Permanent resident travel document (PRTD): returning to Canada without a valid PR card

When you need a PRTD

A permanent resident needs a permanent resident travel document if they are outside Canada without a valid PR card and are returning by commercial vehicle: airplane, boat, train or bus. Common reasons are a card that expired, was damaged, lost or stolen, or a trip that had to happen before the first card arrived. If you travel in a private vehicle, such as a car you own, borrow or rent, you can use your PR card or other documents at the land border.

Who can apply, and what IRCC checks

You can apply if you have permanent resident status, do not have a valid PR card, are outside Canada and are returning by airplane, boat, train or bus. Each application must show that the person meets the requirements to remain a permanent resident; IRCC gives the example of not having a removal order, and it checks whether you met your residency obligation. Our 730-day guide explains how that obligation is counted. If you want to give up your status and visit Canada only as a visitor, IRCC says not to apply for a PRTD.

1. Prepare one document package per traveller

Open a PRTD application (IMM 5444) in the Permanent Residence Portal. Use and include checklist IMM 5644. Gather clear copies of your valid passport and all pages of passports or travel documents used in the previous five years. Include evidence of PR status and two pieces of residency evidence as described in Guide 5529, such as employment records or a lease. If claiming time abroad, attach evidence for the applicable exception. If applying from China with a Chinese passport, include the five-year exit and entry record and an English or French translation.

2. Pay, upload and submit from abroad

Pay CAD 50 per applicant through IRCC’s online payment service and include the receipt. Submit a complete application for each family member who needs a PRTD. If you cannot apply online, ask the nearest visa application centre whether it accepts paper applications and how to submit them. Send copies at the application stage and keep the originals until IRCC sends instructions.

3. Follow IRCC’s passport instructions

Monitor your email for requests for evidence or an interview. IRCC directs applicants to its web form for status inquiries. If approved, follow the email instructions on where and how to submit your valid passport or travel document so IRCC can attach the PRTD. Before travelling, check its validity dates and number of entries. If refused, follow the decision letter.

Urgent processing within five days

IRCC processes all PRTD applications on a priority basis and does not post processing times for them. You can ask for urgent processing if your flight back to Canada leaves within the next five days, for reasons such as a job opportunity, your own or a family member’s serious illness or death, a lost or stolen card while abroad, or a crisis; for PRTDs, other reasons an officer accepts can also qualify. Online, tick “Yes, my request is urgent”; on paper, write “urgent” on the envelope. IRCC cannot guarantee you will get the document in time. Include your dated itinerary or ticket, the travel payment receipt showing date, amount and payment method, a letter explaining the urgency, and supporting evidence. Provide English or French translations where required. The five-day window describes when you can request urgent handling. IRCC does not publish a PRTD processing estimate.

After you return

A PRTD is normally valid for a single entry. You can apply for a PRTD only from outside Canada, and you can get a PR card only while you are in Canada, so apply for a new PR card as soon as you return. If IRCC refuses the PRTD, follow the instructions in the refusal letter. Record the application number, submission date, decision date and travel date in your timeline so the record matches your travel history.

Count your days with the 730-day calculator →