Re-entering Canada without PR Card, only CoPR and passport - by plane

[dpenabill]

Can you provide references or sources on which you based above statements?

Something like web link, and not generic statements like “reports” or “reporting”.

The temptation is suggest doing the homework yourself. After all, the rule requiring PRs to present either a valid PR card or a PR Travel Document when boarding a flight to Canada is NOT obscure or difficult to document. And no advanced studies in international relations is necessary to recognize it is RECKLESS and wrong to suggest that PRs who carry a visa-exempt passport which has previously been approved for eTA have "pretty good chances" to board a flight to Canada without a PR card or a PR Travel Document.

Moreover, to be frank, there is reason to doubt the sincerity of the query, since the rule has been so broadly publicized and there is virtually no doubt about what it requires and that it is generally (with isolated exceptions) enforced, and the rule is otherwise easily found on multiple IRCC web pages. Which others and I have referenced, cited, quoted, and oft times linked in this forum many times over the course of the last two years.

Nonetheless, at the risk of feeding troll bait, I'll humour the query:

There are numerous sources describing the requirement that PRs present a valid PR card or a PR Travel Document to board a flight to Canada. One among many is the basic information page for PRs at the IRCC website (see https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html ):

Permanent residents (PRs) of Canada must carry and present their valid PR card or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) when boarding a flight to Canada, or travelling to Canada on any other commercial carrier. If you do not carry your PR card or PRTD, you may not be able to board your flight, train, bus or boat to Canada.​

The rule is simple, straight-forward, and based on relatively easily found statutes and regulations (both easily researched and browsed at the Justice Laws Website; see https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/index.html for anyone willing to do a modicum of homework).

If you are asking for sources or links documenting that the rule is actually enforced, no link is necessary, just read this forum, here, including the pages above. In particular, if you doubt the rule is being enforced, here is a small sample of posts (including links to the page displaying the original post) by others emphasizing this is now the rule and that it is generally enforced, with acknowledgement of occasional exceptions (largely consistent with my summary above):

1. Unless you are American, the person you spoke to at the airline gave you very bad advice. It's not a "take a chance and maybe they'll let me board" situation. You will NOT be allowed to board a plane to Canada without a valid PR card or a PRTD. As a PR, CBSA will grant you entry whether you have a PR card or not.

2. As a PR, you can't even apply for an eTA.

No it is not at the discretion of the airline. As a PR you need a PR card or a PRTD. Yes, eTA is not an option but that is intentional.

Believe me and all the others: You have no chance, literally zero chance, to board the plane without either an eTA or a valid PR card or a valid PRTD. You will make it all the way to the gate and when they swipe your passport there will be a large "Do not board" message

ETAs are never asked for by an airline. They are automatically linked to your passport electronically only. So an airline upon scanning your passport, will see immediately from the Canadian system if you have a valid and active eTA or not.

When landing as a PR, eTA are not instantly cancelled, this process can often takes weeks or months. So the only reason you were able to travel back to Canada is that you were incredibly lucky they had not gotten around to cancelling your eTA yet. If they had, you would have been denied boarding.

You won't be able to board a flight originating outside Canada and flying into Canada without a PR card or a PRTD.

Once you landed, your eTA technically became invalid. This means that in order to board a plane with Canada as a destination you will need to have your PR card or a PRTD.

CBSA will let you in at the border, but the chances are very high that the airline will refuse to take you there.

There's a chance that your eTA hasn't been cancelled, but it's a big (and potentially expensive) risk for you to take. I would consider that without the PR Card or PRTD you will not be allowed to fly to Canada.

Also note that there are many other anecdotal reports in other topics in this forum illustrating the rule actually being applied since the eTA process was fully implemented, with some isolated reports of exceptions (regarding which, as I noted in the post you quote, there are various possible explanations NOT worth revisiting since the rule itself is so clear and is generally applied, with some exceptions). I have not been so lazy that I have not revisited and reviewed these many reports, after reading them the first time, but I am lazy enough to not do the homework of finding them again and linking them for you. Sorry. There are, nonetheless, many such posts in multiple topics in this forum.

