Permanent Resident Visas: Can people travel in and out with them?

[Frank Thomas]

I have a question, please- it’s been so long since I did my permanent residency stuff, so I have forgotten a number of details and wanted to see if anyone can share with me some info on this.

If a family member obtains a permanent resident visa, travels to Canada and earns landing immigrant status but can’t yet stay in the country immediately due to a few things left to take care of in their home country- can the person still return to Canada using that same permanent resident visa, or would the person have to wait to receive their PR card or until it is sent to them and then use it to travel back to Canada? Based on my understanding, I think a permanent resident visa is valid just for one entry and becomes invalid to be used for a second entry once the person has become a landed immigrant even if their PR card is not yet out?

 

[armoured]

That initial visa can only be used once.

After that, either pr card or prtd will be needed to board flights. If pr card has not been received, apply for prtd when abroad.

At land points of entry, just need to demonstrate that one is a pr. Easiest with proper docs, but the copr will serve. If the CBSA officer can establish identity and link it to the pr file, should also be let in. (So eg a driver's license might work)

 

[scylla]

I have a question, please- it’s been so long since I did my permanent residency stuff, so I have forgotten a number of details and wanted to see if anyone can share with me some info on this.

If a family member obtains a permanent resident visa, travels to Canada and earns landing immigrant status but can’t yet stay in the country immediately due to a few things left to take care of in their home country- can the person still return to Canada using that same permanent resident visa, or would the person have to wait to receive their PR card or until it is sent to them and then use it to travel back to Canada? Based on my understanding, I think a permanent resident visa is valid just for one entry and becomes invalid to be used for a second entry once the person has become a landed immigrant even if their PR card is not yet out?

Short answer is no.

The person needs to have a valid PR card or obtain a valid PR Travel Document in order to board a flight and return to Canada.

They cannot use their COPR / PR visa to return to Canada. This will not allow them to board a plane or travel.

The other option would be to fly to the US (assuming the person has a US visa) and re-enter Canada using a private vehicle through a US/Canada land border.

 

[Frank Thomas]

Thank you so much for your responses, Scylla and armoured. They were very helpful and I’m so grateful. This is truly a great forum with so many people willing to help each other out.

With Canada now requiring vaccine passports for international travels, I wonder if airports in Canada will even recognize Covid-19 PCR tests anymore at the ports of departure and entry.

 

[YVR123]

Thank you so much for your responses, Scylla and armoured. They were very helpful and I’m so grateful. This is truly a great forum with so many people willing to help each other out.

With Canada now requiring vaccine passports for international travels, I wonder if airports in Canada will even recognize Covid-19 PCR tests anymore at the ports of departure and entry.

Pretty sure you need proof of full vaccination (not exactly vaccine passports) and also -ve test result to enter.

Full vaccination will allow you not to quarantine.

Steps to follow for your trip
If you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you must also follow these requirements:

1. Pre-entry test resultPre-entry test result requirements
All travellers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a COVID-19 test result to enter Canada.

All travellers must provide one of the accepted types of tests, not an antigen test, including those who are fully vaccinated.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#determine-fully