Reminder: Permanent Resident Card will be Mandatory for Canada's Permanent Residents Travelling Abroad
OTTAWA, November 19, 2003 -- On December 31, 2003, the permanent resident card (PR card) will be mandatory for permanent residents wishing to re-enter Canada aboard any commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus). A permanent resident is someone who has been allowed to enter Canada as an immigrant but who has not become a Canadian citizen.
The PR card replaces the paper IMM 1000 Record of Landing document and will be the official proof-of-status document for permanent residents. The fraud-resistant card provides cardholders with secure, convenient proof of their permanent resident status when re-entering Canada. Because it is highly resistant to tampering and illegal duplication, and offers transportation officials a more effective means of identifying people with permanent resident status in Canada, the PR card will help combat illegal entry into Canada.
Existing permanent residents must be in Canada to apply for the PR card. Application and information kits are available on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.
Canadian permanent residents presently located outside Canada, who do not have a PR card and who will be returning to Canada on or after December 31, 2003, should visit a Canadian visa office to obtain a limited-use travel document at a cost of $50. To determine the location of the nearest Canadian visa office, visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/offices/apply-where.html.