 

[jotaele]

Hi all,

Quick question. When flying from Europe to Canada, being the itinerary Madrid - Frankfurt and then Frankfurt - Canada, in a similar situation to many people in this post (i.e. PR with just CoPR, staying abroad not long enough to consider applying for PRTD), is there a chance to be denied boarding in your transfer flight, or whether getting away with boarding in your first plane there should be no further passport scans untill croaacro Canada's border?
I understand the risk of not having the required documents to travel, but getting stuck in Madrid, where my family is from will be one thing, getting stuck in Frankfurt will be a problem.

Additionally, if still in possession of a physical working visa (obviously cancelled as obtained PR), will showing this at boarding be sufficient? Can't think of a way of the airline knows whtherw the temporary visa is valid or not, since it's expired day is middle of next year, unless they get a message saying I'm a PR after scanning my passport.

Thanks for your help

 

[spyfy]

Hi all,

Quick question. When flying from Europe to Canada, being the itinerary Madrid - Frankfurt and then Frankfurt - Canada, in a similar situation to many people in this post (i.e. PR with just CoPR, staying abroad not long enough to consider applying for PRTD), is there a chance to be denied boarding in your transfer flight, or whether getting away with boarding in your first plane there should be no further passport scans untill croaacro Canada's border?
I understand the risk of not having the required documents to travel, but getting stuck in Madrid, where my family is from will be one thing, getting stuck in Frankfurt will be a problem.

Additionally, if still in possession of a physical working visa (obviously cancelled as obtained PR), will showing this at boarding be sufficient? Can't think of a way of the airline knows whtherw the temporary visa is valid or not, since it's expired day is middle of next year, unless they get a message saying I'm a PR after scanning my passport.

Thanks for your help

There is no difference regarding this PRTD problem if you have a connecting flight. You will not be able to board the plane from Frankfurt to Canada without having either a PR card or a PRTD period. There is no loophole, there is no "trick" around it.

Obviously, when you check in in Madrid, the agent will also try to check you in for the flight from Frankfurt to Canada. The agent will most likely even refuse to process your checkin without the sufficient documents. Even if the agent checked you in without the documents (which he normally should already refuse to do), once you are at the gate in Frankfurt and you are showing your boarding pass for the flight to Canada, the gate agent will scan your boarding pass and there will be a huge, unmissable "DO NOT BOARD" message on their screen. Gate agents are instructed to follow these do not board messages without any leeway. If an airline lets a passenger board despite a do not board message, they are facing hefty fines. They have nothing to win in letting you board.

There are no physical passport checks involved here. Your boarding pass is digitally linked to your passport. Every time your boarding pass is scanned, it is checked against your passport and immigration credentials.

The gate agent is not qualified to judge your immigration credentials. Most likely they have no clue about Canada's immigration system. Their job is to let anyone pass with a green flag and to stop anyone with a red flag from boarding. Showing them paper documents will not sway them. This worked before the eTA times and it might have worked in the very first weeks of eTA times because people were still struggling with the tech. It is not working anymore.

You being able to check in in Madrid is no indication you will make it in Frankfurt. I have first-hand experience:
- I check in for a flight Zurich-London-Toronto
- The agent in Zurich barely cared and me mentioning that I am a PR was enough for him to check me in for both flights.
- I took the flight to London
- At the gate in London, my boarding pass was scanned. The red "Do not board flag appeared".
- I had to produce my PR card, the gate agent spent about 1-2 Minutes entering my PR card details into the computer which swayed the computer of flagging me green.
These gate shenanigans when changing flights are normally not necessary. The reason is that usually the agent at the first airport enters the details, but in my case the Zurich guy was lazy. Still I didn't make it through.

Assuming you possessed an eTA before becoming a PR, there is a slight chance that the eTA is still in their system. There are sporadic (!) reports of people whose eTAs were still valid, but this is very unlikely and you shouldn't count on it.

 

[jotaele]

There is no difference regarding this PRTD problem if you have a connecting flight. You will not be able to board the plane from Frankfurt to Canada without having either a PR card or a PRTD period. There is no loophole, there is no "trick" around it.

Obviously, when you check in in Madrid, the agent will also try to check you in for the flight from Frankfurt to Canada. The agent will most likely even refuse to process your checkin without the sufficient documents. Even if the agent checked you in without the documents (which he normally should already refuse to do), once you are at the gate in Frankfurt and you are showing your boarding pass for the flight to Canada, the gate agent will scan your boarding pass and there will be a huge, unmissable "DO NOT BOARD" message on their screen. Gate agents are instructed to follow these do not board messages without any leeway. If an airline lets a passenger board despite a do not board message, they are facing hefty fines. They have nothing to win in letting you board.

