A Permanent Resident Travel Document is generally used by a Canadian permanent resident who is outside Canada without a valid PR card and needs to return by commercial transportation such as an airplane, bus, train or boat.
At a glance
- Applicant must be outside Canada
- No valid PR card available for commercial travel
- Residency obligation assessment
- Urgent PRTD requests where the criteria are met
Purpose of a PRTD
A PRTD is a travel document, normally valid for a single entry. After returning to Canada, the permanent resident should address the PR card issue from inside Canada.
Residency obligation
IRCC assesses whether the applicant remains a permanent resident and meets the residency obligation. Travel records, family circumstances and qualifying time outside Canada can therefore be important.
Humanitarian considerations
Where the residency obligation is not met, some cases may raise humanitarian and compassionate considerations. The evidence should address the reasons for the absences and the person’s circumstances.
Urgent travel
IRCC has an urgent process for some PRTD situations, but applicants must provide evidence of the qualifying urgency and travel dates.
Official government resources
Use these official sources for the current program rules, forms and government instructions.
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