Everything You Need to Know about Leaving Canada Without PR Card and PRTD Document

Canadian PR holders who do not have PR Card in hand rely heavily on PRTD document to return back Canada after travelling. It’s such a dilemma deciding between waiting for PR Card before leaving Canada and just travelling back to your home country without PR Card and then apply for PRTD (Permanent Residency Travel Document). The main possible downfall of PRTD document is its processing time. It’s so slow. In some cases, slower than PR card itself.

There are some edge cases about PRTD document that people need to consider who are thinking about travelling without PR Card.

• What if PRTD document doesn’t arrive between the time window of your return ticket date?
• What if you leave and travel outside Canada hoping that you would return back on your work permit status, but you get your eCOPR approved right before your return date, or at worse, while you are on flight? Tough luck, eh?

Well, having a database of 1000+ different clients, we know what could happen. We have had instances where exactly what we described above has happened with few unlucky clients.

We know it’s a stressful situation but now, since you are on this article, just relax, drink coffee and read on!

In this post, you will learn everything about PRTD document and also some different ways by which you can be worry-free if travelling without PR Card.

Now, as far as we know, you can be falling in any of the three cases:

1. You are reading this post while being in Canada, have your eCOPR ready but waiting for PR card to arrive at your place. You are done waiting, frustrated and now exploring options to travel without PR Card.
2. You got your eCOPR and left Canada without PR Card. Reading this post from your home country or any other country you are visiting.
3. Your whole PR application is in progress. You don’t have your eCOPR yet.

Out of all these three situations, #3 is the most trickiest one and we will explain why in later part of the article.

Just to let you know, we would have answers and solutions for all the three cases mentioned above.

The solutions we would be describing mainly depends on the urgency of your travelling needs and the total duration you are going for.

What is the best thing to do if I want to leave Canada for travel, given the fact that I have eCOPR but don’t have PR Card in hand yet?

The best thing to do is, WAIT.

However, we know if you are on this post, hearing that from us is meaningless to you.

Keeping that in mind, we would be giving you few other options.

Option #1: Take a Follow Up with IRCC to speed up your PR Card Delivery

This is exceptionally amazing option and works like a charm if your PR card delivery has passed normal processing time. Recently, we took a similar follow-up for many of our clients and they received their PR card in two weeks after the followup we took.

There are two ways to take this follow up. And, we would recommend doing both of them simultaneously.

First way is to use IRCC Webform.

Steps are simple. Just follow along and submit the form. You can use this format to submit the IRCC Webform for faster delivery of your PR Card.

Subject Line: In Urgent Need of PR Card

Hello Sir/Madam,

I am writing down this email after calling IRCC many times and having been waiting for more than 7 months now. I got my COPR on the 13th of May, 2021 and after that, I’ve finished the procedure of uploading my recent photo and inland confirmation. 

My name is Chirag Anushal . And, my passport number is A90000.

My application number is E000000001
My UCI number is 3000-0000

I got my eCOPR approved on 13th May, 2021.

After that I uploaded all the required information on the PR Confirmation portal.

My In-Canada declaration got approved.
My Mailing address got approved.

However, my photo is “IN REVIEW” for what seems like forever. I got the photo from a standard location who specializes in PR Cards and passport photos for IRCC.

I need to get my PR Card as soon as possible and it is very important for me to visit my family back home. Please escalate my request and send my PR Card as soon as possible.

Regards,
Chirag Anushal

Second way to take the follow up is send them an email. If you take a look at your eCOPR, you would be able to figure out at which office your PR card is being processed.

Depending on that, you should send an email at right location. Different PR Card processing offices have different email addresses.

For example, if your PR Card is being processed at Calgary office, use this email address: IRCC.ClientPortalPrairies-PrairiesClientPortail.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Also, there should be some sense of urgency and the desperate need of PR Card in this request as you might have sensed from the example above.

Option #2: You left Canada without PR Card and your PR Card got delivered few days after that

If this happens, maybe you can ask your friend or a trust-worthy contact to bring your PR Card. Remember, trust-worthy is the keyword here. It’s a risk you are taking. After all, you have worked so hard to get that PR Card and trusting some stranger to cross oceans with that card, multiple security checks and what not. It should be a “somewhat” big deal.

Is it illegal to carry someone’s PR Card?