There are no physical passport checks involved here. Your boarding pass is digitally linked to your passport. Every time your boarding pass is scanned, it is checked against your passport and immigration credentials.

The gate agent is not qualified to judge your immigration credentials. Most likely they have no clue about Canada's immigration system. Their job is to let anyone pass with a green flag and to stop anyone with a red flag from boarding. Showing them paper documents will not sway them. This worked before the eTA times and it might have worked in the very first weeks of eTA times because people were still struggling with the tech. It is not working anymore.

You being able to check in in Madrid is no indication you will make it in Frankfurt. I have first-hand experience:
- I check in for a flight Zurich-London-Toronto
- The agent in Zurich barely cared and me mentioning that I am a PR was enough for him to check me in for both flights.
- I took the flight to London
- At the gate in London, my boarding pass was scanned. The red "Do not board flag appeared".
- I had to produce my PR card, the gate agent spent about 1-2 Minutes entering my PR card details into the computer which swayed the computer of flagging me green.
These gate shenanigans when changing flights are normally not necessary. The reason is that usually the agent at the first airport enters the details, but in my case the Zurich guy was lazy. Still I didn't make it through.

Assuming you possessed an eTA before becoming a PR, there is a slight chance that the eTA is still in their system. There are sporadic (!) reports of people whose eTAs were still valid, but this is very unlikely and you shouldn't count on it.

I see. Thanks for sharing your experience.

So, if I understood you, you were not allowed to get in the plane in London. What did happen afterwards? Did they send you back to Zurich? Or did they made you stay in London and you had to work yourself out a way to get back to Canada on your own? What happened to your hold luggage? Just to clarify, when you say you had to produce your PR card, do you mean you had your physical card with you, or not yet?

I have gone to the airport in Madrid today, explained to the Lufthansa's manager my case and showed my documents, and he confirmed that it's good with them to let me board, but based on your experience, now I'm really worried of what can happen in Frankfurt. From your knowledge, if when scanning my passport in Spain they introduce whichever UCI or CoPR number associated with my booking (despite knowing this is not sufficient to travel based on Canada's legislation) to make it chanfe to a green light (if this can even happen), then should I expect having no issues in Frankfurt? I know you might not know this as is a really specific situation, and still understand all the associated risks derived by not following the standard procedure (wish I was staying long enough to get a PRTD, but unfortunately I'm not and need to get back to work)

Thanks afain for your time and help

 

[canuck78]

I see. Thanks for sharing your experience.

So, if I understood you, you were not allowed to get in the plane in London. What did happen afterwards? Did they send you back to Zurich? Or did they made you stay in London and you had to work yourself out a way to get back to Canada on your own? What happened to your hold luggage?

I have gone to the airport in Madrid today, explained to the Lufthansa's manager my case and showed my documents, and he confirmed that it's good with them to let me board, but based on your experience, not really worried of what can happen in Frankfurt. From your knowledge, if when scanning my passport in Spain they introduce whichever UCI or CoPR number associated with my booking (despite knowing this is not sufficient to travel based on Canada's legislation) to make it chanfe to a green light (if this can even happen), then should I expect having no issues in Frankfurt? I know you might not know this as is a really specific situation, and still understand all the associated risks derived by not following the standard procedure (wish I was staying long enough to get a PRTD, but unfortunately I'm not and need to get back to work)

Thanks afain for your time and help

Did you speak to the check-in people? They should be aware of what is needed to board the flight because airlines lose money if they have to send you back.

 

[jotaele]

Did you speak to the check-in people? They should be aware of what is needed to board the flight because airlines lose money if they have to send you back.

I went to the airport and show them my passport and my CoPR and they told me I'm good to get on the plane. However, they did not scan it, so not sure what will happen when they do so. Also, I checked these with the Lufthansa's team, since my initial flight is with them and they will be the one doing the check-in in Madrid (even though the whole reservation has been made with Air Canada). Once in Frankfurt i'lI board an Air Canada plane to Calgary, and this is what worries me now, since based on the previous comment they might not let me board that plane after scanning my boarding pass at the gate, meaning I'm stuck in Frankfurt with no clue of what will happen.

