Starting 31 December 2003, a permanent resident card (PR card) will be required for permanent residents wishing to re-enter Canada aboard any commercial transportation (airplane, boat, train or bus). A permanent resident is defined as someone who is considered a landed migrant but who has not yet become a Canadian citizen/passport holder.
The purpose of the PR card is to combat illegal entry into Canada. It will replace the paper version of the document called “IMM 1000 Record of Landing” and will become the official proof-of-status document for Canadian permanent residents. Since the card is not easy to forge, it will provide permanent residents with secure and convenient proof of their permanent resident status when re-entering Canada. The PR card will make it much easier for immigration officials to properly identify permanent residents at borders.
This new process will require that current permanent residents apply for the PR card whilst they are in Canada. The application and further information can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Web site at www.cic.gc.ca. Existing Canadian permanent residents who are presently located outside of Canada without a PR card should visit a Canadian consulate or visa office to obtain a temporary travel document. This applies for permanent residents who will be travelling back to Canada on or after 31 December 2003. The costs for this limited-use travel document is CAD$50. The nearest overseas Canadian consulate can also be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.