Canada permanent resident card

Canadian Permanent Resident Card
Sample of a Canadian Permanent Resident Card
Type	Personal identification document
Issued by	Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Purpose	Identification

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Legislation Immigration Act, 1869 Citizenship Act, 1946 Citizenship Act, 1976 Immigration Act, 1976 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act Canadian immigration and refugee law
Agencies Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Canada Border Services Agency Immigration and Refugee Board Public Safety Canada
Issues Lost Canadians "Canadians of convenience"
Demographics Demographics of Canada Canadians Canadian identity Population by year Ethnic origins
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The Permanent Resident card (French: carte de résident permanent) also known colloquially as the PR Card or the Maple Leaf card, is an identification document and a travel document for permanent residents of Canada.^[1] It is one of the methods by which Canadian permanent residents can prove their status and is, along with the permanent resident travel document (PRTD), one of the only documents that allow permanent residents to return to Canada by a commercial carrier.

The card was first proposed in 2001 as part of the Canadian government's overhaul of immigration and security laws following the September 11 attacks in the United States.^[1] After the 2001 passage of the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the first Canadian Permanent Resident cards were distributed on 28 June 2002.

Like Canadian passports, all PR cards are issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are the property of the Canadian Crown and must be returned upon request.^[2][3]

Starting from 10 November 2016, all travellers to Canada (except for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent residents, and travellers with a valid Canadian visa) are required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)^[4] before boarding a flight to Canada. Hence permanent residents, including those from one of the visa-free countries (except the U.S.), need either a PR card or a PRTD to board a flight to Canada.^[5]