So i am planning to go back to Canada in 2 months, with my canadian born daughter. Her father/my husband, also a canadian citizen, is already there, but we wanted to surprise him ( we are in Portugal, Europe at the moment). Thing is, I have lost my travel documents folder that contained my PR card, passport and my daughter's passport. I have read that I need p.r. travel document, but i dont know how long that would take to process. My question is: i have a photocopy of my PR card. It is clear, shows my name, picture, id number, etc. I am only buying a a one way ticket. Will there be any problems with customs? I can ask my father in law to wait for me at the airport with the confirmation of PR that they give you. Please, this is urgent. Thank you in advance!!
Lost my PR CARD while abroad?
- Thread starter Michidavinci
- Start date
First things first, both of you need replacement passports. Also an airline will NOT accept a photocopy of PR card as a valid document. Once back in Canada it's fine to help establish your PR stats with CBSA, but definitely no good to board an airplane.
Is your own passport visa-exempt to CAnada or not? If it's exempt, then you should be able to fly on passport alone before SEpt 29. After SEpt 29 eTA become mandatory, so you will require a PR Travel Doc for sure.
If passport is not visa-exempt, then you must get a PR TD for sure.
You need a passport to send to a Canadian visa office to be issued a PR TD. Depending on the visa office, could take a couple weeks for the PR TD process. If you have a few months you would be fine.
Is your own passport visa-exempt to CAnada or not? If it's exempt, then you should be able to fly on passport alone before SEpt 29. After SEpt 29 eTA become mandatory, so you will require a PR Travel Doc for sure.
If passport is not visa-exempt, then you must get a PR TD for sure.
You need a passport to send to a Canadian visa office to be issued a PR TD. Depending on the visa office, could take a couple weeks for the PR TD process. If you have a few months you would be fine.
Thank you for the reply! I am taking care of our passports this week. My passport is portuguese, and I believe visa exempt, and I was planning on travelling between sept 15-25. Is a PRTD really required? I would travel on my passport as a tourist, but my fear is that since I am only buying a one way ticket, the customs in the Vancouver airport will not let me in the country. Can they do this?Rob_TO said:
First of all, thank you! Could I tell them at the US airport that I lost my PR card? Would there be a problem since I am travelling with my Canadian daughter? And do you know what documents I would need to cross the Canadian border?obib said:
CBSA will not refuse you entry; you are a PR and have the right of entry into the country. You can show them the photocopy of your PR card and explain you lost it.Michidavinci said:
On their website, they say I need a travel document. Is it really necessary? I'm afraid they won't, especially because I will be travelling with my 4 year old. What if they tell me I have to go back?canuck_in_uk said:
CBSA immigration in Vancouver couldn't care less HOW you get to Canada or what kind of ticket you have. You could stow away in someones luggage to come here, they wouldn't care. You're a PR, so a 1-way or return ticket is completely irrelevant.Michidavinci said:
A PR Travel Document is only required to be allowed boarding with the airline. But as mentioned, you should be able to fly on just your visa-exempt passport and not mentioning your PR status to airline, up until Sept 29. Some airlines are picky about foreign nationals traveling on 1-way tickets, so should have a back up plan to purchase a cheap onward flight from Canada if they insist on it. Of course getting a PR Travel Document is the surest and safest option to be absolutely guaranteed boarding.
Again with CBSA once at Canada immigration, they do not require a PR Travel Doc. Your passport and photocopy or PR card or COPR if you have it, is more than enough to help them confirm your PR status.
Thank you so much! I feel a lot better now, less worried. I was gonna buy the ticket from Condor airlines, partly operated by Lufthansa. Do you have any information whether they are one of the picky airlines?Rob_TO said:
I have a credit card, and will have money on my debit account as well in case they require another ticket out of Canada. I will have someone express mail my COPR before I board.
The best option is to contact the airline you plan to fly directly to ask about their policies.Michidavinci said:
Remember that COPR is only to be used when talking to CBSA in Canada, to help establish your PR status. It's not required to have, but may help speed up your process at immigration.Michidavinci said:
Do not show the COPR or mention anything about your PR status to the airline, as you are posing as a foreign national to them.
Just have a solution as backup in case they demand an onward ticket. It doesn't have to be a return ticket, it just needs to be any ticket from any random Canadian to US city. You could buy a fully refundable one on the spot only if needed, then cancel it right after you board.
Okay, I won't tell them anything about my status. I already emailed the airline to ask about their policy as suggested, but I will call them later so it'll go faster.Rob_TO said:
I checked, and a ticket to Bellingham from Vancouver is $203. Do you think I should buy this at the same time as my ticket from Lisbon to Vancouver? Or wait for the eventuality of them asking me for an onward ticket? Thank you so much for your help
Okay, since I wasn't getting a reply I decided to try and book the flight (obviously not going through with the payment) and I noticed this at the bottom: 'Note: It is necessary to present a return/on- going ticket or the relevant residence permit. Otherwise entry is not possible.'. Does the onward ticket need to be a plane ticket? Or could it be a bus, train etc ticket? Thank you in advance, guys.
Remember this is not a real rule that has strict guidelines you must follow. It's a general undefined policy that an airline may or may not decide to enforce. This policy often varies not just by airline, but also by airport and check-in person you happen to encounter. If they even ask for anything to do with onward proof, and then what specific onward proof they accept, really is up to whoever happens to be managing the check-in staff at that specific time. There is no consistency to this policy.Michidavinci said:
To be safe I would have a cheap fully refundable onward airplane flight ready to go, but not purchase it until the check-in staff actually demands to see it.
Not sure if legit, but is a very interesting site for exactly this situation. Just buy a fully refundable ticket though that you can cancel for a full refund (make sure to read booking sites refund T&Cs), and no need to even use the site.