1.6 MINUTE READ
Have you recently applied for your first Permanent Resident (PR) card? It is very important to allow Immigration, Refugees, and the IRCC enough time to process your application for your first PR card or even for your PR Card Renewal.
Have you recently applied for your first Permanent Resident (PR) card? It is very important to allow Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enough time to process your application for your first PR card or even for your PR Card Renewal. You can plan when to apply for a new PR card or a renewal based on whether you intend to travel outside Canada soon.
When Should You Apply for a Permanent Resident (PR) Card?
Check the processing times regularly:
You can visit the Government of Canada website to check the recent processing times for PR cards. These processing times are updated every week. In 2021, the current waiting time for a new PR card is around 13 calendar days for applicants who are already residing in Canada. For renewal applications, the current waiting time is around 27 calendar days.
What to Do If You Have Been Waiting for Your PR Card Over the Current Mandated Time?
If you have been waiting for your PR card to be processed and it has already been over the current processing time, the IRCC recommends that you contact the Call Centre. The Call Centre agents may give you additional information about when you can expect to receive your PR card. However, these agents can not speed up the process or make any decision on your application.
It is also important to remember that the processing time only reflects the time it took to process 80% of all applications received during a certain period. It is there to give you a general idea of how long it may take for your application to be processed. Therefore, it is always best to be cautious when applying for your PR card.
Subscribe to our magazine to stay up to date with Immigration news
How Can You Apply for Urgent Processing of Your PR Card?
It is important to carry your PR card if you are planning to travel outside Canada to ensure smooth re-entry. Therefore, if you need a new PR card or have to renew your old one before you go abroad, then you can apply for urgent processing.
However, one of the following conditions must apply to your situation to make you eligible for urgent processing:
- You have to travel within the next 3 months
- You will be returning through a commercial vehicle, for example, by plane, by bus, or boat.
However, even if these conditions apply to you, you might not be able to get urgent processing of your PR card application.