Permanent Resident Travel Document—PRTD
A Permanent Resident Travel Document, commonly known as a PRTD, is a temporary travel document for Canadian permanent residents who are outside Canada without a valid Permanent Resident card.
A PRTD allows an eligible permanent resident to board a commercial carrier—such as an airplane, train, bus or boat—and return to Canada. It is normally issued for a single entry, although multiple-entry documents may be considered in certain circumstances.
Who Can Apply?
You may be eligible for a PRTD if you:
- Are a Canadian permanent resident
- Are currently outside Canada
- Do not have a valid PR card
- Plan to return by airplane, bus, train or boat
- Continue to meet Canada’s permanent residence requirements
A person who has a valid PR card, is already inside Canada or is no longer a permanent resident should not apply for a PRTD.
When Is a PRTD Required?
A PRTD may be required when your PR card:
Has expired
Was lost or stolen
Was damaged
Was not received before you travelled outside Canada
A Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Record of Landing is not normally accepted as a substitute for a valid PR card or PRTD when boarding a commercial carrier to Canada.
Canadian PR Residency Obligation
Canadian permanent residents must generally be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within a five-year period.
In certain circumstances, eligible time spent outside Canada may count toward this requirement, such as qualifying employment outside Canada or accompanying an eligible Canadian-citizen or permanent-resident family member. Each case is assessed according to Canadian immigration law and the supporting evidence provided.
After Returning to Canada
A PRTD is not a replacement for a PR card. After returning to Canada, applicants should apply to renew or replace their PR card as soon as possible.
PR cards are issued only to applicants who are physically present in Canada and are not mailed outside the country.
Need Urgent Travel?
Urgent processing may be requested in situations such as serious illness, the loss or theft of a PR card or another qualifying emergency. Applicants must submit a complete application with evidence explaining the urgent circumstances.
Urgent processing is not guaranteed, and overall processing times vary depending on application completeness, verification requirements and application volume.
Our Services
How Open Path Immigration Can Help
Our team can assist with:
PRTD eligibility assessment
Residency-obligation review
Travel-history calculation
Application-form preparation
Supporting-document guidance
Lost, stolen or expired PR card cases
Urgent travel-document applications
PR card renewal guidance after returning to Canada
Important Information
Eligibility, document requirements, fees and processing procedures may change. Final decisions are made exclusively by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
