Leaving Canada with expored PR

[Svocht]

Hi everyone,

I've been living in Canada for 11+ years as a PR. In 2019 I even married a Canadian citizen. Now my wife and I are wondering if we can take a vacation outside of Canada while my PR card is expired. I just send in the renewal papers on my card that expired in 2020 but I'm guessing, due to Covid, I'm not going to see any development any time soon. We're hoping to travel in February, so I guess the question is, am I going to have trouble coming back?

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I've been living in Canada for 11+ years as a PR. In 2019 I even married a Canadian citizen. Now my wife and I are wondering if we can take a vacation outside of Canada while my PR card is expired. I just send in the renewal papers on my card that expired in 2020 but I'm guessing, due to Covid, I'm not going to see any development any time soon. We're hoping to travel in February, so I guess the question is, am I going to have trouble coming back?

Where are you going?

You need either a valid PR card or a valid PR Travel Document to board a plane and fly back to Canada. You won't be allowed on without one of these two things.

 

[Svocht]

Not entirely sure yet, but probably Puerto Rico or Cuba

 

[scylla]

Not entirely sure yet, but probably Puerto Rico or Cuba

Assuming you plan to stay a week or 10 days, I don't think February is a realistic plan.

You need either a valid PR card or PRTD to return to Canada. The PR card won't be available in time. You can't apply for the PR Travel Document until you are outside of Canada and processing times are quite slow right now due to COVID. We've seen some people here wait many months for a response.

Delay your travel plans until after your PR card has been renewed.

 

[Svocht]

Thanks! If I see that my PR renewal has been approved but haven't received the new card via mail yet, can I still reenter? They should be able to see that I have been approved right?

 

[scylla]

Thanks! If I see that my PR renewal has been approved but haven't received the new card via mail yet, can I still reenter? They should be able to see that I have been approved right?

No.

Again, you need to have a valid PR card in your hands or a valid PRTD in your passport in order to board the plane. The airline will not let you board the plane without one of these things in your possession.

 

[Svocht]

Ok, thank you

 

[dpenabill]

Thanks! If I see that my PR renewal has been approved but haven't received the new card via mail yet, can I still reenter? They should be able to see that I have been approved right?

Just for clarity: yes, you can "reenter" Canada.

But to reenter Canada you need to get to Canada . . . and that is the problem: how to get back to Canada. As @scylla has observed, to board a flight headed for Canada you will need to present either a valid PR card or obtain and have a valid PR Travel Document.

Otherwise, it warrants noting with some emphasis, it appears that air travel for recreational purposes will still be a VERY BAD idea well into and beyond February. Yeah, sure, many are doing it. Many more of us do not at all appreciate that they are risking so many other people's lives by doing so.

 

[scylla]

Otherwise, it warrants noting with some emphasis, it appears that air travel for recreational purposes will still be a VERY BAD idea well into and beyond February. Yeah, sure, many are doing it. Many more of us do not at all appreciate that they are risking so many other people's lives by doing so.

Agreed. Traveling right now for recreational purposes is the height of white privilege and selfishness.

 

[canuck78]

Boggles my mind. Wish we could broadcast what is happening in hospitals these days and perhaps people would fear covid or those suffering from long covid would be more vocal. Many with even minor covid cases are having serious repercussions that may last a lifetime. Was just reading today that some patients are experience psychosis months after even minor covid infections with no history of mental health issues. Would also add people are very concerned about the economy and businesses closing but the easiest way to protect all these painful economic consequences would be to follow public health advice. Government is not doing great either. You just have to look on this forum to see that many extended family are getting authorization to come for unnecessary vacations and nobody is verifying that people are correctly quarantining and actually having no contact with anyone except the people they travelled with. The politicians going on vacation is just an added touch.