New permanent residents sometimes assume the PR card is requested in person at a local Service Canada office. Group members corrected this and gave a rough timeline.
What group members advised:- PR cards are applied for online, not at a local Service Canada center. The in-person part is limited to landing at your designated port of entry.
- The application is submitted after landing, once you have your confirmation of PR, at which point the local processing/service center becomes relevant for any follow-up.
- Expect roughly 3 months for the PR card to arrive after the online application is submitted, though members noted this can vary.
The practical takeaway: complete your landing first, then apply for the PR card online (not in person) and expect around a 3-month wait, allowing for normal processing variability.