1. Learn when to apply for a PR card

If you've recently become a , Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will mail your first permanent resident (PR) card to you. You do not need to apply for it.

Make sure IRCC has your current address. If you move, you can use IRCC's address updating tool to give them your new address.

When to renew or replace PR card

You do not lose your permanent residence status if you lose your PR card or if the card is stolen or expires.

If you're in Canada, you can apply for a new card if:

your card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months
your card is lost, stolen, or damaged
you changed your legal name and need to update your card
you want to change the gender identifier on your card
IRCC made a mistake on your PR card, and you got your card more than 60 days ago

You can also apply for a PR card if you're in Canada and:

you never got a PR card, and
it's been 180 days (about 6 months) since you became a permanent resident.

Mistakes

If IRCC made a mistake on your card and you got it less than 60 days ago, you can apply to have your card reissued for free following a separate process. If IRCC also made the mistake on your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), then you must first apply to amend that. Within 60 days of getting your corrected COPR, you can apply to IRCC to reissue your PR card.

If the mistake in your PR card or COPR was because of a mistake you made in your application, you should get legal advice.

Plan before you travel

To apply for a PR card, you must be in Canada. And you must stay in Canada until your PR card arrives.

It's important to have a valid PR card if you're planning to travel outside of Canada. Check the date that your PR card expires.

If your card expires outside Canada

If your PR card expires while you're outside Canada, you will not be able to travel to Canada on a commercial carrier like an airline, train, bus, or boat. That's because commercial carriers usually ask for your PR card. And when you get to Canada, you will need to show proof of your permanent resident status to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

You can apply for a PR travel document. You can use the travel document to prove your permanent resident status when you return to Canada. Once you're back in Canada, you can apply for a new PR card.

If you’re driving from the U.S.

You may be able to enter Canada without a PR card or PR travel document if:

you're driving in a private vehicle from the United States and
you have other documents you can show the border officials to prove your status.

Before you approach the border, make sure you meet the residency requirement. Get legal help if you have concerns.