Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s
Forward Regulatory Plan
Remove or amend the requirement to present a permanent resident visa to an officer at a port of entry or IRCC inland office for approved permanent residents residing in Canada
Enabling Act: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Description
An amendment is being proposed to remove or amend subsection 71.1(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) in order to exempt temporary residents residing in Canada, whose permanent resident applications have been approved, from the obligation to present their permanent resident visa to an officer (at an inland IRCC office or Port of Entry) in order to be granted permanent resident status.
The objective of the amendment is to:
- Grant permanent resident status in a timely manner. Following the granting of permanent resident status, a permanent resident can access most social benefits that Canadians receive, including health care coverage;
- Reduce pressures at port of entry operations (i.e., clients seeking to ‘flagpole’ at high-volume ports of entry).
On March 16, 2020, in-person interviews were cancelled in order to continue to grant permanent resident status to approved permanent residence applicants residing in Canada.
On April 9, 2020, the Minister approved a temporary public policy: Temporary Public Policy to Exempt from the Requirement to Present a Permanent Resident Visa to an Officer.
On November 9, 2020, IRCC launched a new digital tool, the Permanent Resident Confirmation Portal, to support virtual landings. The portal allows Permanent Resident applicants to confirm that they are in Canada, provide address in Canada, download an electronic confirmations of permanent residence (eCOPR) and upload a photo for their permanent resident card.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Regulatory cooperation efforts are not required.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
IRCC domestic operations and the CBSA port of entry operations would be directly affected by the proposed regulatory change.
Consultations
This is an initiative in the early stages of development. The department plans to consult with targeted stakeholders. The timing and approach for consultations will be added to this section once known.
Departmental contact information
Katrina Mahoney
Acting Director, Strategic Policy Modernization
Strategic Planning, Results and Reporting Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Email: Katrina.Mahoney@cic.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: April 1, 2021