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Aug 29, 2026
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Hi everyone, I’m currently living in the USA and planning to do my initial Canadian PR landing, stay for a few days, and then return to the USA for around 8–10 months before permanently moving to Canada.


I’m confused about the PR card address. IRCC says the first PR card is mailed to a Canadian residential address and cannot be mailed to a third-party address. Has anyone been in a similar situation?


If I provide my friend’s Canadian address for my PR card, have them receive it, and then courier it to me in the USA, is this actually allowed? Also, does IRCC cross-check my travel/entry records to see whether I was actually in Canada when the PR card was delivered? If their records show that I was in the USA when the card was delivered, could that raise a question about why/how my PR card reached me in the USA?


I’ll be returning to Canada permanently after about 8–10 months. Looking for experiences from people who have actually been in this situation. Thanks!
 
What you describe is what's called a `soft landing'.
https://www.canadavisa.com/softlanding.html

Can I get a PR card during a soft landing?​

Although it takes a varying amount of time to process a PR card, because processing begins after the newcomer completes their landing interview, it is possible to obtain a PR card prior to leaving Canada at the end of a soft landing. Once again, the amount of time that someone can stay in Canada during a soft landing is completely up to the individual.
Therefore, if possible, it is recommended that they stay in Canada until they receive their PR card in the mail. Otherwise, incoming PRs can have trusted friends and family in Canada receive the PR card on their behalf and ship it to their home country.

Note:
Newcomers that do not or cannot stay in Canada until they receive their PR card must have their card shipped to them, as newcomers are required to be in possession of this card when they return to Canada for their permanent move.