That’s a rumor. It’s a biggest misconception. There’s no official mention by IRCC saying it’s illegal to carry someone’s PR Card. If you wanted someone to tell you, it’s completely ok to bring someone’s PR Card, there you go. We just said it. It’s OK.

If you are so concerned, just get the authorization letter from the person whose PR card you would be carrying. If by any chance you are being asked by Canadian authorities, you can show that authorization letter. However, that should just never happen.

Feel free to take your friend’s or relative’s PR Card if you are travelling to the same place. You would be doing your friend a huge favour and he would not forget you for life.

Option #3: Just leave Canada and right after landing in your travelling country apply for PRTD Document

This option is super conditional. It’s conditional on how long you are planning to stay in your visiting country. If you are planning to go there for 2 weeks, just don’t go. If that’s the case, you have no other option other than staying in Canada till you get your PR Card. Sorry. 🙁

Now, if you are travelling to your visiting country for at least 2 to 3 months, then PRTD document can be a sensible thing and you would be at less risk.

In that case, here’s everything you need to know about PRTD Document.

What is PRTD Document?

If your status is “PR Approved” and you have your eCOPR with you, you need a valid PR Card to return back to Canada. If you don’t have it, you would be denied entry to Canada and could be asked to leave Canada in the next available flight (at your own cost). If you don’t have PR Card, you need a document called Permanent Residence Travel Document (shortly known as PRTD document).

PRTD Document Cost

It costs CAD 50$.

PRTD Document Processing Time

IRCC doesn’t mention a proper processing time for PRTD document on their website. All it says is, “it varies”. Good job, IRCC. That’s really helpful. Sarcasm Intended!

PRTD Document Processing times will vary based on:

• Your application type submitted
• Current volume of PRTD applications received by IRCC
• How easy you are making it for IRCC to verify your information
• Your quickness to respond to questions, requests and concerns by IRCC
• Your application is proper and fully complete or not

PRTD Document Checklist

Here’s the PRTD checklist of documents that you will be needing to apply for PRTD Document. The PRTD Checklist that you will be opening from IRCC website wouldn’t let you open the document without certain version of Adobe Reader. So, we got you covered.

Your are supposed to send the following items in your PRTD document application.

The above document can be downloaded from here: PRTD Document Checklist Form (IMM 5627)

Now, the PRTD checklist is huge and it can be intimidating at first.

Once you have all the documents and things requested in checklist are ready. You start preparing an application package for your PRTD document.

Here’s how you do that.

• You keep arranging all the documents requested in PRTD checklist form: one by one. And, keep checking boxes.
• You fill out this application form: Application for PRTD Document Form (IMM 5524)
• If you are using a consultant, fill out this form: Use of a Representative Form (IMM 5476)
• Take a look at this application guide too: Information Guide (IMM 5529)

Now, once you make your PRTD (Permanent Residency Travel Document) application ready, you are supposed to MAIL it to the right VAC location.

Please note that, IRCC accepts the PRTD application by mail only. If your lucky stars are aligned and your VAC is closed, then only you can submit the application by EMAIL.

How to check if VAC is open and accepting an application for PRTD Document or not?

You can use this link: Check if VAC is Open or Not

Once you submit the application, the VAC will review it and they would send you a Passport Request Letter if they find everything perfect in your PRTD document application.

Once you get the passport submit request and submit it, they will send the PRTD document to your house address in the country you are travelling.

If you manage to get PRTD document, what a relief! Right? We know.

That’s end of it. You can use that PRTD document to travel back to Canada and you will be granted entry without any issues.

If you experience any trouble with your PRTD document application, feel free to reach our team at (copy the whole email address): TeamAbroadhero@gmail.com

Also Read:

• Statement of Purpose Sample for Canada Student Visa Rejection
• Actual Approval Sample SOP for Canada Student Visa – 100% Success Rate ✅
• SOP Sample for Canada Student Visa – 100% Approval Rate
• Statement of Purpose Sample Example for UK Student Visa
• Best SOP Sample for Student Visa – 1000+ Clients Approved!!
• Canada Student Visa SOP – This Client Got Approved With 3 Backlogs & Study Gap
• Statement of Purpose for Graduate Certificate Course in Project Management at Conestoga College
• Visa SOP Writing Services – 1000+ Clients Approved!