TRAVELING WITH THE COPR AND IMMIGRANT VISA ON THE PASSPORT

[tmonay]

Hello everyone,
I and my family already got the COPR letter and the immigrant visa on our passports. We have a flight ticket from Istanbul Turkey to Toronto Canada. However, due to prices, we bought a flight ticket that has a 2-hour stopover in Paris France, but only changing flights at the airport, and final destination is Canada.

I have heard of some issues that people have had while transiting through France. I hold a Nigerian passport while my wife and son both hold Turkish passports. On the french website, it says that anyone who has a valid visa from countries like Canada etc can transit without having problems.

I would like to know if anyone here has transited through a country like France, with their immigrant visa and COPR without having issues at the airport.

Thank you for your feedback in advance.

 

[armoured]

Hello everyone,
I and my family already got the COPR letter and the immigrant visa on our passports. We have a flight ticket from Istanbul Turkey to Toronto Canada. However, due to prices, we bought a flight ticket that has a 2-hour stopover in Paris France, but only changing flights at the airport, and final destination is Canada.

I have heard of some issues that people have had while transiting through France. I hold a Nigerian passport while my wife and son both hold Turkish passports. On the french website, it says that anyone who has a valid visa from countries like Canada etc can transit without having problems.

I would like to know if anyone here has transited through a country like France, with their immigrant visa and COPR without having issues at the airport.

Thank you for your feedback in advance.

Transfers through French airports while remaining in the international (non-Schengen) zone are routine and generally do not require French/EU/Schengen visas. They will of course require (as on departure from IST by the way) that you have valid visas for your country of destination - Canada. There's no border/passport control within the international zone (apart from perhaps checking ID/ticket sometimes eg at security check, and upon boarding flight to Canada).

I have done this many times (although I do hold a Canadian passport, I've also done it with nationals of other countries).

Important note: if one has not checked one's baggage through to final destination, that would mean getting out and going through passport control (to clear baggage through customs). This basically does not happen if you book baggage through (absolutely routine when tickets are booked together / through one airline or airline partners).

Now warning: I said 'in general.' As far as I'm aware this is true for most nationalities, but sometimes there are more restrictive rules for some. I strongly doubt that this would be the case for either Nigerian or Turkish passport holders (for Turks I'm 98% sure, less certain for Nigerians). Best way to check is through the airline - they're the ones that would deny you boarding if tthey thought otherwise.

 

[tmonay]

Thank you so much for your response.
Logically, since we are only changing flights from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 within the Paris CDG airport, there shouldn't be any problems.

To be safe, probably i would try to get the Transit visa before traveling just in case.

Also, i have been trying to contact the airline for more clarification on my baggage transfer. I'll share my experience incase anyone has this same situation.

Thank you once again. Appreciate.

 

[armoured]

Thank you so much for your response.
Logically, since we are only changing flights from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 within the Paris CDG airport, there shouldn't be any problems.

To be safe, probably i would try to get the Transit visa before traveling just in case.

Also, i have been trying to contact the airline for more clarification on my baggage transfer. I'll share my experience incase anyone has this same situation.

Thank you once again. Appreciate.

I cannot speak for every single case, but it is absolutely common for terminal transfers within CDG to be done while remaining in the international zone - it's designed that way.

I doubt you will need or indeed be able to get the transit visa.

Baggage transfer: if you booked 'a ticket' with any reputable airline they will check your bags through to destination (certainly not take them through customs in France). While there are exceptions, they're rare. A different case is if you booked two separate tickets (eg with different airlines).

If this is, for example, Air France (or tickets booked through an air france partner) - again, this is all completely normal and pedestrian. You'd only really be confirming that no transit visa needed based on nationality, which - again - not at all common.

 

[tmonay]

Thanks so much for your response. I spoke to both Airlines and they clarified that since i have a single ticket, so the luggages would be automatically transferred.

As for the transit situation, on the France official website, it states there that an airport Transit visa is not needed. But i would rather apply for it just to be completely safe.

I have another enquiry, the COPR and the immigrant visa on my passport would expire in September 2026. However, my passport expires in October 2026. Due to some airline policies, you need to have a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport before you are allowed to travel. I am planning to travel in July 2026. If i apply for a new passport:
-does this have a huge effect on the passport that has the immigrant visa?
-would IRCC transfer the visa from my old passport to the new passport upon request?

I would like to renew the passport in order to be safe but i'm not sure what might happen with the visa on the old passport.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks

 

[armoured]

Thanks so much for your response. I spoke to both Airlines and they clarified that since i have a single ticket, so the luggages would be automatically transferred.

As for the transit situation, on the France official website, it states there that an airport Transit visa is not needed. But i would rather apply for it just to be completely safe.

I have another enquiry, the COPR and the immigrant visa on my passport would expire in September 2026. However, my passport expires in October 2026. Due to some airline policies, you need to have a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport before you are allowed to travel. I am planning to travel in July 2026. If i apply for a new passport:
-does this have a huge effect on the passport that has the immigrant visa?
-would IRCC transfer the visa from my old passport to the new passport upon request?

