Refugee Travel Document - Questions and Answers

[SKROR]

Good morning everyone,
I was wondering if we can apply for refugee travel document after ecopr issued to get 5 year’s validity one? Thank you.

No, you gotta wait till you get your PR card and you need to get it notarized in order to get the 5 year RTD.

 

[anaya12]

I have my Travel Documents . Yet not received PR. Can I travel to Europe without PR,only on Travel Documents and can come back easily??

 

[Waeln]

Hi, can you tell me if I need to send original birth certificates and passports with my family RTD applications ( not available)? Also what documents the guarantor needs to sign?
Just received my NOD, protected family, first time application.
Thank you.

 

[adamkw]

Hi, can you tell me if I need to send original birth certificates and passports with my family RTD applications ( not available)? Also what documents the guarantor needs to sign?
Just received my NOD, protected family, first time application.
Thank you.

All instructions are available on the last 4 pages of the RTD application.
You can find the application here: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/passport/forms/pdf/pptc190.pdf

 

[adamkw]

I have my Travel Documents . Yet not received PR. Can I travel to Europe without PR,only on Travel Documents and can come back easily??

Only certain countries in Europe. You can check the travel requirements on this website for your intended destination.
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/
Come back easily (assuming it's your return journey back to Canada) - it depends. As long as you haven't travelled to your home country, or you're not carrying/done anything illegal, and you have your RTD along with a copy of your Notice of Decision, then you should be cleared easily. They might however do a secondary inspection but that's usually part of the process.

 

[ThisisM]

Has anyone received an U.S. visa using a Refugee Travel Document? What is the process?
I have my appointment in 15 days. What do they usually ask for? I hear lately, it is risky and too complicated.
Thank you.

 

[SKROR]

Has anyone received an American visa using a Refugee Travel Document? What is the process?
I have my appointment in 15 days. What do they usually ask for? I hear lately, it is risky and too complicated.
Thank you.

Just received it last month. Questions asked--
Purpose of getting visa?
How many years in Canada I have been here for?
Any relatives in USA?
Any relatives in Canada?
What do you work?
Where do you work?

Boom, we will send the document at your selected address. Have a good day

 

[acara1995]

Hello everyone,
Do we have a solid list of countries that allow visitors visa free, traveling with valid PR card and valid RTD and nothing else?

Solid factual countries with sources, anyone?

I have been to Germany 3 times last year, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico. All visa free, only for Dominican Republic did i have to fill out some sort of online form, but even canadian passport holders had to do that.

 

[appwarez]

Hello friends, just received my second RTD today, no PR yet :/ can anyone confirm that we can travel visa free to Dominican? Has anyone traveled there recently with RTD alone?

A Canadian Refugee Travel Document is recognized as a valid travel document, but it is not the same as a Canadian passport.
Dominican Republic NO explicitly confirming that they treat Canadian RTDs as visa-free travel documents.
They need the VISA for RTD holders can enter Dominican Republics.
Contact the Dominican Republic consulate/embassy before booking — that is the only way to know for sure if your RTD will be accepted without a visa.

 

[cleo007]

A Canadian Refugee Travel Document is recognized as a valid travel document, but it is not the same as a Canadian passport.
Dominican Republic NO explicitly confirming that they treat Canadian RTDs as visa-free travel documents.
They need the VISA for RTD holders can enter Dominican Republics.
Contact the Dominican Republic consulate/embassy before booking — that is the only way to know for sure if your RTD will be accepted without a visa.

stop posting these AI generated responses and creating confusion if you dont have an answer. Yes you can travel to Dominican republic with RTD and without PR . No need for Visa .They give you upon arrival.I travelled back there in November 2025 and i dont have PR.

 

[Rick4Life]

A Canadian Refugee Travel Document is recognized as a valid travel document, but it is not the same as a Canadian passport.
Dominican Republic NO explicitly confirming that they treat Canadian RTDs as visa-free travel documents.
They need the VISA for RTD holders can enter Dominican Republics.
Contact the Dominican Republic consulate/embassy before booking — that is the only way to know for sure if your RTD will be accepted without a visa.

Stop posting this nonsense to confuse people here. No Visa is required for Dominican Republic with RTD and No PR Required either. Its a smooth process going and coming back to Canada.

 

[ohaurela]

Can we get stident visa of third country on rtd??

 

[ohaurela]

RTD timeline update. Second RTD - with a PR card.
IRCC received the package on Nov 24. 2025- Ottawa office. (new office NS)
FD Dec 17. 2025 -issued for 5 years.
Received an Xpresspost Canada Post package on Dec 24. 2025.
Good luck, happy New Year to everyone!

Can i apply second rtd without pr? Mines expiring in may

 

[appwarez]

stop posting these AI generated responses and creating confusion if you dont have an answer. Yes you can travel to Dominican republic with RTD and without PR . No need for Visa .They give you upon arrival.I travelled back there in November 2025 and i dont have PR.

There’s no intention to confuse anyone. The Dominican Consulate website states that visa exemption applies to those who have status (PR or a valid multiple-entry visa) for Canada, the U.S., or the EU. An RTD alone does not automatically equal having that status. While your personal experience was smooth, that doesn’t guarantee the same outcome for everyone. To avoid others facing issues, it’s important people follow the proper channels and verify based on their own status, which is why I’ve also emailed for official confirmation.

 

[moref1988]

There’s no intention to confuse anyone. The Dominican Consulate website states that visa exemption applies to those who have status (PR or a valid multiple-entry visa) for Canada, the U.S., or the EU. An RTD alone does not automatically equal having that status. While your personal experience was smooth, that doesn’t guarantee the same outcome for everyone. To avoid others facing issues, it’s important people follow the proper channels and verify based on their own status, which is why I’ve also emailed for official confirmation.

Actually, this is a debatable topic. Yes, being nominally a protected person might not automatically grant PR status, but in practice it should. This is because being a protected person is a status with no expiration date, and once you obtain protected person status, you become eligible to apply for PR. So, essentially, once you get protected person status, you also gain PR status and can apply. Your PR status becomes official when you receive your Ecopr.

When a foreign national's PR application is accepted, they gain indefinite residency and work permits in Canada. A protected person, however, actually gains this when they obtain protected person status. In practice, it can be considered as if PR status has been obtained, but formally, the ecoPR is awaited. The lengthy application processes create a paradox at this point, delaying the formalization of the de facto situation.