There is no stupid question. From my understanding, they stick the (colourful) visa in the passport and when they send it back they also send a long paper that is the confirmation of permanent residency that is confirmed when the person arrives in Canada at the airport. Few weeks after arriving in Canada a permanent residency card replacing the long paper is received.This may be a stupid question....but when they request your passport and then give you COPR what exactly is done? Do they stamp your passport? Do they send you a document? What is it exactly?