- a marriage certificate;
- divorce decree;
- registration;
- declaration of union;
- revocation of declaration or annulment of union.
If you are a permanent resident and changed your name outside of Canada, submit:
- a foreign passport or other national authoritative document that shows your new name; and
- an official document linking the old and new names.
If your name change was already approved in a past PR card application, include a photocopy of your last PR card.
Important information: If you have had a legal name change, you must include a copy of your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) with this application.
Immigration representatives
If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must
- submit a Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form,
- sign it by hand and get your immigration representative to do so also, and
- submit it with your application.
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee. But they can’t
- open a portal account on your behalf
- electronically sign the application for you
- sign into the portal using your username and password
A representative can fill out forms and communicate with us on your behalf through their own account. They can also
- help you prepare the documents you need to upload
- answer questions about the forms
After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name and clicks the “submit” button. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.
Note: The date will be entered automatically.
Step 1: Gather documents
What documents do I need?
The instructions below outline the documents that you must include with your application.
Use the Document Checklist [IMM 5644] (opens in new tab) to confirm which documents you need.
Include the completed document checklist with your application.
Important information: If any of the required documents are missing, or photocopies are not clear, your application will be returned to you.
Note: We may ask for more documents at any time while we are processing your application. If you do not submit the requested documents, there will be delays in processing.
You must submit these documents:
- Fees: Copy of the receipt showing the amount paid.
- Photo(s): You must provide photo(s) that meet the photo specifications. If not, we may return your application. Print the photo specifications (PDF, 1.24 MB) and take them with you to the photographer.
- If you are applying online:
- upload 1 photo taken within 12 months of the date you apply and include images of the front and back of the photo.
- For digital photos, the information required for the back of one photograph can be provided as one separate document with a confirmation from the photo studio (e.g. receipt). This document should be uploaded in the Portal section titled “Upload your photo (back)”.
- See how to submit a photo
- make sure you’re in the Permanent Resident (PR) card / PR Travel Document tab at the top of the page
- choose the “upload photo” button
- your photo can be
- a professional digital photo in JPEG or PNG format
- a scanned professional photo (don’t take a picture of a paper photo with your digital camera or phone)
- click the “apply” button to validate your photo
- your photo will show in black & white
- you can edit and replace your photo with another photo up until when you submit it
- you don’t have to delete the previous photo to upload a new one (it will automatically replace the previous photo)
- if you get a warning message that your photo doesn’t meet the requirements but you want to submit it anyway, also check the Acknowledgement box and click “Next” to continue
Note: If we return your photo, you can submit a new photo through the portal. Make sure the new photo meets all the photo requirements listed in the portal before you upload a new one.
Reasons your photo may be returned:
- photo is too dark
- background is not white
- facial features not visible
- glare on photo
- measurements are not between 715x1000 and 2000x2800 pixels
- file size is above 4MB
- other reasons – see photo requirements for details
- You will need two (2) identical photos taken within twelve (12) months of the date of this application:
- put the two (2) photos in a small envelope (no staples or paper clips), and
- write the name of the applicant on the envelope.
- your valid passport or travel document or
- the passport or travel document you had when you became a permanent resident (if applicable, include the passport page that was stamped when you arrived in Canada and became a permanent resident) or
- the certificate of identity or travel document issued by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or a foreign country.
Note: The copy should show:
- the document type and number;
- issue and expiry date;
- your name;
- your photo; and
- your date of birth
In exceptional cases, if it is impossible for you to obtain any of the above, you must provide a:
- copy of any identity document issued outside Canada before you came to Canada or
- statutory declaration signed by you attesting to your identity and a statutory declaration also attesting to your identity signed by:
- a person who knew you before you came to Canada (such as a family member) or
- an official of an organization representing people from your country of nationality or past residence.
All statutory declarations must be certified by an accredited commissioner of oaths. Provincial laws govern who can act in this position.
If you are submitting a statutory declaration, you must also provide a clear and legible copy of a letter explaining
- that there are exceptional circumstances in your home country,
- what these circumstances are, and
- how they are stopping you from getting any identity documents.
Note: In the Portal, upload your primary document (like your passport) by selecting “Passport or Other Primary ID Document” from the Document type dropdown menu.
We may contact you for more information or ask you to provide more documents.
Your PR card
If you are applying to renew your present card, include a copy of it with your application. Once you get your new card destroy your old card immediately.
If you are applying online to replace a damaged card, please destroy your card immediately and upload a photo as proof with your supporting documents. If you are applying by paper, send the damaged card with your application.
If we ask you to come to a local IRCC office, you must bring your old card and the original documents of the copies you had included with your application. We will ask you to destroy your old card after you get the new one.
If you lost your PR card, include a copy of a police report or incident number with your application, if you have one.
Additional documents you may need to complete and submit, if they apply:
- To be considered on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, include supporting documents that support your request to keep your permanent residence. See the “Humanitarian and compassionate grounds” section of the instruction guide for more information.
- Legal change of name: copy of supporting legal documentation as proof of your name change. Consult the Legal Name Change section for detailed information.
If you are under the age of 18
Provide 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).
Translation of documents
You must include the following along with any document that is not in English or French:
- the English or French translation; and
- an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they are not a certified translator).
Translations may be done by:
- a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French, and the unofficial language); or
- a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada).
If the translation isn’t done by a Canadian certified translator, the person who completed the translation must provide an affidavit swearing to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.
The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:
In Canada:
- a notary public;
- a commissioner of oaths; or
- a commissioner of taking affidavits.
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.
Outside of Canada:
Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.
Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.
Note: 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.
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;
- the name of the authorized person;
- their official position or title; and
- 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; or
- 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:
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: Fill out the forms
Filling out the application
You’ll fill out this digital form online
- Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5444)
Digitally sign your application
- You must type your full name exactly as shown on your passport to digitally sign your application.
Note: If you cannot apply online and require accommodations, including for accessibility reasons, you can apply by paper.
If you require additional context on specific questions, please visit our step by step instructions on how to complete the form. You must answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, we will return your application and processing will be delayed.
If you need more space, include another sheet of paper with your application and at the top of the page, print your name and the number of the question you are answering clearly in black.
If you are applying online, you will fill out and upload these PDF forms into the Portal. If you are applying by paper you will need to complete these PDF forms and include it with your mailed application.
Additional forms (if they apply)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) (opens in new tab) , or Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) (opens in new tab)
- you and your immigration representative must sign the IMM 5476 by hand
- find out more about using a representative
Note : If you are applying for a replacement/renewal PR card and choose to change your gender to ‘X - Another gender’, you need to complete the Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier [IRM 0002] (PDF, 1.8 MB) and send it with your application.
It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be verified.
Provide complete and accurate answers
Fill out all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”. If your application is incomplete, it will be returned to you and this will delay the processing.
If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page with the appropriate section and submit it with your application.
Technical issues
If you’re having technical issues with the Portal, contact us using the web form
- under type of application/enquiry, choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu
- in the text box, specify what you’re applying for
- upload screenshots from your account that show us:
- the page where you’re having problems
- the error message(s) you get
- if you need to upload a number of images, find out how to combine them into one document.
Step 3: Pay the fees
Your fees
You must pay a processing fee when you apply. Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid or visit the Pay your fees page. You must include your proof of payment with your application.
Application (per person) $CAN Permanent Resident card $50 
- If you are applying online: