Do you know that PR cards can’t be re-issued if you are outside Canada but Permanent Resident Travel Documents can be? Many a time, a permanent resident of Canada might leave the country for some time. But when they want to come back, they should have their PR card with them to confirm their PR status. Most PR cards are valid for five years and some last for less. In case your PR card expires then it doesn’t mean that you will lose your PR status. However, it shows that you can’t use your card to re-enter Canada. There is only one exception if they are travelling by private car.
You can apply for PR card only when you are in Canada. It means if you are outside Canada and your PR car expires then you cannot apply for a new one. But, you can apply for Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). If PRTD is approved then you can re-enter Canada by using it. The PRTD will generally be valid for six month after it is issued. You can use it only one time. As soon as you return back to Canada you should apply for PR Card.
For applying a PRTD, you should have Canadian PR Status and must be outside Canada at the time of applying for it. The cost of applying the PRTD is $50 CAD. You can apply for PRTD via mail through nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC). At the official Canadian government website, you can find the searchable list of VACs and other resources for permanent residents overseas. But during COVID-19 pandemic, some VACs are not accepting the PRTD applications whereas some are entirely closed. If you are not able to send your application to VAC then you have online option.
The person is required to send their original passport for applying their application. There is a chance they may be called for in-person or virtual interview although it is unlikely. If their application gets successfully processed then they will get the PRTD which is counterfoil on the passport. During COVID-19 pandemic, each person is treated differently and there is no way to predict how much time PRTD process will take to complete.
