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Canada flag — visa destinationPermanent Resident Travel DocumentVerified 2026-04-13

Canada Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)

A Canada Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) is for Canadian Permanent Residents who are outside Canada and don't have a valid PR card. The PRTD allows you to return to Canada as a PR. Single-entry only — once you arrive in Canada, renew your PR card immediately.

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Processing

Varies — typically several weeks

Stay Duration

Single entry — use to travel back to Canada

Starting Fee

CAD $50

Apply At

10 VFS centres

Special Instructions — Read Before Applying

These requirements apply to ALL Canada visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.

  • 1Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay in Canada.
  • 2Biometrics (fingerprints + digital photo) are required for most applicants — valid for 10 years.
  • 3Do NOT submit your passport to VAC until you receive the Passport Request Letter from IRCC.
  • 4Effective Feb 24, 2026: Biometric appointments require you to upload the BIL via the new AMS system.
  • 5Effective Oct 9, 2023: Only the applicant, parents (for minors), or 1 appointed family member can submit passports at VAC — not unauthorized third parties.
  • 6Not accepted as identity documents: passports from Somalia, non-machine-readable Czech passports, temporary South African passports, provisional Venezuelan passports.
  • 7VFS online tracking shows passport LOCATION only. For application processing status, check your IRCC online account directly.

Who Can Apply

  • Canadian Permanent Residents outside Canada without a valid PR card
  • PRs whose PR card has expired or was lost/stolen
  • PRs who need to return urgently

Not eligible under this visa:

  • Non-PRs — this is only for confirmed Permanent Residents
  • PRs who can wait for a regular PR card renewal

Previously refused?

Same fee

We rebuild refused Canada cases — and win them.

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Fees (in INR)

ItemAmount
PRTD application feeCAD $50
Biometrics fee — individualCAD $85
VFS service charge — per package₹603
Two-Way Courier Service₹1,716
Premium Lounge service₹4,767
SMS Tracking Service₹179

All IRCC government fees are in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and paid directly to IRCC online. VFS service charges are paid in INR at the VAC. Fees are subject to change — verify on IRCC (canada.ca/immigration) and VFS Global (vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can) before applying. Third-party costs (medical exam, police clearance, translation) may also apply.

Documents Required

Required — PR Status Documents

  • !
    Proof of PR status

    Copy of PR card (even if expired), IMM 5292 Confirmation of Permanent Residence, or CoPR

  • !
    Valid passport
  • !
    PRTD application form (IMM 5524)

    Download from IRCC website

  • !
    Family Information Form (IMM 5645)
  • !
    2 recent photographs

    Meeting IRCC specifications

Required — Residency Documentation

  • !
    Proof of physical presence in Canada (if residency obligation is a concern)

    Canadian tax returns, employment records, utility bills — demonstrates you've met residency obligations

  • !
    Travel history for the past 5 years

    Shows days in / out of Canada

! = mandatory · = optional / if applicable

The journey.

7 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.

  1. 01

    Confirm you're still a PR

    You must meet Canadian PR residency obligations (730 days in Canada during last 5 years, with exceptions).

  2. 02

    Download and complete IMM 5524

    From canada.ca. Fill out completely.

  3. 03

    Gather PR status documents

    Copy of PR card (expired is fine), CoPR, and residency proof.

  4. 04

    Submit application online or at VAC

    Pay CAD $50 application fee + biometrics if required. VFS service charges apply at VAC.

  5. 05

    Attend biometrics at VAC (if required)

    Some applicants need biometrics; some don't — based on your profile.

  6. 06

    Wait for PRTD decision

    IRCC processes. If approved, PRTD is issued for single entry to Canada.

  7. 07

    Travel to Canada within validity

    Present PRTD at Canadian port of entry. Once in Canada, renew your PR card immediately.

What works

4 levers that flip a borderline case.

  • Meet your PR residency obligation (730 days in Canada out of last 5 years) — key eligibility criterion.
  • Apply as early as possible — PRTD processing takes weeks.
  • Once you're back in Canada, apply for PR card renewal immediately.
  • If you've been outside Canada for extended periods, prepare strong documentation about your residency — there may be questions.

What kills cases

Top 3 refusal triggers we see.

  • 1Failure to meet PR residency obligation (730 days in last 5 years)
  • 2No proof of PR status
  • 3Unable to document physical presence in Canada

Download Official Forms

Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.

