Apply for, renew or replace a PR card: Who can apply

New permanent residents

New permanent residents don’t need to apply for a permanent resident (PR) card. We will send one to you when you immigrate to Canada if you tell us your Canadian mailing address. You have 180 days after immigrating to send it to us. If we don’t get it in time, you have to apply for your card.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a PR card, you need to

• be a permanent resident
• submit your application in Canada

You should only apply for a PR card if:

• your card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months
• your card is lost, stolen or destroyed and you want to replace it
• you didn’t receive your card within 180 days of immigrating to Canada
• you need to update your card to
  • legally change your name
  • change your citizenship
  • change your gender designation
  • correct your date of birth

Otherwise, we may not process your application.

Submit a solemn declaration instead of completing this application if

• you have waited 6 weeks longer than the normal processing time and you still have not received your PR card or
• your PR card was lost, stolen or destroyed but you don’t want to reapply for a new one right now

You aren’t eligible for a PR card if you were asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country. If you are a Canadian citizen, you can’t have (and don’t need) a PR card. If you become a Canadian citizen, give us your PR card at your citizenship ceremony.