My Refugee Protection Identity document is expired, lost, or stolen. What can I do?Updated March 26
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides whether your claim is eligible to be sent to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) for a decision. If you're eligible, you get a Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID). This used to be called a Refugee Protection Claimant Document.
If you lose your RPID, or if it's stolen, damaged or expired, you might be able to get a replacement.
You can apply for a replacement RPID in the following situations:
- You're waiting for a final decision on your application for a (PRRA)
- the of Canada is still reviewing your refugee claim
- your refugee claim or PRRA was successful
And there are other situations where you might be able to apply for a replacement RPID. But you can not replace your RPID if your PRRA was denied.
RPIDs have an expiry date. You can apply to renew your RPID if the expiry date on it:
- has passed, or
- will pass in less than 3 months.
You can also apply for a new RPID if your RPID:
- has been lost, stolen or damaged, or
- has an error on it.
If someone stole your RPID, report this to the police. Contact your local police department‘s non-emergency number to report the theft. Do not call 911 to report a stolen RPID.
You must be in Canada to renew or replace your RPID. Your expired RPID will stay valid until you get a new one.
How to apply for a new RPID
Use IRCC's web form to apply to replace your RPID. You must submit a separate web form for each person in your family who needs a new RPID.
Read the instructions and complete the web form
Read IRCC's instructions for applying to renew or replace your RPID. It has information on how to answer some of the questions.
| Web form question | What you should enter |
| What is your application number? | Enter the number that is on the top right of your current RPID that starts with a letter followed by 9 numbers. |
| What did you apply for? | Choose “Refugee” |
| What application did you submit? | Choose “Refugee Claim” |
| Did we ask you to add the document(s) to your application? | Choose the following from the dropdown menu:”No, I want to add the document(s) to support or complete my application.” |
| Please explain in the text box below what the documents are, and why you are adding them to your application. | Type the following into the text box:
|
Make sure that you fill out all the questions on the web form.
According to IRCC's instructions, if you're applying on behalf of your child who is under age 18, you do not need to submit:
- a Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) or
- an Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual form (IMM 5475).
Check your answers
Make sure you understand the questions in the web form. Check that you answered all the questions correctly. And check that you spelled everything correctly and put the correct universal client identification (UCI) number.
Upload a Photo
If you're applying for a new RPID for someone who was under the age of 18 when they made their refugee claim, you need to upload a photo of them that meets IRCC's photo specifications.
For other applicants, upload a photo only if IRCC told you they need one.
Take screenshots and submit your webform
Before you submit a web form to IRCC, it's a good idea to take a picture, screenshot or a print screen showing the answers you typed in and the documents you uploaded. This is because once you submit the web form, you cannot see what you sent.
After you submit the form, it's also a good idea to keep a copy of the confirmation of submission page. You will also get an email confirming that IRCC received your web form. Keep these for your records.
What happens next?
Once IRCC gets your request, they will:
- send you your new RPID by mail, or
- tell you to pick it up at one of their offices.
Once you get your new RPID, destroy the old RPID. The old RPID will no longer be valid.