 

[canuck78]

I went to the airport and show them my passport and my CoPR and they told me I'm good to get on the plane. However, they did not scan it, so not sure what will happen when they do so. Also, I checked these with the Lufthansa's team, since my initial flight is with them and they will be the one doing the check-in in Madrid (even though the whole reservation has been made with Air Canada). Once in Frankfurt i'lI board an Air Canada plane to Calgary, and this is what worries me now, since based on the previous comment they might not let me board that plane after scanning my boarding pass at the gate, meaning I'm stuck in Frankfurt with no clue of what will happen.

The person who you were speaking with likely had no idea what they were talking about and did not input your name in a computer. If you end up in Frankfurt why can't you fly back to Madrid?

 

[jotaele]

The person who you were speaking with likely had no idea what they were talking about and did not input your name in a computer. If you end up in Frankfurt why can't you fly back to Madrid?

I can fly back to Madrid, of course. But I was wondering whether it is the Arline's responsibility to send me back to Madrid since they did not checked my documents properly in the initial flight, or it's me who has to purchase a new flight back to Madrid, which will be likely to be expensive

 

[canuck78]

I can fly back to Madrid, of course. But I was wondering whether it is the Arline's responsibility to send me back to Madrid since they did not checked my documents properly in the initial flight, or it's me who has to purchase a new flight back to Madrid, which will be likely to be expensive

Likely the airline if you booked a ticket from Madrid to Canada. If you bought separate tickets that would be different. The only issue may be that if you have an EU passport you can technically land in Frankfurt. Think you will run into issues in Madrid.

 

[spyfy]

I see. Thanks for sharing your experience.

So, if I understood you, you were not allowed to get in the plane in London. What did happen afterwards? Did they send you back to Zurich? Or did they made you stay in London and you had to work yourself out a way to get back to Canada on your own? What happened to your hold luggage? Just to clarify, when you say you had to produce your PR card, do you mean you had your physical card with you, or not yet?

I have gone to the airport in Madrid today, explained to the Lufthansa's manager my case and showed my documents, and he confirmed that it's good with them to let me board, but based on your experience, now I'm really worried of what can happen in Frankfurt. From your knowledge, if when scanning my passport in Spain they introduce whichever UCI or CoPR number associated with my booking (despite knowing this is not sufficient to travel based on Canada's legislation) to make it chanfe to a green light (if this can even happen), then should I expect having no issues in Frankfurt? I know you might not know this as is a really specific situation, and still understand all the associated risks derived by not following the standard procedure (wish I was staying long enough to get a PRTD, but unfortunately I'm not and need to get back to work)

Thanks afain for your time and help

Sorry, maybe I was a bit unclear in my last post: I had my physical PR card with me and I was allowed to board the plane in London since I showed them my PR card at the last minute (at the gate in London). I was basically intentionally playing the game of "how far will I get without my PR card" to test the system When the gate agent refused to let me board without a PR card, I then gave in and showed them the PR card and after some computer shenanigans, they let me board. But I watched the gate agent, and they copied the whole PR card number into the system before they updated my computer file.

Before I say anything else, to clarify: You are already a Permanent Resident, right? So this is not about you LANDING as a PR after freshly having been accepted for immigration. If it were, you would be good, but I understand that you already became a PR.

Of course every case is special but I have a lot of experience with travel from Europe to Canada, both on direct flights and with layovers at major European airports. I have traveled from Germany, Switzerland, France and Denmark using FRA, LHR, KEF, CDG, CPH and many minor airports. Even WITH my PR card, I often get into discussions although of course I have the necessary document. Especially when flying with a smaller carrier (e.g. Icelandair) they freak out that I have to eTA and I have to explain to them (!) that they should please enter my PR card information into their system and the light will switch to green. I once had the pleasure of being served by three checkin agents simultaneously who tried to figure out how to enter my PR card number.

Here are some general comments:

• Do not assume that some random employee in Madrid is qualified to handle this case. European airline employees are the worst when it comes to immigration regulations. Keep in mind that the majority of their flights are within the Schengen zone without any border and immigration controls, they have basically "unlearned" the issues with "actual" cross-border travel.
• More specifically, how would a Lufthansa (!) manager in Madrid know anything about Canada's system? Obviously, all Lufthansa flights leaving Madrid are going to Schengen airports (namely, German airports). So this manager never has to handle an actual international flight, just euro flights.
• So just because he/she said your documents are enough, you shouldn't take this for granted.
• It is, as my London example shows, completely irrelevant if you will be able to board the first flight from Madrid to Frankfurt. You being able to board that first flight does neither confirm nor deny that you will be able to board your second flight.

