of our legal advisors on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online today.

      How Can Total Law Help?

      Permanent resident travel documents are useful ways in which Canadian permanent residents can re-enter Canada if they lose their PR card, or if their PR card expires before they’re able to travel.

      If you’re a permanent resident in Canada and need help applying for a PRTD, Total Law can help.

      We are a team of expert lawyers and caseworkers specialising in Canadian immigration law. We can help to establish your eligibility for a PRTD, assemble your supporting documents and application package, and help you submit your application so it can be processed as quickly as possible.

      We can also help if you need to apply on humanitarian or compassionate grounds, and if you need assistance in putting together a case for a PRTD if you’re facing exceptional circumstances outside of your control.

      For more information about the services we offer and what we can do for you, speak to one of our legal advisers today on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.

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