Visiting Canada - PR card expired

[aranrana]

Hello!

I became a PR back in 2019, however my card has now expired. I also hadn't met my residency requirements so in effect didn't qualify back in 2022 any longer.

I want to visit Canada as a tourist in February 2025. What is the process in me renouncing my PR given the card has already expired? Is it easy enough to do this at the border when I visit for a holiday?

I am a British passport holder, so would usually just require an eTA to visit. However I assume that even though my card has expired, I've not formally lost my PR status, so not sure if an application for an eTA will even go through smoothly.

Thanks!

 

[Naturgrl]

Hello!

I became a PR back in 2019, however my card has now expired. I also hadn't met my residency requirements so in effect didn't qualify back in 2022 any longer.

I want to visit Canada as a tourist in February 2025. What is the process in me renouncing my PR given the card has already expired? Is it easy enough to do this at the border when I visit for a holiday?

I am a British passport holder, so would usually just require an eTA to visit. However I assume that even though my card has expired, I've not formally lost my PR status, so not sure if an application for an eTA will even go through smoothly.

Thanks!

If you have no plans to live and work in Canada then apply online to renounce your PR. You cannot do it at a border. You are not eligible for ETA. If you don’t want to renounce then you would have to go through a Canadian land border. There CBSA will let you in but may start the process to revoke PR.

 

[aranrana]

If you have no plans to live and work in Canada then apply online to renounce your PR. You cannot do it at a border. You are not eligible for ETA. If you don’t want to renounce then you would have to go through a Canadian land border. There CBSA will let you in but may start the process to revoke PR.

So at the moment, I would be unable to fly into Canada? Given my PR has expired and I can't apply for an eTA?

 

[Naturgrl]

So at the moment, I would be unable to fly into Canada? Given my PR has expired and I can't apply for an eTA?

Correct. You are PR not a visitor. Only way to fly directly to Canada is to a) renounce PR to apply for ETA or b) Apply for PRTD to prove that you are ready to move back to live/work in Canada. PRTD can be refused and the PR cancelled.

Other option is to fly to US, and cross at a land border as PR. You could renounce there but will take time.

 

[Copingwithlife]

So at the moment, I would be unable to fly into Canada? Given my PR has expired and I can't apply for an eTA?

“Submitting an application to voluntarily renounce PR status
It is important to note that the legislation does not require an officer to assess the reasons why a client has submitted an application to voluntarily renounce PR status.

Clients who wish to voluntarily renounce their PR status must submit a completed application form (IMM 5782) and all required supporting documents (see Document Checklist IMM 5783 and Guide 5781), including surrender of their PR card, to one of the following offices for processing:

• In Canada – by mail to the Operations Support Centre (OSC) at the following address:
  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  Operations Support Centre
  Voluntary Renunciation of PR Status
  365 Laurier Avenue West
  Ground Floor Mailroom, South Tower
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
• In Canada – at a port of entry upon arrival
• Outside Canada – at a migration office”

 

[Naturgrl]

“Submitting an application to voluntarily renounce PR status
It is important to note that the legislation does not require an officer to assess the reasons why a client has submitted an application to voluntarily renounce PR status.

Clients who wish to voluntarily renounce their PR status must submit a completed application form (IMM 5782) and all required supporting documents (see Document Checklist IMM 5783 and Guide 5781), including surrender of their PR card, to one of the following offices for processing:

• In Canada – by mail to the Operations Support Centre (OSC) at the following address:
  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  Operations Support Centre
  Voluntary Renunciation of PR Status
  365 Laurier Avenue West
  Ground Floor Mailroom, South Tower
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
• In Canada – at a port of entry upon arrival
• Outside Canada – at a migration office”

Just to add:
We recommend that you apply for Voluntary Renunciation of your PR status first, and apply for your TRV or eTA once you receive the approval of your Voluntary Renunciation.

Note: If you choose to renounce your PR status after you submit an eTA application, your Voluntary Renunciation of Permanent Resident Status application must be completed and submitted online through your secure online account in order for IRCC to continue processing your eTA application. You will be provided with instructions on how to do this after you apply for an eTA.

 

[aranrana]

Thanks both.

To clarify, this is on the guide 5781 :

Who is eligible to renounce their permanent resident status?
To renounce your status as a permanent resident, you must:

• be a permanent resident of Canada;

Even though my card has expired, I am definitely still classed as a permanent resident of Canada?


And secondly, being in the UK it seems I need to submit a paper form application to the London high commission. But if I apply for an eTA before renouncing, I can complete my renunciation via my online account which seems easier?

 

[scylla]

Thanks both.

To clarify, this is on the guide 5781 :

Who is eligible to renounce their permanent resident status?
To renounce your status as a permanent resident, you must:

• be a permanent resident of Canada;

Even though my card has expired, I am definitely still classed as a permanent resident of Canada?


And secondly, being in the UK it seems I need to submit a paper form application to the London high commission. But if I apply for an eTA before renouncing, I can complete my renunciation via my online account which seems easier?

You are definitely still a PR. The expiry of your PR card is irrelevant to your status.

I would recommend applying online to renounce your PR status.

 

[aranrana]

You are definitely still a PR. The expiry of your PR card is irrelevant to your status.

I would recommend applying online to renounce your PR status.

Thanks!

And I can only renounce via online if I were to apply for an eTA first?

 

[Copingwithlife]

Just to add:
We recommend that you apply for Voluntary Renunciation of your PR status first, and apply for your TRV or eTA once you receive the approval of your Voluntary Renunciation.

Note: If you choose to renounce your PR status after you submit an eTA application, your Voluntary Renunciation of Permanent Resident Status application must be completed and submitted online through your secure online account in order for IRCC to continue processing your eTA application. You will be provided with instructions on how to do this after you apply for an eTA.

Key word is “ recommended “ not mandatory

Clients who wish to voluntarily renounce their PR status must submit a completed application form (IMM 5782) and all required supporting documents (see Document Checklist IMM 5783 and Guide 5781), including surrender of their PR card, to one of the following offices for processing:

They could go via the States like everyone is always recommending on here , and per the instructions below give the documents at the POE

• In Canada – by mail to the Operations Support Centre (OSC) at the following address:
  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  Operations Support Centre
  Voluntary Renunciation of PR Status
  365 Laurier Avenue West
  Ground Floor Mailroom, South Tower
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
• In Canada – at a port of entry upon arrival
• Outside Canada – at a migration office”