How to download from VFS:

  1. Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
  2. Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
  3. Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
  4. Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device

VFS Application Centres

VAC Ahmedabad — Shree Balaji Agora Mall, Motera (382424)VAC Bengaluru — Sobha Pearl, Ashok Nagar (560025)VAC Chandigarh — Elante, Industrial Area Phase 1 (160002)VAC Chennai — Ramee Mall, Anna Salai (600018)VAC Hyderabad — Zonah Crescent, Banjara Hills (500034)VAC Jalandhar — Aman Plaza, Lajpat Nagar (144001)VAC Kolkata — Rene Tower, Rajdanga Main Road (700107)VAC Mumbai — Urmi Axis Building, Mahalaxmi West (400011)VAC New Delhi — Shivaji Stadium Metro, Connaught Place (110001)VAC Pune — 93 Avenue Mall, Wanowarie (411022) — Hours 8:00–16:00

Quiz not yet available for this visa type

We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Canada Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need a PRTD instead of a PR card?+
When you're outside Canada AND you don't have a valid PR card. PR cards are needed to BOARD flights back to Canada. If your card is expired, lost, or never received, you need a PRTD to travel back.
What is the residency obligation for PRs?+
You must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) out of every 5-year period to maintain PR status. Some exceptions apply: accompanying a Canadian spouse abroad, working for a Canadian employer abroad, etc.
Can I enter Canada without a PR card OR PRTD?+
In theory yes, but airlines typically won't let you board without one or the other. The PRTD is your proof to airlines that you can legally enter Canada.
Can SureshotVisa help with PRTD?+
Yes. We help assess residency obligation, prepare IMM 5524, gather PR status docs, and manage VAC submission. Book a consultation.

Before you apply

Two ways to apply for your Canada canada permanent resident travel document (prtd).

Do it yourself

the risky route

  • You guess which papers Canada actually wants — one missing or wrongly-framed document triggers a refusal.
  • You copy a cover letter off YouTube or Google — often the exact template embassies already flag as weak.
  • You apply during a known peak-rejection window without realising it.
  • Embassy & VFS fees are non-refundable — refused means your money, flights and leave are gone.
  • One refusal stamp follows you for life — every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.

With SureshotVisa

the approved route

  • A licensed consultant checks your case honestly before you spend a rupee on embassy fees.
  • We build your Canada canada permanent resident travel document (prtd) file the way the embassy approves — documents, cover letter, financials.
  • We catch the weak-ties, funding and intent issues behind 70% of Indian refusals — and fix them first.
  • We've rescued hundreds of files that were already refused once and got them approved.
  • Govt of Punjab licensed (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024) · 1200+ approvals.

Why DIY goes wrong

How a self-filed application turns into a refusal.

  1. 1

    You feel ready

    A few YouTube videos make the process look simple.

  2. 2

    You file it yourself

    You submit a sensitive canada permanent resident travel document (prtd) on your own.

  3. 3

    One detail misreads

    A small framing slip looks like weak ties or unclear intent.

  4. 4

    Refusal

    Now every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.

Once you've been refused, you learn the hard way how much the small details mattered. We'd rather you never collect that first stamp.

Trusted by applicants from across India

We've helped many applicants from across India get their Canada visa — the easy way.

From first-time canada permanent resident travel document (prtd) applicants to cases that were refused elsewhere, our licensed team has guided applicants from across India through Canada's exact requirements — so the file is approved the first time, without the stress, guesswork or risk of a refusal.

1200+ approvalsGovt of Punjab licensed5★ · 90 Google reviewsRefusal recovery experts
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Other Canada Visa Types

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Canada Tourist Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)

Apply for a Canada Tourist Visa (TRV) from India. Complete guide on IRCC fees, documents, biometrics, application process through VFS Global, and 10 VAC centres across India.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — Business Visitor

Canada Business Visitor Visa (TRV)

Canada Business Visitor Visa for Indian professionals attending meetings, conferences, and business events in Canada. Stay less than 6 months. Not entering the Canadian labor market.

Study Permit

Canada Study Permit

Canada Study Permit for Indian students enrolling at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Complete guide on IRCC fees, documents, PAL requirements, and 2026 updates.

Work Permit

Canada Work Permit — Informational

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Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — Family Visit

Canada Family Visit Visa (TRV)

Canada Family Visit Visa for Indian citizens visiting family who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents, or persons registered under the Indian Act. Up to 6 months.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — Spousal

Canada Spousal Visit Visa (TRV — Spouse of PR Sponsor)

Canada Spousal Visit Visa for Indian spouses whose Canadian partner has sponsored them for Permanent Residence. Faster processing available while PR application is in progress.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — Compassionate

Canada Compassionate Visit Visa (TRV — Urgent Family)

Canada Compassionate Visit Visa for urgent visits due to critical illness, death, or other humanitarian reasons. Priority processing available with strong supporting evidence.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — Seafarer

Canada Seafarer / Marine Crew Visa (TRV)

Canada Seafarer / Marine Crew Visa for Indian seafarers joining a vessel as crew in Canadian ports. Temporary Resident Visa for duration of contract.

Source & Disclaimer

Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Canada website and Embassy of Canada. Last verified 2026-04-13. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.

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