Travel Outside Canada without PR

[BriaN_90]

Hi Everyone,

I've been granted permanent residency on May 11th in Etobicoke. I am still waiting to get my PR Card. I have a trip booked for the end of July for one week to Curacao. I was wondering if leaving without the PR Card and use the COPR instead is a huge risk and if I am breaking any law. I really don't want to lose my Permanent Residency after it took me so long to get it.

On the CIC website it says I need a Traveller Document... but Curacao doesn't have any Canadian Embassy to request one! I am stuck.. They won't refund my trip so it's either I lose all my money or I go and risk my permanent residency.

Any thoughts? I will be flighting with AirCanada.

Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

What passport do you hold? Answer depends on this.

 

[BriaN_90]

I have an Italian passport

 

[Rob_TO]

I have an Italian passport

Since you hold a visa-exempt passport, it's fine to travel with no PR card.

On return flight Canada in Curacao airport, just tell the airline staff you're flying to Canada on visa-exempt passport. Do not mention your PR status, since you don't have a valid PR card to show so it will only cause problems (they may not know what COPR is, and COPR is also stamped on it not suitable for travel)

Once back in Canada, just show passport + COPR to CBSA and tell them you are still waiting for your PR card in the mail. They will easily be able to determine your PR status and let you in.

 

[BriaN_90]

Since you hold a visa-exempt passport, it's fine to travel with no PR card.

On return flight Canada in Curacao airport, just tell the airline staff you're flying to Canada on visa-exempt passport. Do not mention your PR status, since you don't have a valid PR card to show so it will only cause problems (they may not know what COPR is, and COPR is also stamped on it not suitable for travel)

Once back in Canada, just show passport + COPR to CBSA and tell them you are still waiting for your PR card in the mail. They will easily be able to determine your PR status and let you in.

Thank you for your help! So I wouldn't break any Immigration Laws by leaving the country without a PR card? I am so scared they won't let me back in Canada for whatever reason...

 

[keesio]

Thank you for your help! So I wouldn't break any Immigration Laws by leaving the country without a PR card? I am so scared they won't let me back in Canada for whatever reason...

Nope! No laws are being broken. Once you get to a Canadian port of entry, immigration officials can look up your status in the system to confirm you are a PR and then they will let you in.

 

[BriaN_90]

Nope! No laws are being broken. Once you get to a Canadian port of entry, immigration officials can look up your status in the system to confirm you are a PR and then they will let you in.

Thanks! My only challenge will be with AirCanada then.. I hope it will be ok! Thanks guys..

If anyone had experienced this already please share it!

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks! My only challenge will be with AirCanada then.. I hope it will be ok! Thanks guys..

If anyone had experienced this already please share it!

There is no law around traveling without a PR card. A PR card is itself only really a travel document that the airline in a foreign country will use to allow boarding to PRs. Canada really couldn't care less if you show up at the border here with or without the card.

My wife and I traveled to Mexico right after she get her PR status but before her PR card arrived in the mail. At the airport in Mexico we told the airline (i think it was Westjet) that she was travelling to Canada on visa-exempt passport so didn't require any special visa (and we didn't mention her PR status)... and that was enough for them. Back in Canada CBSA took all of 30 seconds verifying her PR status with her passport and COPR.

 

[boopityboo]

Hi. Sorry for hi-jacking this post, but what if you dont come from a visa exempt country?

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi. Sorry for hi-jacking this post, but what if you dont come from a visa exempt country?

Then you need a travel document, or need to plan to drive across the border in a personal vehicle.