Once an individual’s permanent residency application is approved, IRCC will send them a message to create the PR portal on their behalf. The email will ask the applicant to confirm that they are in Canada, confirm their address, and submit photos for their PR card. The portal is separate from the candidate’s secure account with IRCC. Candidates should not create their own accounts, as this may cause delays.
What is the PR Portal?
The PR portal is a system designed to help individuals manage their immigration status. It is a tool that allows individuals to confirm their permanent residency status in Canada and update their information online, as well as upload their photo for their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CPR). Once an individual’s application has been approved by IRCC, they will be sent an email with log-in details for the PR portal.
Once they log in, they will be asked to confirm that they live in Canada and provide their address. Once the required information has been provided, they will be able to upload their photo. IRCC will then review the photo and approve it. Once it has been approved, the CPR card will be sent to them within a week.
In addition, the portal is also intended to be used by authorized immigration representatives. Starting in September 2021, they can use the system to submit non-Express Entry permanent residence applications on behalf of their clients.
Those who do not have an authorized representative will still be able to submit paper applications, but they will not be able to manage their cases online through the PR portal. However, a CBSA officer may allow an individual to enter Canada if they can show them a valid CoPR as a matter of discretion.
What Qualifies as a Permanent Residence in Canada?
A permanent resident of Canada is a foreign national who has landed in the country as a visa holder and can live, work and study here. As a permanent resident, you have almost all the rights of a citizen and can apply for citizenship after spending a certain amount of time in the country.
In order to maintain your status as a permanent resident, you must meet residency obligations. This means you must remain physically present inside the country for a set number of days per year or fall under one of the exceptions to this rule. It is your responsibility to prove that you have met these requirements to the satisfaction of the visa officer. This means maintaining detailed travel documents such as plane tickets, hotel bookings, visa stamps, etc.
Besides meeting the residency requirement, you must respect all the laws of the country and file your taxes on time. If you are found guilty of a serious crime or commit any other offense, you can risk losing your PR status.
The government also provides a variety of social welfare programs to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens. This includes free healthcare and education for all residents. Moreover, as a permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse or common-law partner, parents, and grandparents. However, you must sign an undertaking to take financial responsibility for them if they ever need social assistance.
Confirming Your Permanent Residence Online
If you have been approved for permanent residence by IRCC, it is possible to confirm your status in Canada online via an online portal designed by the agency. However, it is important to note that you cannot create your account; instead, IRCC will create an account for you and send you the temporary IRCC login details via email.
The online portal will allow you to share your contact information with IRCC, declare that you are in Canada, and submit a photo to be used on your PR card. For the photo to be accepted, it must meet certain requirements, such as being a full-face photograph and not having more than two people in it.
Once the information is verified, you can receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) within two weeks. Your COPR will be sent to your Canadian address and will indicate that you have been officially deemed as a permanent resident of Canada.
You will need to keep your COPR in a safe place as it is required for many things, including applying for citizenship and claiming benefits such as Old Age Security. It is also important to note that your COPR will expire after two years of living in Canada. The agency will send you a reminder a few months in advance of the deadline.