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Travel with valid CoPR

CatB

Star Member
Jul 23, 2021
136
44
Hello everyone,

I'm wondering if someone can help me understand this.

I have a valid CoPR and even a valid eTA. I'm still waiting for my PR Card because they're taking their sweet time.
From everything I read online plus my common sense, I would understand I can travel outside of Canada and come back with my valid CoPR.

When I google it, this is what canada.ca says:

If you hold a valid (not expired) Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and visa, you can travel to Canada as of June 21, 2021.

On canada.ca, I can also find this info:

While you wait for your PR card, you can use your signed COPR document (if you have one), or the letter confirming permanent resident status to

  • prove that you’re a permanent resident in Canada

I called the borders and the gentleman told me I could go outside of Canada and come back with it from his understanding. Plus I'm traveling with my canadian baby.He was pretty sure about it, but told me to check with Immigration just in case. When I first spoke to an Immigration agent, the lady told me "Of course, the CoPR is a legal document, a temporary PR, just so you can use while the card doesn't come" but then I told her I heard some people saying I should get a travel document... She said "I don't think so but let me confirm with Citizen department".. Came back apologizing, saying she was wrong and apparently I would need the travel document or to travel by land. By land they accept my CoPR as a valid document, but by air they don't.

Again, how do they say I can use the document to PROVE I'm a PR, but I can't use it to come by air? Specially now that they're saying people can use their CoPR to come to Canada. I swear it makes no sense in my head and I already spoke to officers saying they cannot understand it either.

Is there someone with some good insight?
 

Osius

Full Member
May 26, 2020
22
0
Hi CatB,

Could you figure out what was going on?
We are in the same situation...

Cheers
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,840
22,108
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Hi CatB,

Could you figure out what was going on?
We are in the same situation...

Cheers
If you have already become a PR and want to return to Canada by air, then you need either a valid PR card or a valid PR Travel Document to board an airplane.

The exception is if you are re-entering Canada through a US/Canada land border via a private vehicle. In that case you case use your COPR to re-enter even through you have already become a PR.
 

Osius

Full Member
May 26, 2020
22
0
Ok, I see.....

We'll be leaving Canada before we even get a COPR. A good friend will mail our pr-cards with a reliable courier to us.
But from my understanding now, as a visa-exempt passport holder (German and French), we do not need to apply for a PRTD, right?

Cheers
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,840
22,108
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Ok, I see.....

We'll be leaving Canada before we even get a COPR. A good friend will mail our pr-cards with a reliable courier to us.
But from my understanding now, as a visa-exempt passport holder (German and French), we do not need to apply for a PRTD, right?

Cheers
Once you are PRs, you will need either a valid PR card or a valid PRTD to return to Canada by air. Doesn't matter if you are visa exempt or not.
 

CatB

Star Member
Jul 23, 2021
136
44
If you have already become a PR and want to return to Canada by air, then you need either a valid PR card or a valid PR Travel Document to board an airplane.

The exception is if you are re-entering Canada through a US/Canada land border via a private vehicle. In that case you case use your COPR to re-enter even through you have already become a PR.
That’s exactly it. Unfortunately the US has a travel ban for international flights so I’ve been waiting. I can’t go out of the country for more than 2 weeks and the Travel document can take much longer..