If your PR card never arrived and you need to travel back to Canada using only your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR):
- Check your CoPR's expiry date. You can travel by land (road) into Canada using an unexpired CoPR even without a physical PR card.
- Look for a 'NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL' watermark on your CoPR. This watermark is applied once you've declared yourself as already landed/present in Canada through the IRCC portal. If it's there, the CoPR alone is not sufficient for re-entry.
- If watermarked, apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) before attempting to travel — this is the correct document to re-enter as a PR without a PR card, and it can take time to process, so apply as early as possible.
- Land travel (e.g. driving via a US border crossing) is an option some PRs use when their CoPR is still valid and unwatermarked, but always verify your specific CoPR status first rather than assuming.
Double-check your document status directly with IRCC or a border services line before travelling, since a watermarked CoPR without a PRTD can result in being denied boarding or entry.