Bloody 'eck, 'ave done so many a time.It would be, if you provided the source for this:
10 years in Canada without valid PR card
- Thread starter caloca
- Start date
Most here, in this forum, probably do not need (or want to see) a detailed analytical digest of the reasoning underlying how things work in this regard. Especially not in conjunction with some weedy nuances. Most here get it.
Otherwise noting "anal" looms foremost in such an analysis.
But I can and will spell it out. Kind of what I do. Analysis, which includes, yeah, you know, that part suggesting detail intensity on the order of annoying, oh so anal.
What is "acceptable:"
Key consideration: "acceptable" for what?
At the risk of focusing on semantics, in the context here reference to "sufficient" probably better illuminates what is at stake . . . what is sufficient to establish (1) identity, and (2) Canadian status. A traveler who presents, to CBSA at a Port-of-Entry, sufficient information or evidence (or a combination, of course), to establish their identity and their status as a Canadian (PR or citizen), is entitled to enter Canada. Note: For this, NO particular documents are necessary.
Identification:
Whether a form of identification is "acceptable" is more or less about the authenticity of the document and whether it is what it purports to be. What appears to be a valid drivers' license is ordinarily an "acceptable" form of identification.
Lots of IRCC web pages refer to presenting drivers' licenses as an acceptable form of identification. And, moreover, this is consistent with many other government agencies which accept a drivers' license as a form of identification.
But for purposes of many immigration related applications, a drivers' license alone is NOT sufficient documentation to establish identity; many applications require TWO forms of ID (and some of these also require a photo meeting specifications). Some provincial health care programs similarly require presentation of two forms of ID.
In scores and scores of scenarios, establishing identity is about a combination of presenting required documentation PLUS answering questions, providing information, and often involves a comparison of person's face with photo on ID.
Proof of Identification in Port-of-Entry Screening:
No, a drivers' license alone is NOT likely to be sufficient documentation of identity for purposes of entry into Canada at a PoE, at least not without either some corroborating evidence or documentation, or in more extreme situations, some intensive scrutiny and cross-checks (could take awhile). The drivers' license is nonetheless an acceptable form of ID.
For Canadian travelers the primary, preferred documentation of identity is the Canadian's valid PR card or Canadian passport. And of course so long as the actual document presented is acceptable (that is, there is no reason to doubt it is a valid document), that constitutes documentation of both the Canadian's identity and status. As far as I have seen, this is deemed sufficient an overwhelming majority of times a Canadian is screened at a PoE (including PRs presenting a valid PR card).
But these documents (valid PR card or valid Canadian passport) are NOT necessary. While it is the traveler's burden to prove their identity and status, there is a broad range of documentation and evidence which will commonly suffice, and which procedural fairness dictates will meet that burden of proof.
The technical question here is what is sufficient to establish the traveler is a Canadian (whether a citizen or a PR).
In most cases, documents establishing the traveler's identity will be enough for CBSA to verify the traveler is a Canadian PR, based on information in GCMS. So, in some instances, depending on whether the border officials perceive cause to have questions or suspicions, yeah, a driver's license alone might actually suffice. That said, border officials NEVER fully rely on any one thing alone; they are always looking at and considering individually specific things (like the traveler's driver's license, if that is the best document the traveler has to present) in the context of every other aspect and bit of information in front of them (including the traveler's demeanor, facial expressions and physical gestures included).
When CBSA border officials are satisfied the traveler is a Canadian, the traveler is entitled to entry into Canada; for Canadian citizens this is a right protected by the Charter; for PRs, in contrast, this is a statutorily based entitlement (also called a "right" in less formal usage).
At a PoE, NO particular documents are necessary for a traveler to show they have Canadian status. Absent a valid status document (Canadian passport or PR card), what will suffice to satisfy examining officers the traveler has Canadian status can vary widely. HOWEVER, as long as identity is established (which these days is primarily about presenting a valid passport), for most PRs the border officials will be able to establish the traveler's PR status through that individual's client records in GCMS.
That process goes a lot more smoothly (and faster) if the traveler can present alternative documents that at least are strong evidence of their PR status (similarly for Canadian citizenship). An expired PR card is almost as good as a valid PR card (although, presenting an expired PR card might trigger RO compliance questions, depending on other circumstances). Most often referenced alternative is the PR's CoPR.
Beyond that, how it goes and what will satisfy the border officials, depends on the whole gamut of individual factors. Some of us just happen to appear more suspicious than others; others have this or that circumstance which invites increased suspicion. Indeed, various circumstances can make officials more comfortable or less so. As concerns or suspicions go up, scrutiny increases.
But a Canadian drivers' license should really help. It is acceptable ID. It also evidences residency in Canada. It has information on it which can be readily cross-checked against other information. My sense is the traveler would need to be appear rather suspicious if their presentation of a home-country passport plus a Canadian drivers' license did not facilitate prompt permission to proceed into Canada.
But I did this 15 years ago... I went to Niagara Falls with my parents. We decided to go to the middle of the rainbow bridge to make a picture. All of us has only my DL as ID. I asked the officer if it's OK to come back. He said yes. Nice...but when we returned, the officer is gone...had to explain to the new officer that we don't have IDs and just to make pictures...Let in, no problem..
Yeah, that is indeed a hard one to explain. Not carrying any ID. Who does that?
Years ago, when I was living a lot closer, we would ride our bicycles a lot on the trails on the Canadian side of the Niagara River, and we often rode across the Rainbow Bridge (and even more years ago before that, we also rode across the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge a ways downstream), and many other times we walked across (typically when family from elsewhere was visiting, showing them the sights so to say). Even though we traveled light, we always had ID. Cannot imagine being, well . . .
. . . anyway, no, I don't walk to the grocery store a km down the trail through green space here without ID on me. And generally I am not the paranoid sort.
But nonetheless your experience does indeed illustrate precisely my point, that at the Port-of-Entry it is about the border officials being persuaded and NOT about presenting any particular documents. (Noting though even if it was a busy day on the Rainbow Bridge, even fifteen years ago, pretty easy for border officials to reasonably verify where particular pedestrians came from, whether it was from the U.S. side or the Canadian.)
In contrast, when boarding an airline flight coming to Canada, it is all about the specific documents. For PRs, with exceptions (like U.S. citizens), to get on the plane the PR needs to have (at some point) presented a valid PR card or a PR TD.
Still, shaking my head a little, though, not carrying ID. Hmmm.
Just took Flair Airlines from SFO to YVR. No, they don't ask for PR card! Maybe they are too cheap to do the job...$26 for one way though...anyway, I still need PR card for the machine, get a ticket, and show it to CBSA person...right now they don't sit in a cabin, just stand there and most likely, anyone has a ticket will be let go without asking...They could put the job to airlines already thus do nothing to check...
And my wife had the experience that she cannot find her PR after landing YYZ. The same, she said I cannot find it but she had it otherwise she cannot boarding. She was let in without any issue
Indeed, your information is there, give your name and date of birth, the officer can see everything in the system. The question is if you can pass the airlines's check, because they DONNOT have a system...
Last edited: