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Is PR card - travel document

Johny Bravo

Hero Member
Mar 29, 2015
326
38
Hi there, I went through a lot of posts here and I couldn't find anything similar to my question. I'm a permanent resident in Canada and I'll be going on vacation (flying) for the first time since i've got my PR card. My question is: flying back to Canada to check-in online with my airline, when they ask about the travel document, do I put my passport information and just present my PR card when I lend in Canada or I need to use my PR card to check-in before the flight back to Canada? I'm not sure how it works with eTA. Will the airline's system know that I don't need eTA when they scan my passport on the way back to Canada? Thanks
 

James_NZ1

Hero Member
Jan 15, 2017
211
49
Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Sydney, Australia
App. Filed.......
14-07-2017
Passport Req..
09-08-2018
Everything is loaded in your passport. you scan your passport and then it asks your travel document status. ie student visa, work visa, tourist, permanent resident. of course you select resident and then either scan your resident card or enter the info. you MUST always travel with your PR card and passport. never just tone or other. At check-in I think you just show both passport and card and they do the rest. I do kiosk check in and its passport scan then PR card scan.
 

James_NZ1

Hero Member
Jan 15, 2017
211
49
Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Sydney, Australia
App. Filed.......
14-07-2017
Passport Req..
09-08-2018
Hi there, I went through a lot of posts here and I couldn't find anything similar to my question. I'm a permanent resident in Canada and I'll be going on vacation (flying) for the first time since i've got my PR card. My question is: flying back to Canada to check-in online with my airline, when they ask about the travel document, do I put my passport information and just present my PR card when I lend in Canada or I need to use my PR card to check-in before the flight back to Canada? I'm not sure how it works with eTA. Will the airline's system know that I don't need eTA when they scan my passport on the way back to Canada? Thanks
also as a PR of Canada you no longer need or get an eTA for entry into Canada. The systems at airports and immigration recognize this automatically. it's keyed into your passport information when you scan which is why it's vital you enter or scan your PR card otherwise it rejects your entry and you have to line up to have it human verified
 

Johny Bravo

Hero Member
Mar 29, 2015
326
38
also as a PR of Canada you no longer need or get an eTA for entry into Canada. The systems at airports and immigration recognize this automatically. it's keyed into your passport information when you scan which is why it's vital you enter or scan your PR card otherwise it rejects your entry and you have to line up to have it human verified
Would there be an option to put the PR information in checking-in online or you'd suggest checking in at the airport?
 

Bs65

VIP Member
Mar 22, 2016
13,187
2,420
Would there be an option to put the PR information in checking-in online or you'd suggest checking in at the airport?
Believe it is a checkin desk thing only where they are faced with a board no board decision based on whether you need a visa or if visa exempt an ETA or in the case of a PR either a card or a valid PRTD. Cannot see airlines spending any money to add anything in online checkin just for Canada destinations given they might be expected to maintain similar worldwide.

Nearest they come I guess is where there is a requirement for advance passenger information either as part of the initial booking or online checkin. Been a while since I travelled international so maybe changes have been made.

If airline you are travelling with provides online checkin nothing to stop you doing so given passport / visa or ETA or PR document would still be checked visually at airport bag drop checkin anyway. Some airports is sometimes debatable whether online checkin saves any time when everyone does it and bag drop is understaffed.
 

James_NZ1

Hero Member
Jan 15, 2017
211
49
Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Sydney, Australia
App. Filed.......
14-07-2017
Passport Req..
09-08-2018
Would there be an option to put the PR information in checking-in online or you'd suggest checking in at the airport?
I've never done online check in with my PR status. the worst that I think could happen would be that it asks you to check in at the airport due to your PR status.

you could also ask your airline?
 

21Goose

VIP Member
Nov 10, 2016
5,246
1,616
AOR Received.
Feb 2017
A PR card isn't a travel document. A passport is a travel document. A valid PR card is proof of your status in Canada.

The way it works for me, I check in with my passport information. The check in process asks if I have valid status in Canada, with the options being a combination of "Valid Visa", "Resident", "ETA, "Other document". I choose Resident and enter the PR card information.

Then, at the airline counter, they ask to see my passport and PR card and give me the boarding pass.
 
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Johny Bravo

Hero Member
Mar 29, 2015
326
38
A PR card isn't a travel document. A passport is a travel document. A valid PR card is proof of your status in Canada.

The way it works for me, I check in with my passport information. The check in process asks if I have valid status in Canada, with the options being a combination of "Valid Visa", "Resident", "ETA, "Other document". I choose Resident and enter the PR card information.

Then, at the airline counter, they ask to see my passport and PR card and give me the boarding pass.
Do you check in online or at the airport?