Do I need a Travel Document?

[fvidania]

Good morning everyone,

I'm still waiting for my first PR CARD and I'm going to Spain for an urgent matters. I'm originally from Spain where I will be for 15days. I've been told I have to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document in order to come back to Canada.

My questions are:

1. Do I really have to apply for one even being from a Visa exempt country like Spain?
2. Does somebody know the processing times for the Paris Embassy regarding this document? I've read between 10-14 days but my travel will be 15 days, very tight!
3. What would happen If I don't have a travel document by the time I have to come back to Canada?

Thank you!

 

[zardoz]

Good morning everyone,

I'm still waiting for my first PR CARD and I'm going to Spain for an urgent matters. I'm originally from Spain where I will be for 15days. I've been told I have to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document in order to come back to Canada.

My questions are:

1. Do I really have to apply for one even being from a Visa exempt country like Spain?
2. Does somebody know the processing times for the Paris Embassy regarding this document? I've read between 10-14 days but my travel will be 15 days, very tight!
3. What would happen If I don't have a travel document by the time I have to come back to Canada?

Thank you!

In theory, (because CIC doesn't, as far as I am aware, declare otherwise), you require either a valid PR card or a PRTD. However, they tacitly acknowledge that you can choose to check in at the airport as a "visitor" on the basis of your visa-exempt passport. Beware that, as of May 2016, this backdoor is likely to be blocked by the mandatory ETA system that's coming in.