Applying for permanent resident cards online
Some people can now apply for a permanent resident (PR) card through the permanent residence online application portal. This includes:
- renewing or replacing your card
- applying for your first PR card if you
- didn’t provide your mailing address and photo within 180 days of immigrating or
- became a PR before June 28, 2002 and never applied for a PR card
If you’re applying through the portal, you’ll fill out some of the PDF forms the same way you would if you were applying on paper. Below outlines the things you need to do that are specific to applying online (through the portal).
If you’re a new PR, you don’t need to apply for your first PR card. We’ll automatically mail it to your Canadian address. This is part of the immigration process.
If you already had a PR card, you can apply to renew or replace it. To do this, you must choose the PR card/PR travel document tab:
If your request is urgent, check “Yes, my request is urgent” and include a supporting document explaining why.
If you’re affected by the wildfires across Canada
You can get a free replacement PR card or a refund. These special measures start June 9, 2023, and end September 30, 2023.
If you’ve already applied
Find out how to request a refund.
If you haven’t applied yet
To get a free replacement PR card online
- Go to your online application.
- Select “Yes, my request is urgent.”
- Under “Reason,” select “You are in a crisis, emergency, or vulnerable situation.”
- Upload these supporting documents:
- a signed letter (attestation) explaining how the national wildfires have affected you
- in the “Proof of payment” section: upload a text document that includes the phrase “Wildfires23” in the body of the document
How to contact us about your PR card
You can contact us
- for help or questions about your PR card
- to request urgent processing (if you’ve already applied)
You can only ask for urgent processing if
- you applied for a PR card replacement due to a wildfire between May 6, 2023, and June 9, 2023
- you applied without asking for urgent processing
To contact us
- Go to our web form(opens in a new tab)
- Under “Type of application/enquiry,” select “Request urgent processing of renewal or replacement card and have already applied.”
- In the text box
- for urgent processing, type “Urgent-WFF2023”
- for other questions, type “WFF2023”
- Complete all other required fields and submit your inquiry.
If you’re affected by the floods in Nova Scotia
You can get a free replacement PR card or a refund. These special measures start July 28, 2023, and end November 30, 2023.
If you’ve already applied
Find out how to request a refund(opens in a new tab) .
If you haven’t applied yet
To get a free replacement PR card online
- Sign in to the Permanent Residence Portal.
- Complete your application.
- If your request is urgent, select “Yes, my request is urgent” and provide the reason.
- When uploading your supporting documents, include a signed letter (attestation) explaining how the floods in Nova Scotia have affected you.
- In the “Proof of payment” section, upload a text document that includes the phrase “NSNE23” in the body of the document.
- Submit your application.
How to contact us about your PR card
You can contact us
- for help or questions about your PR card
- to request urgent processing (if you’ve already applied)
You can ask for urgent processing if you meet the urgent criteria.
To contact us
- Go to our web form(opens in a new tab)
- Under “Type of application/enquiry,” select “Request urgent processing of renewal or replacement card and have already applied.”
- In the text box
- for urgent processing, type “Urgent-NSNE23”
- for other questions, type “NSNE23”
- Complete all other required fields and submit your enquiry.
Filling out forms
Fill out this digital form online
- Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5444)
For more information on completing the form, please refer to the instructions.
You’ll get a copy of your receipt by email after you pay. Save it and upload it with your application.
You must fill out and upload these PDF forms:
- Document Checklist (IMM 5644) (PDF, 2.21 MB) form, fully completed
- if you’re using a representative, you need to submit a Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form (find out more)
You’ll also need to submit
- a copy of the receipt for your fees (you’ll get a copy by email after you pay – save and upload it with your application)
- photos:
- 1 photo taken within 12 months of the date you apply
- include images of the front and back of the photo
a copy of one of these identity documents
- your valid passport or travel document or
- the passport or travel document you had when you became a permanent resident (if you became a permanent resident when you arrived in Canada, include the page that was stamped) or
- an official certificate of identity or travel document
Note: The copy should show:
- the document type and number
- issue and expiry date
- your name
- your photo and
- your date of birth
Uploading and submitting photos
If we return your photo, you can submit a new photo through the portal. Make sure the new photo meets all the photo requirements listed in the portal before you upload a new one.