One thing I am certain of is the answer to your quote right here:

I can fly back to Madrid, of course. But I was wondering whether it is the Arline's responsibility to send me back to Madrid since they did not checked my documents properly in the initial flight, or it's me who has to purchase a new flight back to Madrid, which will be likely to be expensive

NO, they will not, under any circumstances, pay your flight back to madrid. Check the terms and conditions of any airline. It is full of disclaimes that it is always the traveler's responsibility to carry the necessary documentation to be admitted to the destination country. If you are denied boarding in Frankfurt due to documentation issues, the best you can ask for is that your flight from Frankfurt to Canada is rebooked to a later date. But even that depends on your booking category, if you booked with the airline directly or if you booked via pages like expedia and opodo. If you want to fly back to Madrid, you are of course free to do so, but that will be on your own dime.

 

[spyfy]

I see. Thanks for sharing your experience.

So, if I understood you, you were not allowed to get in the plane in London. What did happen afterwards? Did they send you back to Zurich? Or did they made you stay in London and you had to work yourself out a way to get back to Canada on your own? What happened to your hold luggage? Just to clarify, when you say you had to produce your PR card, do you mean you had your physical card with you, or not yet?

I have gone to the airport in Madrid today, explained to the Lufthansa's manager my case and showed my documents, and he confirmed that it's good with them to let me board, but based on your experience, now I'm really worried of what can happen in Frankfurt. From your knowledge, if when scanning my passport in Spain they introduce whichever UCI or CoPR number associated with my booking (despite knowing this is not sufficient to travel based on Canada's legislation) to make it chanfe to a green light (if this can even happen), then should I expect having no issues in Frankfurt? I know you might not know this as is a really specific situation, and still understand all the associated risks derived by not following the standard procedure (wish I was staying long enough to get a PRTD, but unfortunately I'm not and need to get back to work)

Thanks afain for your time and help

By the way, you can access the Skyteam's TIMATIC database here. While Lufthansa isn't skyteam, they use a similar tool to confirm your "boardability"

https://skyteam.traveldoc.aero/

Enter your flight details for FRA to Canada. If you only enter your Passport details, the system will say you need an eTA. If you use the add document button and you enter a "Residence Permit" issued by Canada", the system will then say "no eTA needed". This is exactly the magic difference at the gate.

 

[jotaele]

Sorry, maybe I was a bit unclear in my last post: I had my physical PR card with me and I was allowed to board the plane in London since I showed them my PR card at the last minute (at the gate in London). I was basically intentionally playing the game of "how far will I get without my PR card" to test the system When the gate agent refused to let me board without a PR card, I then gave in and showed them the PR card and after some computer shenanigans, they let me board. But I watched the gate agent, and they copied the whole PR card number into the system before they updated my computer file.

Before I say anything else, to clarify: You are already a Permanent Resident, right? So this is not about you LANDING as a PR after freshly having been accepted for immigration. If it were, you would be good, but I understand that you already became a PR.

Of course every case is special but I have a lot of experience with travel from Europe to Canada, both on direct flights and with layovers at major European airports. I have traveled from Germany, Switzerland, France and Denmark using FRA, LHR, KEF, CDG, CPH and many minor airports. Even WITH my PR card, I often get into discussions although of course I have the necessary document. Especially when flying with a smaller carrier (e.g. Icelandair) they freak out that I have to eTA and I have to explain to them (!) that they should please enter my PR card information into their system and the light will switch to green. I once had the pleasure of being served by three checkin agents simultaneously who tried to figure out how to enter my PR card number.

Here are some general comments:

• Do not assume that some random employee in Madrid is qualified to handle this case. European airline employees are the worst when it comes to immigration regulations. Keep in mind that the majority of their flights are within the Schengen zone without any border and immigration controls, they have basically "unlearned" the issues with "actual" cross-border travel.
• More specifically, how would a Lufthansa (!) manager in Madrid know anything about Canada's system? Obviously, all Lufthansa flights leaving Madrid are going to Schengen airports (namely, German airports). So this manager never has to handle an actual international flight, just euro flights.
• So just because he/she said your documents are enough, you shouldn't take this for granted.
• It is, as my London example shows, completely irrelevant if you will be able to board the first flight from Madrid to Frankfurt. You being able to board that first flight does neither confirm nor deny that you will be able to board your second flight.

