IMM 5445 Guide: Applying for a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) – First application, replacement, renewal or to change gender identifier

Note

You must provide photos that meet the Photograph Specifications. If not, we may return your application. Print the Photograph Specifications (PDF, 614.24 KB) and take them with you to the photographer.


If you are under the age of 18

A clear and legible photocopy of the following documents:

  • your birth certificate (showing your name, date of birth, place of birth and the names of your parents or adoptive parents);
  • if you have a legal guardian, submit legal documentation issued by a Canadian court which proves guardianship; or
  • a photocopy of your school records (report cards, transcripts, attendance records).

If you were outside Canada for 1095 days or more in the past five (5) years

Provide these documents as they apply to you:

If you were accompanying a family member who is a Canadian citizen:

  • proof of citizenship for the Canadian citizen you accompanied abroad; and
  • proof of your relationship to this person; and
  • proof that your Canadian citizen spouse, common-law partner or parent was outside Canada with you.

If outside Canada working for a Canadian business or public service, provide:

  • proof that the company has a Canadian head office;
  • proof of your full-time job and
  • if you will be working for that company when you return to Canada.

If you were accompanying a permanent resident of Canada working for a Canadian business abroad, provide:

  • proof of your relationship to this person; and
  • proof of their full-time job; and
  • proof of their permanent resident status

For more information, see Appendix A – Residency Obligation.


 

Translation of documents

You must submit the following for any document that is not in English or French, unless otherwise stated on your document checklist:

  • the English or French translation; and
  • an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they’re not a certified translator); and
  • a certified copy of the original document.

Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

If the translation is not done by a certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial association of translators and interpreters in Canada), you must submit an affidavit swearing to the accuracy of the translation and the language proficiency of the translator.

An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document.

Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.

The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:

In Canada:

  • a notary public
  • a commissioner of oaths
  • a commissioner of taking affidavits

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside of Canada:

  • a notary public

Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.


Certified true copies

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print all of the following on the photocopy:

  • “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
  • the name of the original document
  • the date of the certification
  • their name
  • their official position or title
  • their signature

Who can certify copies?

Only authorized people can certify copies.

Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

  • a notary public
  • a commissioner of oaths
  • a commissioner of taking affidavits

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who has the authority to certify.

Outside Canada:

  • a notary public

Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who has the authority to certify in your country.


Step 2: Complete the application

Filling out the application

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to fill out the application forms.

You must complete and submit these forms:

Depending on your situation, you may need to submit:

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