Re-entering Canada without PR Card, only CoPR and passport - by plane

[donnanne]

I became PR in July and need to travel to the US next week for 2 days. However, my PR card is still in process and I have waiting almost the 9 weeks processing time (61 days) but it looks unlikely it will arrive before my planned travel.

Has anyone had expereince of taking the risk and returning from US to Canada via commercial carrier (plane) using just their CoPR and valid visa-exempt passport?
I've checked with my airline and they say all that is needed for return travel to Canada as PR is a valid passport.

1. If the airline will let you board with just a valid passport and your CoPR, will border officials permit you to enter Canada with just these documents?
2. Is an ETA required or not required? As a visa-exempt passport holder travelling to Canada as a visitor I would need an ETA but as PR now, I understand an application for ETA will be declined as I am PR so the system will not allow it. Is this correct?


Thank you

 

[Alurra71]

CBSA will allow you entry into Canada with your valid passport and your COPR. Your issue is only with the airline and whether they choose to allow you to board without a valid PR card. Previously you could board the plane as a visa exempt visitor and just not tell the airline any differently, then once landed you get into the returning resident line at the airport. Now, it's different due to ETA so I am unsure how you can now approach this situation other than postponing your trip until your PR card arrives, or waiting for a PRTD (which will take longer than your intended stay of 2 days). Otherwise, you could fly back to a border town in the US and then drive across the border with only your passport and COPR.

 

[donnanne]

Thank you for your response...

You mention: "CBSA will allow you entry into Canada with your valid passport and your COPR."
Have you experience of this? i.e travelling back to Canada yourself with just CoPR and passport?

Regarding the ETA, I'm cautious not to apply for an ETA online incase it rejects me and somehow flags me on a system.

Thanks

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I became PR in July and need to travel to the US next week for 2 days. However, my PR card is still in process and I have waiting almost the 9 weeks processing time (61 days) but it looks unlikely it will arrive before my planned travel.

Has anyone had expereince of taking the risk and returning from US to Canada via commercial carrier (plane) using just their CoPR and valid visa-exempt passport?
I've checked with my airline and they say all that is needed for return travel to Canada as PR is a valid passport.

1. If the airline will let you board with just a valid passport and your CoPR, will border officials permit you to enter Canada with just these documents?
2. Is an ETA required or not required? As a visa-exempt passport holder travelling to Canada as a visitor I would need an ETA but as PR now, I understand an application for ETA will be declined as I am PR so the system will not allow it. Is this correct?


Thank you

1. Unless you are American, the person you spoke to at the airline gave you very bad advice. It's not a "take a chance and maybe they'll let me board" situation. You will NOT be allowed to board a plane to Canada without a valid PR card or a PRTD. As a PR, CBSA will grant you entry whether you have a PR card or not.

2. As a PR, you can't even apply for an eTA.

 

[donnanne]

1. Unless you are American, the person you spoke to at the airline gave you very bad advice. It's not a "take a chance and maybe they'll let me board" situation. You will NOT be allowed to board a plane to Canada without a valid PR card or a PRTD. As a PR, CBSA will grant you entry whether you have a PR card or not.

2. As a PR, you can't even apply for an eTA.

Thank you for your comments...But can I confirm with you, how sure are you that they will not let me board? I called two different representatives of the airline and both said that all I needed was a valid passport. Did this happen to you i.e not being allowed to board a plane?
Also, how will the border official likely verify my status as PR: check on their system and/ or just accept my CoPR ?

Thanks

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you for your comments...But can I confirm with you, how sure are you that they will not let me board? I called two different representatives of the airline and both said that all I needed was a valid passport. Did this happen to you i.e not being allowed to board a plane?
Also, how will the border official likely verify my status as PR: check on their system and/ or just accept my CoPR ?

Thanks

Unless a person holds a Canadian or American passport, Canadian immigration law requires that airlines verify that they have the correct travel document, meaning either a PR card, a PRTD, an eTA or a TRV. As you have none of those, you will not be allowed to board.

CBSA will be able to determine your status by simply swiping your passport.

 

[Buletruck]

From the Air Canada web site. Note the liberal use of the word "MUST". Generally means it's not an option! You aren't getting on a plane to Canada without a valid PR card.

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/travel-requirements/travel-documents.html

Air Canada is legally required to compare a passenger's entire face with the photograph shown on the appropriate valid travel document, which must also include the passenger’s full name, date of birth and gender.

Carriage will be refused to any passenger who:

• Refuses to present the appropriate valid travel document
• Refuses to show his/her entire face
• Does not resemble the photo on the travel document

For identification and security purposes, your booking must provide your full name as it appears on your travel document; as well, you may have to provide your date of birth and gender when completing your booking.

