Landing for the first time as an FSW PR at Montreal with an onward domestic leg to Toronto raised two issues: whether a 2.5-hour layover is enough, and how the PR card gets delivered.
What group members shared:- Immigration happens at Montreal (first port of entry). One member on the same routing found the process simple and fast at ~6 am with little queue; after immigration you must clear security again before the domestic leg — factor that in.
- A 2.5-hour layover is risky. Members considered it very tight; airlines confirmed they will NOT rebook free of charge if you miss the connection due to immigration. One member with a 3.5-hour layover reached the boarding lounge only ~30 minutes before boarding.
- If your fare is separate tickets or a tight connection, compare alternatives: direct flights (often pricier), or routings with longer layovers via other carriers.
- PR card address handling is inconsistent. Some officers don't take your Canadian address at landing. One member was given an online link that didn't work, then sent an IRCC web form with the address three days after landing and received the PR card about a month later. Another called IRCC to provide the address and got the card in 30 days.
Rule of thumb from the thread: allow well over 3 hours for an international-to-domestic connection on a first landing, and proactively give IRCC your address if it wasn't collected.