Permanent Residence Card

[Nunuc]

Hi,

I have noticed that many people on the forum applied for their PR cards upon landing in Canada before leaving the country and having their friends/relatives send them over. I was however wondering - is it possible to apply for the PR card once your passport is stamped (i.e. once you're approved for permanent residence) and before you actually land in Canada? This would mean timing your landing in Canada so that you can actually pick up the PR card as well at the same time.

The thing that worries me about family sending it out to is - don't they have an entry/exit record based on your card? Wouldn't it arouse suspicion if you are entering Canada with your PR card without ever actually exiting the country with it?

Thanks in advance to all.

 

[MiriamT]

Hi,

I have noticed that many people on the forum applied for their PR cards upon landing in Canada before leaving the country and having their friends/relatives send them over. I was however wondering - is it possible to apply for the PR card once your passport is stamped (i.e. once you're approved for permanent residence) and before you actually land in Canada? This would mean timing your landing in Canada so that you can actually pick up the PR card as well at the same time.

No, you can't do that. You have to land, and this is when you become a PR. It'll be sent to you if you provide your address (and since this is a Family Sponsorship section, I assume you'll have an address in Canada — your sponsor's).

The thing that worries me about family sending it out to is - don't they have an entry/exit record based on your card? Wouldn't it arouse suspicion if you are entering Canada with your PR card without ever actually exiting the country with it?

Thanks in advance to all.

They don't check PR Cards upon leaving the country. The airline company checks if you have a valid passport to travel abroad, and that's it. You don't go through CBSA for that.

 

[Nunuc]

Fantastic, thank you so much.

We have no address in Canada bar for those of family/friends as both my Canadian wife and Canadian baby daughter have been with me outside Canada.

This actually brings me to another question - it says that PR is maintained by spending 2 years in a 5 years period inside Canada. However it says that this also counts if you are abroad accompanying your Canadian spouse. Does this mean that it is enough for the Canadian spouse to just live abroad or does she has to work for the Canadian government/Canadian company and be posted abroad? Or can she simply work for anyone or live in a different country.

Thanks

 

[Wm_247]

If your spouse is a Canadian citizen, you are accompanying him or her abroad, and you can supply proof of this (documents showing common address such as utility bills, rental agreements, vehicle registration/insurance etc.), then time spent as such counts towards the 2 out of 5 year residency obligation for PRs. Your Canadian spouse does not need to employed with a Canadian company or government agency, or employed at all.

Search for the question "How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status?" on the CIC Help Centre webpage to confirm this information.

Note that time spent abroad with a Canadian spouse does not count towards the 3 out of 4 years physical presence in Canada requirement for applying for citizenship (this requirement is soon going to change to 4 out of 6 years as a result of a new law). For citizenship applications, only time spent within Canada counts, with very few exceptions.

Also note that at the time of renewing your PR card, you must be able to supply a Canadian address for delivery, as PR cards will only be mailed within Canada. If your PR card expires while you are outside Canada, you must apply for a one-time travel document to return to Canada, and then apply for a card from within Canada.