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PRTD question

Jeebs

Newbie
Apr 21, 2022
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I know you have to be outside Canada to apply for PRTD, but do you have to be in the country you're applying for one from? I want to travel to the US but I don't want to apply for PRTD from there and get stuck with a delay. I'm originally from the UK so could I theoretically leave Canada for the US for several weeks and apply for PRTD in the UK and then travel to the UK, send in my passport, and then come back when it's confirmed?

Sorry if the question is convoluted, in a tricky PR situation with a replacement card taking forever and am imminent need to travel to the US.
 

scylla

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I know you have to be outside Canada to apply for PRTD, but do you have to be in the country you're applying for one from? I want to travel to the US but I don't want to apply for PRTD from there and get stuck with a delay. I'm originally from the UK so could I theoretically leave Canada for the US for several weeks and apply for PRTD in the UK and then travel to the UK, send in my passport, and then come back when it's confirmed?

Sorry if the question is convoluted, in a tricky PR situation with a replacement card taking forever and am imminent need to travel to the US.
You need to submit your passport along with the PRTD application. So this won't work.

Howevever you don't need a PRTD to re-enter Canada from the US via a land border crossing (vs. flying). So I would go with that option if you don't want to get stuck waiting.
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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I know you have to be outside Canada to apply for PRTD, but do you have to be in the country you're applying for one from? I want to travel to the US but I don't want to apply for PRTD from there and get stuck with a delay. I'm originally from the UK so could I theoretically leave Canada for the US for several weeks and apply for PRTD in the UK and then travel to the UK, send in my passport, and then come back when it's confirmed?

Sorry if the question is convoluted, in a tricky PR situation with a replacement card taking forever and am imminent need to travel to the US.
If your travel is to the US, you will find it MUCH quicker and easier to simply fly to a border town and cross by private vehicle or by foot.

To put it more simply: you WILL need a PRTD to board a plane to Canada. You do NOT need one to cross by land border (if in private vehicle or by foot). If you have access to the USA, go to Niagara Falls or Buffalo and cross that way. (Or Washington state or Montreal area or wherever._)
 

Jeebs

Newbie
Apr 21, 2022
3
0
If your travel is to the US, you will find it MUCH quicker and easier to simply fly to a border town and cross by private vehicle or by foot.

To put it more simply: you WILL need a PRTD to board a plane to Canada. You do NOT need one to cross by land border (if in private vehicle or by foot). If you have access to the USA, go to Niagara Falls or Buffalo and cross that way. (Or Washington state or Montreal area or wherever._)
Unfortunately the COPR was lost along with the PR card, so trying to get through a land border probably won't work from the research I've done.
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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Unfortunately the COPR was lost along with the PR card, so trying to get through a land border probably won't work from the research I've done.
Do you have any photocopies or pictures of either of them? Any at all?

In principle, your name passport date of birth etc should be enough - if you at least know the UCI#, that will almost certainly be enough to find you in the system. A copy of your PR card renewal application would also likely help a lot.

In addition: other supporting docs that show you live in Canada (health card, driving license, etc) will go a long way to convincing them that you clearly are resident in Canada. (The database should have your PR info)

So I really suggest you will likely be better off trying to do it this way compared to the PRTD.
 

kulb

Hero Member
Feb 11, 2018
220
83
If your travel is to the US, you will find it MUCH quicker and easier to simply fly to a border town and cross by private vehicle or by foot.

To put it more simply: you WILL need a PRTD to board a plane to Canada. You do NOT need one to cross by land border (if in private vehicle or by foot). If you have access to the USA, go to Niagara Falls or Buffalo and cross that way. (Or Washington state or Montreal area or wherever._)
So PR's can enter Canada by land border without a PR card if they can show their COPR? Do you have an official link for this? My mom became PR last week, wait time for first time PR card is months, and we wanna make a short trip by land to Buffalo. It would be helpful if she can return by showing her COPR.
 

steaky

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Nov 11, 2008
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So PR's can enter Canada by land border without a PR card if they can show their COPR? Do you have an official link for this? My mom became PR last week, wait time for first time PR card is months, and we wanna make a short trip by land to Buffalo. It would be helpful if she can return by showing her COPR.
You can read the link below (although COPR seems not mentioned there):

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html#s1-1
 

Jeebs

Newbie
Apr 21, 2022
3
0
So PR's can enter Canada by land border without a PR card if they can show their COPR? Do you have an official link for this? My mom became PR last week, wait time for first time PR card is months, and we wanna make a short trip by land to Buffalo. It would be helpful if she can return by showing her COPR.
I haven't got anything official to link to but I've been on so many reddit threads of people successfully getting in through the land border with their COPR. Should be fine to do it. Easy to find examples if you wanna look yourself.
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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So PR's can enter Canada by land border without a PR card if they can show their COPR? Do you have an official link for this? My mom became PR last week, wait time for first time PR card is months, and we wanna make a short trip by land to Buffalo. It would be helpful if she can return by showing her COPR.
Anyone who can identify themselves as a PR to the satisfaction of the border officer (at a port of entry) MUST be admitted.

PR card is the easiest way. COPR is a not-bad way. Photocopies of those are not as good but still a decent way- together with the main travel document like foreign passport - to establish you-are-you and you-are-PR.

But any way that lets them identify you in the system - name, birth date, UCI#, etc - should also work. Other supporting docs like mentioned above to show you reside in Canada - also good.

Obviously a risk to show up with nothing but (say) your foreign passport. But it is possible. Caveat, saying it's possible does not mean it's recommnded or the best way.

[Note: I'm not addressing here good will - if you annoy the CBSA officer and / or don't even have a reason for not having the proper docs, then it might not all go so well.]