One thing I am certain of is the answer to your quote right here:



NO, they will not, under any circumstances, pay your flight back to madrid. Check the terms and conditions of any airline. It is full of disclaimes that it is always the traveler's responsibility to carry the necessary documentation to be admitted to the destination country. If you are denied boarding in Frankfurt due to documentation issues, the best you can ask for is that your flight from Frankfurt to Canada is rebooked to a later date. But even that depends on your booking category, if you booked with the airline directly or if you booked via pages like expedia and opodo. If you want to fly back to Madrid, you are of course free to do so, but that will be on your own dime.

I'm already a PR with no PR card yet, just the CoPR. I landed last mid November, being previously on a one year working holiday visa, after crossing the border by car. So what you assume is correct, I am already a PR.
Working holiday visas have an eta associated to them, and since this happened to long ago, there is a chance it is still active, although when typing the ETA number to check the status no results are thrown, which is not reassuring. And I am well aware that I should not account on this.

May I please check if there is any coincidence between the PR card number and the UCI number or any other number present in the CoPR. I guess they are different, but if I take the risk I can always ask them to type in my UCI to see if the screen turns to green (which I anticipate will probably not happen)

May I also check, based on your experience, if you have always experience what happened to you in London when having a transfer flight in Europe? Or that particular time it was due to the Zurich employee lazyness, being your PR card asked in the rest of the ocassions in the initial airport and not when boarding the plane to Canada?

I'm unsure of the Lufthansa's manager experience on flights to Canada as you point out, however he referred to issues with previous passengers not being able to board as they were only carrying the passport and not any other document. He looked at my CoPR document and went through it, identified the document number and referred to that being sufficient. But as said, I won't take this for granted. Will go again to the airport tomorrow, and try my best to get someone to scan my passport and see what it says, in case it already says "board" or alternatively "no board" and they can try typing the numbers I have somehow in the system.

Again thanks a lot for your help and time.
Will use that boarding tool you just sent to see if it gives me any useful boarding info

 

[canuck78]

I'm already a PR with no PR card yet, just the CoPR. I landed last mid November, being previously on a one year working holiday visa, after crossing the border by car. So what you assume is correct, I am already a PR.
Working holiday visas have an eta associated to them, and since this happened to long ago, there is a chance it is still active, although when typing the ETA number to check the status no results are thrown, which is not reassuring. And I am well aware that I should not account on this.

May I please check if there is any coincidence between the PR card number and the UCI number or any other number present in the CoPR. I guess they are different, but if I take the risk I can always ask them to type in my UCI to see if the screen turns to green (which I anticipate will probably not happen)

May I also check, based on your experience, if you have always experience what happened to you in London when having a transfer flight in Europe? Or that particular time it was due to the Zurich employee lazyness, being your PR card asked in the rest of the ocassions in the initial airport and not when boarding the plane to Canada?

I'm unsure of the Lufthansa's manager experience on flights to Canada as you point out, however he referred to issues with previous passengers not being able to board as they were only carrying the passport and not any other document. He looked at my CoPR document and went through it, identified the document number and referred to that being sufficient. But as said, I won't take this for granted. Will go again to the airport tomorrow, and try my best to get someone to scan my passport and see what it says, in case it already says "board" or alternatively "no board" and they can try typing the numbers I have somehow in the system.

Again thanks a lot for your help and time.
Will use that boarding tool you just sent to see if it gives me any useful boarding info

Why aren't/didn't you apply for a PRTD if you are compliant with your RO?

 

[jotaele]

Why aren't/didn't you apply for a PRTD if you are compliant with your RO?

I had to book my flights just a week before flying and I have to be back in Canada on the 2nd for work reasons. Applying for a PRTD involves, in my case and from Spain, posting my passport to Paris and crossing my fingers for it to arrive back before the 1st January (day I fly back), which is unlikely to happen given the festive dates we are in.

May I please check what RO stands for?

 

[steaky]

I had to book my flights just a week before flying and I have to be back in Canada on the 2nd for work reasons. Applying for a PRTD involves, in my case and from Spain, posting my passport to Paris and crossing my fingers for it to arrive back before the 1st January (day I fly back), which is unlikely to happen given the festive dates we are in.

May I please check what RO stands for?

RO = Residency obligations.