Reasons your photo may be returned
- photos are too dark
- background is not white
- facial features not visible
- glare on photo
- measurements are not between 715x1000 and 2000x2800 pixels
- file size is above 4MB
- other reasons – see photo requirements for details
How to submit a photo
- make sure you’re in the Permanent Resident (PR) card / PR Travel Document tab at the top of the page
- choose the “upload photo” button
- your photo can be
- a professional digital photo in JPEG or PNG format
- a scanned professional photo (don’t take a picture of a paper photo with your digital camera or phone)
- follow the directions in the photo editor window to position and crop your photo
- click the “apply” button to validate your photo
- your photo will show in black & white
- you can edit and replace your photo with another photo up until when you submit it
- you don’t have to delete the previous photo to upload a new one (it will automatically replace the previous photo)
- check the Declaration box and click “next” to upload your photo
- if you get a warning message that your photo doesn’t meet the requirements but you want to submit it anyway, also check the Acknowledgement box and click “Next” to continue
- press “submit documents” (once you do this, it can no longer be changed)
If you’re applying to renew your PR card, provide a photo of your destroyed PR card.
If you lost your PR card, include a copy of a police report or incident number, if you have one.
If you’re applying to replace your damaged card, please destroy your card immediately and attach a photo as proof with your supporting documents.
You must fill out and upload any of these PDF forms that apply to you:
- Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier [IRM 0002] (opens in a new tab)
- Confirmation of Eligibility for a Reclaimed Name Change Gratis Replacement Document Under Call to Action 17 [IRM 0004] (opens in a new tab)
- Statutory Declaration to Reclaim an Indigenous Name on Canadian Citizenship Certificates or Permanent Resident Cards [IRM 0005] (opens in a new tab)
-
Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (PDF, 2.2 MB) (opens in a new tab)
- you don’t need to sign these forms by hand
- you’ll upload them to your online application
- you’ll digitally sign for the entire application
- if you’re using a representative, you need to submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form or Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475] (PDF, 593.57 KB) (opens in a new tab)
- Find out more about using a representative
Supporting documents, if they apply:
- If you’re under 18 years old, a copy of your
- birth certificate
- adoption order or legal guardianship document issued by a Canadian court, or
- school records (report cards, transcripts, attendance records)
- Upload your primary document (like your passport) by selecting “Passport or Other Primary ID Document” from the Document type dropdown menu.
If you’re submitting a statutory declaration, you must also provide a clear and legible copy of a letter explaining
- that there are exceptional circumstances in your home country
- what these circumstances are
- how they’re stopping you from getting any identity documents
If you plan to travel
If you apply for a new PR card, your current one will stop being valid 60 days after the date we issue your new card. If you leave Canada with your existing card, you won’t be able to return to Canada with it if the new one has been issued and you don’t have it.
If this happens, you’ll need to apply for a PRTD to return to Canada.
Keep this in mind before making any travel arrangements after applying for a new PR card.
You can check our current processing times to estimate when we will issue your new PR card.
Indigenous names
If you’ve reclaimed your Indigenous name, you can change the name on your PR card by applying for a new one at no cost to you until May 31, 2026.
If you’re requesting that your PR card reflect your reclaimed indigenous name, in the payment section of the portal, upload a document stating “I have reclaimed my indigenous name, please refer to my completed declaration form” and we will waive your fees.
Time spent outside Canada
You must list all your absences from Canada in the past 5 years (or since becoming a permanent resident if less than five 5 years ago) in the table provided.
List the reasons for your absences based on the situations A to C referred to in the IMM 5444. If none of these situations apply to you, select Other and provide a reason for absence. This may include
- vacations
- absences due to employment not with a Canadian business and
- any other time you left Canada
Make sure you list your absences in order from the most recent travel to the oldest.
The period to be assessed will automatically be input on the online application form based on the date you became a permanent resident as entered in question 1.4.
- If you became a permanent resident more than 5 years ago, the “From” field will automatically adjust to reflect the past five years before the date of your application.
- If you became a permanent resident less than five years ago, the “From” field will automatically be entered as the same date.
- The “To” field will automatically be adjusted every time the application is opened.
Note: If you need more space, please include a separate document.
Days you left and returned to Canada count towards your residency as days you were in Canada. Those days will be excluded from the days counted towards the time you spent outside of Canada.
The number of days will automatically be entered into the column, which excludes the days you departed and returned to Canada.
Technical issues
If you’re having technical issues with the portal, contact us using the web form
- under type of application/enquiry, choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu
- in the text box, specify what you’re applying for
Immigration representatives
If you’re a representative, find out how you can create an account and submit applications on behalf of your clients.
If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must
- submit a Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form
- sign it by hand and get your immigration representative to do so also
- upload it with your application
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee. But they can’t
- open a portal account on your behalf
- electronically sign the application for you
- sign into the portal using your username and password
A representative can fill out forms and communicate with us on your behalf through their own account. They can also
- help you prepare the documents you need to upload
- answer questions about the forms
After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name and clicks the “submit” button. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.
Note: The date will be entered automatically.
Digitally sign your application
- You must type your full name exactly as shown on your passport to digitally sign your application.
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