A permanent resident travel document (PRTD) helps Canadian permanent residents return to Canada by commercial transport when they are abroad without a valid PR card. You apply from outside Canada and must provide evidence that you meet the relevant requirements. It is normally issued for one entry.
You may need one if your card expires, goes missing or is damaged during a trip. It can also be relevant if you leave Canada after becoming a permanent resident but before receiving your first PR card.
If you are a Canadian permanent resident outside Canada without a valid PR card, you generally need a PRTD to return by plane, bus, train or boat.
The application fee is CAD50 per person. You can apply online through the Permanent Residence Portal using IMM 5444 and the required supporting documents.
Processing times vary. Approval is not automatic, and an urgent request does not guarantee that you will receive the document before your intended departure.
Holding permanent resident status and having the documents needed to board transport are different things.
For example, your PR card might expire while you are visiting family abroad. That expiry does not automatically end your PR status, but the expired card cannot be used to board a commercial flight back to Canada.
A PRTD addresses that travel-document problem. It is not an application to become a permanent resident again.
You can apply if you:
You must still meet the requirements to retain PR status. Canadian citizens and people who have not yet become permanent residents use different travel-document processes.
If you are still in Canada, check your card and travel plans before leaving. You cannot obtain a PRTD through this process while you remain inside Canada.
Common situations include:
Suppose you confirmed your PR status in Canada, then travelled abroad while waiting for your first card. Your COPR does not replace a valid PR card or PRTD for boarding a commercial flight back after you have become a permanent resident.
First-time travel to complete the process of becoming a permanent resident is a different situation. Follow the entry instructions issued with your approval.
IRCC assesses whether you meet the relevant requirements to remain a permanent resident.
For people who have held PR status for at least five years, the usual requirement is 730 qualifying days during the five years before the application. Newer permanent residents must show that they can meet the requirement within their first five years.
Certain time abroad can count under specific rules. Check your residency obligation if you have spent substantial time outside Canada.
Do not assume that a long absence automatically means you have lost PR status. However, it can affect the assessment of your application. If you appear not to meet the ordinary requirement, check whether qualifying absences or humanitarian and compassionate considerations apply.
Use IRCC’s current IMM 5644 checklist and any instructions that apply to your circumstances. Supporting documents include:
IRCC’s guide asks for two pieces of residency evidence. Examples include employment records, bank statements, tax notices of assessment and rental agreements.
A clear letter of explanation can explain a missing card, a discrepancy in your records or relevant circumstances. Keep it factual and connect the explanation to your evidence.
Do not send your original passport with the initial online application unless IRCC specifically instructs you to do so. Passport submission is a later step if the application is approved.
Read IRCC’s PRTD application guidance. Make sure you are following the travel-document process, rather than applying to renew your card from abroad.
Sign in to the Permanent Residence Portal and complete the digital IMM 5444 application for a PRTD.
Each family member who needs a document requires a complete individual application. One approval does not cover the whole family.
Include the completed IMM 5644 checklist and all required supporting documents. Check that scans are clear and that dates agree across your application.
If you cannot apply online and require an accommodation, IRCC provides paper application options. Confirm the submission arrangements with the relevant visa application centre.
Pay the application fee online and include the receipt. Review the application, complete the required signatures and submit it through the portal.
Keep copies of your submission and documents.
Monitor your account and email for instructions. If you receive an additional document request, provide the requested evidence by the stated deadline.
The government application fee is CAD50 per person, checked in October 2026.
Other expenses may include translations, courier delivery or visa application centre services where applicable. These are separate from the government fee.
Check IRCC’s official fee information before paying. The application fee is not refundable once processing has started. How Long Does PRTD Processing Take?
IRCC does not give one fixed processing period for every PRTD application. The time needed depends on your circumstances, the completeness of your application and any further checks or document requests.
Allow time for both the decision and any passport submission or return arrangements. Online approval does not mean you are immediately ready to board your flight.
IRCC’s current guidance allows urgent requests in qualifying circumstances, including certain cases where a permanent resident abroad needs to return within the next five days.
You must explain the urgency and provide evidence. Depending on the reason, this may include:
Select the urgent-request option when applying online. A close departure date alone does not guarantee priority approval.
Even if you qualify, IRCC cannot guarantee that you will receive the document in time.
IRCC will tell you how and where to submit your valid passport or travel document so the PRTD can be attached.
Follow those instructions carefully. Check the document’s expiry date and number of permitted entries before travelling.
A PRTD is normally issued for one entry. IRCC may consider multiple-entry documents in specific circumstances, so follow the conditions on the document you receive.
After returning to Canada, arrange a new PR card if needed. If your old card expired, follow the PR card renewal process. Lost or damaged cards require the relevant replacement instructions.
Commercial carriers generally require a valid PR card or PRTD before boarding a permanent resident travelling to Canada.
Returning across a land border in a private vehicle has different document rules. You must still be able to establish your identity and permanent resident status, and you need to check any requirements for travelling through another country.
A visitor visa or eTA is not a substitute for the documents required of a Canadian permanent resident.
These articles explain the related documents and application requirements:
No. The PRTD process is for permanent residents outside Canada without a valid PR card. If you are in Canada, check the PR card application, renewal or replacement instructions.
Yes, if you have already become a permanent resident, are outside Canada and meet the relevant requirements. It can allow you to return by commercial transport while you do not have a valid card.
Usually, it is issued for one entry. Multiple-entry documents may be considered in specific circumstances. Check the conditions and expiry date on your document.
No. You still need a valid passport or accepted travel document. IRCC normally attaches the PRTD to it after approving your application.
Do not assume approval or that your status has already ended. Check whether any qualifying time abroad or humanitarian and compassionate considerations apply. A refusal based on residency can have consequences for your PR status, so review the decision and any available appeal instructions promptly.
A permanent resident travel document allows eligible Canadian permanent residents abroad without a valid PR card to return to Canada by commercial transport. Evidence of your status, residency compliance and a complete application are central to the process.
Before applying, check your passport, travel plans and supporting documents against IRCC’s requirements. Since immigration requirements and procedures can change, always check the latest guidance on the official Government of Canada website.
If you need support applying for a permanent resident travel document or preparing your Canadian immigration application, book a consultation with Canada GMC.
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