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Renewal of PR while waiting for citizenship

shidlo

Newbie
Apr 26, 2022
4
0
Hi, we applied a month ago (may 2nd), we got AOR on may 7th. Meanwhile our PR card has expired and we want to travel to the US (by private viacle). Do we need to renew the PR card? Or can we just use our Ontario driver's license to get back to Canada?
 

Simba112

VIP Member
Mar 25, 2021
4,424
1,634
Hi, we applied a month ago (may 2nd), we got AOR on may 7th. Meanwhile our PR card has expired and we want to travel to the US (by private viacle). Do we need to renew the PR card? Or can we just use our Ontario driver's license to get back to Canada?
You will need Valid PR Canada to re-enter Canada or PRTD if you are outside of Canada.
 

xf2278389393

Full Member
Aug 27, 2023
49
22
IRCC explains it in laymen terms right here:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1457&top=10

It's not really an exemption from the requirement to have a PR card as there is actually no such requirement. It's more that the risk of fines and costs of removal commercial airlines (who don't have direct access to immigration databases*) operate under doesn't apply to a person who knows that they have a right to enter Canada. If you own the airline or bus line, you can make them transport you, regardless of whether you have a PR card. If you manage to show up at the Canadian border, regardless of how you did it, as a permanent resident, you have an unconditional right to enter Canada pursuant to section 19(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Also, US citizens can, in most cased, enter Canada with just a valid US passport even by commercial carrier because US citizens are eTA-exempt but the carrier still has a discretion to refuse transportation if they know this US citizen is a permanent resident.

* Technically all an airline or other carrier needs is your PR card number on the back side of the PR card. With this number, they can obtain an ok to board message from the CBSA IAPI system.