Coming Back via Private Vehicle without PR card 

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I am outside of Canada and do not have a PR card. How can I return to Canada?

Canada’s entry requirements are changing

Permanent residents (PR) of Canada must carry and present their valid PR card or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) when boarding a flight to Canada, or travelling to Canada on any other commercial carrier. If you do not carry your PR card or PRTD, you may not be able to board your flight, train, bus or boat to Canada.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your PR card is still valid when you return from travel outside Canada, and to apply for a new PR card when your current card expires.

Returning by private vehicle

There are other documents you can use to enter the country.

When you return to Canada, apply for a PR card if you plan to travel outside Canada again.

Some examples of private vehicles include, but are not limited to: a car, truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow, or rent, and that is not available for public use.

Returning by commercial vehicle: airplane, bus, train, or boat

You must apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD), valid for one entry. Otherwise you may not be able to travel to Canada.

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11.3 Establishing permanent resident status without documents


Border services officers at POEs have the discretion to authorize the entry of permanent residents, even in the absence of documentation. If documentary evidence is not available, the border services officer at Immigration Secondary must establish the person’s permanent
resident status by questioning the person and checking the person’s status in GCMS. The status of persons who became permanent residents before 1973 has to be verified by contacting the Operations Support Centre at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s National Headquarters at [email protected].

Once the border services officer is satisfied that a person is a permanent resident, the examination should be concluded and the person allowed to enter Canada without delay.

11.4 Investigating permanent residents for inadmissibility

When a permanent resident appears at a POE for examination, the border services officer must determine whether the person is a permanent resident. BSOs must remain cognizant of the fact that s.19(2) of the Act gives permanent residents of Canada the right to enter Canada at a POE once it is established that a person is a permanent resident, regardless of non-compliance with the residency obligation in A28 or the presence of other inadmissibilities. BSOs can refuse entry to a permanent resident only when the person has already lost the status in accordance with the provisions of A46 (such as when a final determination has been made outside of Canada that the permanent resident has failed to comply with the residency obligations, or when a removal order comes into force). In other words, once a permanent resident’s status is established, the person may enter Canada by right, and the BSO should conclude the immigration examination under IRPA.


However, as per s.27(1), this right to enter and remain in Canada is subject to the provisions of the Act, and does not preclude the CBSA from ensuring that permanent residents are in compliance with IRPA and thus admissible to Canada. During the process of determining that a
person is a permanent resident, BSOs will sometimes become aware of evidence of inadmissibility. In such cases, the BSO may refer the individual to Immigration Secondary to ask additional questions to determine if the permanent resident is in compliance with IRPA. The BSO should explain to the person that while it has been established that they have a right to enter Canada, there is some reason to believe they could be the subject of a report under IRPA which could lead to the issuance of a removal order. At this point, the examination remains ongoing and the permanent resident must answer truthfully all questions put forward for the purposes of the examination as per A16(1), A18(1), and R37.
Officers should always remain aware of the principles of procedural fairness in these proceedings. The permanent resident must be given a fair opportunity to know the case to be met; to provide evidence in order to correct or contradict any concerns related to admissibility; and to have the evidence fully and fairly considered by the decision-maker.

11.14 Other inadmissibility allegations


If a border services officer believes a permanent resident is inadmissible for reasons other than failure to comply with the residency obligation, they are still required to allow the person to come into Canada. A border services officer at Immigration Secondary should attempt to obtain sufficient information (including current address, phone number, and employment location) to enable follow-up action from an inland office in the event an investigation ensues.