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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.

You can apply to replace your PR card when you return to Canada.

Is your child already a citizen?

In general, a child born to a Canadian parent outside Canada before April 17, 2009, is a Canadian citizen. However, a child born to a Canadian parent outside Canada on or after April 17, 2009, is a Canadian citizen at birth only if that child is born in the first generation outside Canada, that is, at the time of their birth, their Canadian parent:

• was born in Canada, or
• became a Canadian citizen by immigrating to Canada (becoming a permanent resident) and being granted citizenship (also known as naturalization).

If your child is a Canadian citizen, use the Application for a Citizenship Certificate under section 3 (CIT 0001).

Second-generation children born abroad

Bill C-37 changed the way citizenship by descent can be passed on to children of Canadian parents born abroad. Under the new subsection 3(3) of the Citizenship Act, citizens may not pass on citizenship to their children of the second or subsequent generation who are born abroad. An exception is for persons born to a Canadian parent who is working abroad as part of or with the Canadian armed forces, for the federal government or for a provincial government, except if the parent was hired locally (subsection 3(5)). The government maintains that this provision is intended to ensure that Canadian citizenship is not passed on indefinitely to persons with no ties to Canada.

When determining if you're eligible, the government considers:

• your status (e.g., married or a dependent student)
• the school you attend/will attend (a school needs to be approved for OSAP)
• program of study
• course load (full or part-time)
• study period
• academic progress
• education expenses
• you and your family’s financial contribution

You may not be eligible for OSAP if you:

• have enough financial resources to cover your expenses allowed by OSAP
• receive other government aid that covers your post secondary education expenses
• have defaulted on a student loan
• failed a credit check
• don’t meet the academic progress requirements
• have multiple loan overpayments outstanding
• tell us your income is one number and there’s a significant difference between that number and the one on file with the Canada Revenue Agency
• declared bankruptcy or consumer proposal, or consolidation orders under the Orderly Payment of Debts

• legal name
• date of birth
• signature

What will happen to my sponsor?

The federal and provincial governments have the right to sue your sponsor to get money for your support (see also page 36). If you’re collecting welfare benefits, the provincial government’s policy is to require your sponsor to pay back all the money you received in welfare benefits.

If your sponsor won’t support you for the time they promised and you have to go on welfare, they won’t be allowed to sponsor other family members unless they pay the government all the money that the welfare ministry gave you.

After you get married you have the option to change your last name, also known as family name or surname, to your spouse’s last name.

You can also combine both of your last names into a hyphenated last name or choose to take on your spouse’s last name as a second last name.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB), you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You must live with the child, and the child must be under 18 years of age.
• You must be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.
• You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.

You or your spouse or common-law partner must be:

• a Canadian citizen
• a permanent resident
• a protected persona temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month
• an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act