Travel Documents:

• Canadian and U.S. citizens must present either a valid passport or a valid Nexus cardOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. when travelling by air between Canada and the United States.
• Canadians holding dual citizenship must travel to Canada with a valid Canadian passport. Certificates of citizenship and other documents previously used as proof of Canadian citizenship are no longer accepted for travel by air.
• Canadian permanent residents/landed immigrants returning to Canada from the United States must carry a valid passport and a valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card (PR Card).
• Canadian permanent residents/landed immigrants travelling to the United States as non-immigrants must have a valid passport and either a valid non-immigrant visa or an Electronic System for Travel AuthorizationOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines.(ESTA) depending on their citizenship.
• U.S. permanent residents/landed immigrants (including NEXUS cardOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. holders) must have a valid Electronic Travel AuthorizationOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. (eTA) to board a flight to Canada. They must also carry a valid passport and a valid Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (form I-551).
• Visa-exempt foreign citizens must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to board a flight to Canada. To see if the citizens of your country need an eTA or to apply for one, visit the Government of Canada’s Electronic Travel AuthorizationOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. website.
• Citizens from countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must have a valid Electronic System for Travel AuthorizationOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. (ESTA) to board a flight to the United States.
• Chinese citizens holding a full term 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 United States visa must enroll in the Electronic Visa Update SystemOpens in New WindowExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines. (EVUS) prior to travelling to the U.S.
• Other foreign citizens must make sure they have all the necessary travel documents in hand (e.g. valid passport, visa, residence permit).

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you for your comments...But can I confirm with you, how sure are you that they will not let me board? I called two different representatives of the airline and both said that all I needed was a valid passport. Did this happen to you i.e not being allowed to board a plane?
Also, how will the border official likely verify my status as PR: check on their system and/ or just accept my CoPR ?

Thanks

Technically they are correct in that all you need is a valid passport to board. However that passport must be linked electronically to a valid eTA, so when the airline swipes your passport at check-in they will get the "board" clearance due to the valid eTA.

If your passport is NOT linked to a valid and active eTA, the airline will get an automatic "no board" notice, and deny you boarding. With no eTA there is a 0% chance to be allowed boarding.

The eTA is not a physical document or anything you carry, it's simply an online approval that's linked directly to your passport.

If not a US citizen and with no PR card, then there are only 2 ways to enter Canada as a PR:
1. Apply for a PR Travel Document from a US visa application centre, and use it to fly to Canada.
2. Cross into Canada by road at a land border. For this no PR TD is needed, and CBSA can verify your PR status with your passport + COPR only.

 

[donnanne]

Understood. But since a PR cannot even apply for or obtain an eTA, it may be at the discretion of the airline whether to allow boarding or not on explanation of the situation?

 

[spyfy]

Understood. But since a PR cannot even apply for or obtain an eTA, it may be at the discretion of the airline whether to allow boarding or not on explanation of the situation?

No it is not at the discretion of the airline. As a PR you need a PR card or a PRTD. Yes, eTA is not an option but that is intentional.

Believe me and all the others: You have no chance, literally zero chance, to board the plane without either an eTA or a valid PR card or a valid PRTD. You will make it all the way to the gate and when they swipe your passport there will be a large "Do not board" message appearing on their screen that they will not miss, as previous posters already pointed out. They will then ask you if you have a PR card or PRTD which you don't and they will then deny you boarding. Guaranteed. There is no hoping. Period.

I tried it myself by intentionally not showing my PR card when taking flights to Canada. I tried it with flights from the US to Canada, with flights from Europe to Canada, with flights on Air Canada, with flights on British Airways, with flights on Lufthansa, with direct flights, with connecting flights via a third country... In all cases I made it at most to the gate (if even) and then I was not let on board until I produced my PR card.

So, please believe me and all the previous posters: If you don't have an eTA, a PR card or a PRTD you will not board that plane.

 

[Rob_TO]

Understood. But since a PR cannot even apply for or obtain an eTA, it may be at the discretion of the airline whether to allow boarding or not on explanation of the situation?

There is no discretion. If you are flagged as a "no board" (which is guaranteed with no active eTA linked to your passport), the airline can't legally board you on the plane else they would face stiff fines/penalties from Canada.

 

[drjainvishal]

Hello guys, can anyone share their experience crossing the land border with USA , with just the copr without the PR CARD OR PRTD. ???

 

[spousalsponsee]

Hello guys, can anyone share their experience crossing the land border with USA , with just the copr without the PR CARD OR PRTD. ???

The land border isn't a problem, that's totally different to the situation above. At the land border, you get yourself to the border, where CBSA can verify you.

With the air border, if a person could get there, CBSA could verify them. The issue above is that Americans are the only foreign citizens who can be PRs of Canada & fly with only a passport; any other nationality will flash a red DO NOT BOARD message at the gate. Since that doesn't happen anywhere if you're driving to the border, not an issue, completely separate.

 

[cool_eagle]

its the head

Unless a person holds a Canadian or American passport, Canadian immigration law requires that airlines verify that they have the correct travel document, meaning either a PR card, a PRTD, an eTA or a TRV. As you have none of those, you will not be allowed to board.

CBSA will be able to determine your status by simply swiping your passport.

its the headache of airline they allow you or not to board.........commercial airlines require valid PR, or PRTD.......however if you reach landing airport.......CBAS cannot deny you the entry.....even with your COPR and passport.......then are incumbent to allow you................as they are on the border form US...with only COPR and passport.................PRTD or PR is only required for airlines

 

[MikeRoCutz]

I am in a similar situation to the original poster, here are my details:

- British Citizen.
- Permanent Resident (PR) of Canada since 19 Dec 2017.
- Initial PR Card not yet arrived.
- Short trip to the US scheduled.
- In possession of signed CoPR and valid visa-exempt passport.

My question; would an eTA applied for before you were granted Permanent Resident status still work? When I check the status of my previously approved eTA it still says it is valid until 2022.

If it is still valid then surely I would be able to board my flight to Canada as long as I don't mention I am a PR? And upon landing in Canada CBAS will easily verify my status.