Boarding a plane to canada with no PR card

[Snowman1308]

Hello everybody

I just landed a couple of weeks ago and now I find myself in the odd spot of probably having to travel outside Canada before my PR card arrives.

I have had conflicting information since CBSA officers at the airport told me I can re enter using my italian passport and my COPR while IRCC told me I need the PR Card or PRTD.

the problem is that I will be in Germany for a couple of weeks and I believe there won't be time for a PRTD to be produced.

is it really that hard to board a plane with a visa exempt country passport with an ETA even as a PR?

thanks

 

[scylla]

Hello everybody

I just landed a couple of weeks ago and now I find myself in the odd spot of probably having to travel outside Canada before my PR card arrives.

I have had conflicting information since CBSA officers at the airport told me I can re enter using my italian passport and my COPR while IRCC told me I need the PR Card or PRTD.

the problem is that I will be in Germany for a couple of weeks and I believe there won't be time for a PRTD to be produced.

is it really that hard to board a plane with a visa exempt country passport with an ETA even as a PR?

thanks

You need either a valid PR card or valid PRTD to board a plane. Airline will refuse you boarding without one of these.

Your ETA is no longer valid since you are now a PR.

Other option is to fly to the US and re-enter Canada by land.

 

[Snowman1308]

You need either a valid PR card or valid PRTD to board a plane. Airline will refuse you boarding without one of these.

Your ETA is no longer valid since you are now a PR.

Other option is to fly to the US and re-enter Canada by land.

yes except I live in NFLD so that really doesn't help much... I tried to see options for flying into St Pierre and Miquelon (which is france) but all the flights go through Canada...

How are the airlines going to know that though? There is no proof of that in my passport and my eta is still valid if i check online. The only reason I keep asking is because two different CBSA officers on duty (not chatting at a bar) have told me that the limitations apply only to Visa required country and not visa exempt..

 

[canuck_in_uk]

yes except I live in NFLD so that really doesn't help much... I tried to see options for flying into St Pierre and Miquelon (which is france) but all the flights go through Canada...

How are the airlines going to know that though? There is no proof of that in my passport and my eta is still valid if i check online. The only reason I keep asking is because two different CBSA officers on duty (not chatting at a bar) have told me that the limitations apply only to Visa required country and not visa exempt..

The eTA is eventually cancelled. When that will happen, no one can say. You could check on your way to the airport and it would still be valid but by the time you check-in, it could be cancelled. No way to know and a big risk to take. If it is cancelled when you check in, you will be refused boarding, regardless of being visa-exempt or not.

 

[zardoz]

Hello everybody

I just landed a couple of weeks ago and now I find myself in the odd spot of probably having to travel outside Canada before my PR card arrives.

I have had conflicting information since CBSA officers at the airport told me I can re enter using my italian passport and my COPR while IRCC told me I need the PR Card or PRTD.

the problem is that I will be in Germany for a couple of weeks and I believe there won't be time for a PRTD to be produced.

is it really that hard to board a plane with a visa exempt country passport with an ETA even as a PR?

thanks

Your "conflicting information" is due to asking the wrong question of the wrong people.
1. CBSA will allow you to ENTER Canada at the port of entry. Nothing about boarding an aircraft.
2. IRCC is referring to boarding an aircraft, not what happens at the port of entry.

 

[Snowman1308]

Your "conflicting information" is due to asking the wrong question of the wrong people.
1. CBSA will allow you to ENTER Canada at the port of entry. Nothing about boarding an aircraft.
2. IRCC is referring to boarding an aircraft, not what happens at the port of entry.

Well here is the thing, I initially thought so too. So I went again to CBSA to ask that and they confirmed it saying PRTD are only necessary for visa required country, if you are visa exempt and have a valid ETA your COPR will be enough to board a plane and get into Canada.

 

[scylla]

Well here is the thing, I initially thought so too. So I went again to CBSA to ask that and they confirmed it saying PRTD are only necessary for visa required country, if you are visa exempt and have a valid ETA your COPR will be enough to board a plane and get into Canada.

You're absolutely free to try. We have had a few people here in similar situation before and they haven't been allowed to board the plane since this ETA has shown as no longer valid in their systems. Just make sure you have a Plan B in case the airline won't let you on.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Well here is the thing, I initially thought so too. So I went again to CBSA to ask that and they confirmed it saying PRTD are only necessary for visa required country, if you are visa exempt and have a valid ETA your COPR will be enough to board a plane and get into Canada.

As I already said, the eTA will be cancelled at some point. It is your risk to take on whether it will still be valid when you want to return to Canada. Also, COPRs means nothing to airline staff, so showing a COPR when boarding a plane won't do anything.

 

[Snowman1308]

As I already said, the eTA will be cancelled at some point. It is your risk to take on whether it will still be valid when you want to return to Canada. Also, COPRs means nothing to airline staff, so showing a COPR when boarding a plane won't do anything.

Ok so what solutions do I have?
I will be abroad (germany) for like three weeks, is that enough to get me a PRTD?

 

[kcward7]

Ok so what solutions do I have?
I will be abroad (germany) for like three weeks, is that enough to get me a PRTD?

No one can tell you. There's no stated processing times for PRTDs. Some people have had experiences receiving them in a few days, others much longer. You can try to inquire with the VAC that will process it but you have to be prepared that if you don't have it in hand in time you may be denied getting on the flight.

Editing to add the purpose of the PRTD is to have it in hand relatively quickly, I know someone who applied from London and got it within the week, but no guarantees that will be your situation. You're going to have to assess the risk.

 

[mad_hatter]

yes except I live in NFLD so that really doesn't help much... I tried to see options for flying into St Pierre and Miquelon (which is france) but all the flights go through Canada...

How are the airlines going to know that though? There is no proof of that in my passport and my eta is still valid if i check online. The only reason I keep asking is because two different CBSA officers on duty (not chatting at a bar) have told me that the limitations apply only to Visa required country and not visa exempt..

You can fly into Detroit, cross into Windsor and then fly to Newfoundland. It is expensive but doable.

 

[Will_PA]

4 days to get PRTD in London last week.

Bit of a hassle but peace of mind to have it. I don't think it was necessary (noone from the airline looked at my passport long enough to see it). My eTA was cancelled on landing (I checked online).

If you're near the embassy in Germany then I say apply. Mine is multiple and valid for a year, so some future utility if PR card ever requested.

 

[Snowman1308]

Thanks everybody for your answers.

I have been trying to contact both VAC and Visa Office and they both say they cannot give any idea of the time requested to issue the PRTD. This is crazy, how am I supposed to plan a business trip abroad if don't have that information?

 

[steaky]

yes except I live in NFLD so that really doesn't help much... I tried to see options for flying into St Pierre and Miquelon (which is france) but all the flights go through Canada...

How are the airlines going to know that though? There is no proof of that in my passport and my eta is still valid if i check online. The only reason I keep asking is because two different CBSA officers on duty (not chatting at a bar) have told me that the limitations apply only to Visa required country and not visa exempt..

But once you go through a land border, you can go to a Canadian airport and fly to YYL. Domestic travel doesn't need PR card or PRTD.