I would like to renew the passport in order to be safe but i'm not sure what might happen with the visa on the old passport.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks

-If the airlines say it's okay, then getting the visa to remain in the international part of airport is not needed. France's main airports are quite good at this. I suspect even getting the visa will be a problem once they understand. But it's up to you.

-Technically you do NOT need to have a longer-validity passport to immigrate. Again, the airlines SHOULD know this (the larger airlines are more reliable, usually) - but no-one can guarantee in advance that the airline will know this - except possibly the airline. (You could search for website info to show them but will they accept it?) *Actually technically I believe all such cases are now fed through airline manifests/Transport Canada to CBSA, which (I believe) issues some sort of 'ok to board' clearance to the airline.

Now I'm not attempting to scare you - should be fine. But then, you have the time (and frankly you should have renewed your passport beforehand - NOTE TO OTHERS when you have big travel planned like immigrating to another country, RENEW YOUR PASSPORT IN ADVANCE).

So:
-you don't /technically/ need to get the visa inserted in new passport. See here: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1650&top=16

BUT: you have to be able to keep the old physical passport with the visa, and preferably in a form where the visa and old passport are still 'usable', i.e. legible and clear. (Don't ask me to define that: obviously if they stamp out a huge hole through all pages, parts may not be legible. Canada cuts the corners of the passport, so it's voided but nothing much changed. Some countries will not return old passports at all. Most I think will just stamp 'void' or cancelled or similar on the bio-page of the passport).

Some countries will let you have two valid passports, either for a short while or longer - this is usually fine for airline personnel. And it's sort-of a way around the minimum-six-month thing - because what the airlines/governments want to see is that if you're returned to country of origin (eg not allowed into destination country), that you have a valid document to get sent back home.

-It is still /better/ to renew your passport and get a new visa inserted. (Again: even easier if you DO THIS IN ADVANCE of getting the immigrant visa). You'll have to contact the visa section to do so - and I don't have instructions for how to do this. (It's not that rare, and it's not THAT big a deal, but up to you to figure it out).

Since you have time, probably clear that I'd suggest getting your new passport, and when you get the new passport, get a new visa inserted. Up to you to figure out how to do that.

Second best - in my view, depending on country - is just travel to Canada with new passport and the cancelled old one (with visible/legible immigrant visa).

Or if not - travel on old passport and get a new one once in Canada. (For some countries, renewing a passport outside home country is VERY difficult though)

 

[tmonay]

Firstly, i really appreciate your meticulous response. This is an experience for me and also a lesson for everyone else.

Regarding the flight transit visa, I have decided to change the flight to direct, instead of having a stopover in France. This was more affordable.

Also, i have contacted airline, they said i could travel with the COPR letter from Canada, they asked me get an approval from the Canadian embassy, i reminded them that i have a COPR letter. So my passport validity wouldn't be a problem.

In addition, i contacted IRCC using the webform in order to ask about getting a new passport, this is what they told me:

"""We verified the information you provided. When your permanent residence (PR) application is approved, IRCC sends you the following documents to validate your PR status:

• Confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), and
• PR visa counterfoil affixed in your passport (if you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Canada).

These documents are issued based on your current passport. You must travel to Canada and present your immigration documents at a Canadian port of entry before they expire.

If there are any changes to the information indicated on those documents (e.g., if you got a new passport), we invite you to advise the office that issued your COPR by using the IRCC Web form and include a letter of explanation."""


For some reason, i am planning not to contact the office again due to the fact that i contacted them first explaining the situation, then they told that the Vancouver office in Canada is in charge of processing my file. I contacted the office in Vancouver via webform, and they sent me that message above.

Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my enquiries. Once again i have learnt from this experience and i hope others learn too.

 

[armoured]

Firstly, i really appreciate your meticulous response. This is an experience for me and also a lesson for everyone else.

Regarding the flight transit visa, I have decided to change the flight to direct, instead of having a stopover in France. This was more affordable.

Also, i have contacted airline, they said i could travel with the COPR letter from Canada, they asked me get an approval from the Canadian embassy, i reminded them that i have a COPR letter. So my passport validity wouldn't be a problem.

In addition, i contacted IRCC using the webform in order to ask about getting a new passport, this is what they told me:

"""We verified the information you provided. When your permanent residence (PR) application is approved, IRCC sends you the following documents to validate your PR status:

• Confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), and
• PR visa counterfoil affixed in your passport (if you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Canada).

These documents are issued based on your current passport. You must travel to Canada and present your immigration documents at a Canadian port of entry before they expire.

If there are any changes to the information indicated on those documents (e.g., if you got a new passport), we invite you to advise the office that issued your COPR by using the IRCC Web form and include a letter of explanation."""


For some reason, i am planning not to contact the office again due to the fact that i contacted them first explaining the situation, then they told that the Vancouver office in Canada is in charge of processing my file. I contacted the office in Vancouver via webform, and they sent me that message above.

Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my enquiries. Once again i have learnt from this experience and i hope others learn too.

I may have got a bit lost in this, in that I'm not clear what you decided to do.

Frankly the easiest probably is just to fly to Canada without renewing your passport and doing the renewal in Canada. As long as your country allows that without too much dififculty, and things like you don't urgently need to travel.