Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Landed permanent residents

Will I be allowed to re-enter Canada if I’m a permanent resident?

Yes. If you’re a landed permanent resident and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you’re allowed to travel to Canada.

If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, you will not be allowed to enter Canada by air. You can still enter at a land border.

You’ll need a valid permanent resident (PR) card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada by commercial vehicle (for example, airplane, bus, train or boat).

If you’re outside Canada and don’t have a valid PR Card

You must apply for Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to return to Canada. Normally, you apply for a PRTD at a visa application centre (VAC).

Due to COVID-19, most VACs are closed. Check if your VAC is open and accepts PRTD applications before you apply.

If your VAC is open

If your VAC accepts applications, find out how to apply for a PRTD.

If your VAC is closed or unable to accept PRTD applications

If your VAC is closed, you can submit your application for a PRTD by email.

Follow these steps:

• Read the instruction guide to make sure you prepare a complete application.
• Make electronic copies (scans) of the required documents listed in the Document Checklist (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• Complete and scan the Application for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5524) (PDF, 1.6 MB) form
• Pay your fees and provide a copy of the receipt.
• If you have it, provide your confirmed flight ticket or itinerary for your travel to Canada that clearly shows:
  • your flight number,
  • date of travel
  • arrival airport in Canada.
• Send the scanned copy of your application package by email:
  • In the subject line, put: “PRTD application: (your name)”
  • Send to: IRCC.COVIDPRTD-TVRPCOVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
  • Find out what to do if your documents are too large

How do I make an electronic copy of my document?

An electronic or digital copy is a computer file copy of a paper document. To make an electronic copy, you can use a scanner or a digital camera. Scan or take a picture of your status document.

If you have to submit both sides of your status in Canada document, save both sides into 1 document. If you don’t have a photo editing software, the easiest way to do this is to save both images into a Microsoft Word Document.

We accept these file formats:

• PDF (portable document)
• JPG, TIFF, or PNG (image)
• DOC or DOCX (Microsoft Word document)

Take note of the name you give the file and where you save it so you can easily find the file later.

To avoid delays in processing, make sure the image is clear and your information is easy to read.

My documents are too large. How do I reduce the file size?

Here are some tips for reducing the size of your file:

PDF format

• Recreate the PDF using the “lowest file size” option available.
• If you have images, save them with a resolution of 96 DPI (dots per inch).
• Remove all unnecessary images.

You may find file size and image options under the advanced settings section of the software you are using.

JPG format

• Scan your document at a lower resolution (96 DPI).
• Remove all empty space around the image.
• Shrink the image.
• Reduce the JPG image quality.

TIFF and PNG format

• Scan your document at a lower resolution (96 DPI).
• Crop the image to remove any empty space around it.
• Shrink the image.
• Save the file in JPG format instead.

DOC and DOCX format

• Remove unnecessary images, formatting and macros.
• Save the file as a recent Word version.
• Reduce the file size of the images before they are added to the document.
• If it is still too large, save the file as a PDF.

Due to the impacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we can’t

• process applications normally
• provide accurate processing times

If you want to leave Canada but don’t have a valid PR Card or your card is about to expire

You need a valid PR card to return to Canada by plane, train, bus or boat. If you know your card will expire when you’re travelling, renew it before you leave. You can only renew your card in Canada.

You may be eligible for urgent processing.

If you don’t get your new PR card in time

• apply for PRTD once you’re outside Canada
• renew your PR card when you return to Canada

Are my immediate family members allowed to come to Canada?

Because you’re a landed permanent resident, your immediate family members are eligible to travel to Canada.

There are different rules, depending on how long they plan to stay.

• If they’re staying for at least 15 days, they can come.
• If they’re staying for less than 15 days, they must be travelling for an essential^{Footnote 1}(non discretionary) purpose.

They must be able to provide evidence that

• they’re an immediate family member
• they’ll be staying in Canada for at least 15 days or that they’re coming for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose

Your immediate family member may also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Find out how they can come to Canada.

Everyone who comes to Canada must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive, even if they have no symptoms. Any foreign national, including U.S. citizen, showing signs of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada.

Can I still get settlement services?

Yes, but only critical resettlement and settlement services. These include

• income support and basic services, if you’re a government-assisted refugee
• setting up medical appointments and helping with interpretation, if you need it
• crisis counselling

Non-critical services may be provided by some organizations by telephone, email or online.

Find settlement services near you.

If you applied for Canadian citizenship

Find out how your Canadian citizenship application is affected by coronavirus (COVID19).

This includes guidance on

• citizenship event cancellations
• submitting your documents
• new citizenship applications
• time you’ve lived in Canada (physical presence)