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Which document to use crossing back into Canada by land after PR approval but before receiving your PR card

Canada • Permanent Resident • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

Once your permanent residence is approved and you have your eCOPR, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) you obtained earlier — even if it's still technically valid on paper — can no longer be used to enter Canada, since becoming a PR effectively supersedes and cancels prior temporary-resident travel documents.

What to use instead: for land border crossings, your eCOPR together with a valid passport is the correct document combination to re-enter Canada as a new permanent resident, before your physical PR card has arrived. A Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) is a different document needed specifically when you're abroad without status proof and need to fly back — it's not what you need for a land crossing where you already hold your eCOPR.

If you're unsure which situation applies to you (land crossing with eCOPR vs. flying back without status documents), confirm with IRCC or a border services officer before traveling, since using the wrong document at the border can cause delays or complications.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Use your eCOPR plus a valid passport to cross a land border into Canada once your PR is approved but before your card arrives.
  • Don't: Don't rely on a previously-issued TRV to re-enter Canada after your PR has been approved — it's no longer valid for that purpose.

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