Can I Travel To Canada With A Permanent Resident Card?

Are you a permanent resident of another country planning a trip to Canada? At SIXT.VN, we understand that navigating travel requirements can be confusing. This article provides clear guidance on whether you can enter Canada using your Permanent Resident Card and offers helpful tips for a smooth journey. Explore the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities of Canada with confidence. Let’s ensure your travel preparations are seamless, with insights into Canadian travel documents and Canadian border requirements.

1. Understanding Canadian Entry Requirements

Do you know what documents are required to enter Canada? Entry requirements vary depending on your citizenship and residency status. For permanent residents of other countries, a valid Permanent Resident Card is a crucial document. Let’s delve into the specifics.

1.1. Who Needs What?

• Canadian Citizens: Must have a valid Canadian passport, including dual citizens. American-Canadians may use either a Canadian or U.S. passport.
• Canadian Permanent Residents: Need a valid Permanent Resident Card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document.
• U.S. Citizens: Require proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport.
• Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S.: Must present a valid passport from their country of nationality and a valid Green Card.

1.2. Key Documents for Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S.

Since April 26, 2022, lawful permanent residents of the United States need to show these documents for all methods of travel to Canada:

• A valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document)
• A valid Green Card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States)

2. What Documents Qualify as Proof of Status?

What exactly counts as official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.? It’s important to have the correct documentation to avoid any issues at the border.

2.1. Acceptable Documents

You need an official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., such as one of the following:

• Valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
• Foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp)
• Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on a machine-readable immigrant visa upon endorsement with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
• Expired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
• Expired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [Green Card])
• Valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
• Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo

2.2. Why is This Important?

Ensuring you have the correct documentation is essential for smooth entry into Canada. According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), providing the required documents helps border services officers quickly verify your status and allows for a hassle-free entry process.

3. eTA Requirements for Visa-Exempt Travelers

Do you know if you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada? Certain travelers are visa-exempt but still require an eTA for air travel.

3.1. Who Needs an eTA?

Travelers from the following countries need an eTA to board their flight to Canada. However, they do not need an eTA if entering by land or sea, such as driving from the U.S. or arriving by bus, train, or boat, including cruise ship.

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belgium
• British citizen
• British National (Overseas)
• British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the United Kingdom)
• British overseas territory citizen with citizenship through birth, descent, naturalization or registration in one of the British overseas territories
  • Anguilla
  • Bermuda
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
  • Gibraltar
  • Montserrat
  • Pitcairn Island
  • Saint Helena
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
• British Subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR.
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel, must have a national Israeli passport
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Papua New Guinea
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania (electronic passport holders only)
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan, must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number
• United Arab Emirates
• Vatican City State, must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican.

3.2. Checking for the e-Passport Symbol

How can you tell if you have an electronic passport? Look on the front cover of your passport for the symbol of a rectangle with a circle in the middle. If you see this symbol, you have an electronic passport.

4. eTA Exemptions: Who Doesn’t Need One?

Are there any exceptions to the eTA requirement? Yes, certain travelers are exempt from needing an eTA.

4.1. Foreign Nationals with Official Canadian Documents

• Travelers with a valid Canadian visa.
• Travelers with valid status in Canada (e.g., visitor, student, or worker) who re-enter Canada after only visiting the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

4.2. Specific Situations for Foreign Nationals

• French citizens who live in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and are flying directly to Canada from St. Pierre and Miquelon.
• Foreign nationals who are passengers destined to, or coming from, the United States on a flight that stops in Canada solely to refuel and:
  • have proper documents to enter the United States, or
  • were lawfully admitted to the United States.
• Foreign nationals who are passengers on a flight that makes an unscheduled stop in Canada.
• Foreign nationals who transit through a Canadian airport under the Transit Without Visa or China Transit Program.

4.3. Travel and Official Representatives

• Flight crew, civil aviation inspectors, accident investigators who are or will be working while in Canada.
• Members of Armed Forces (not including the civilian component of an armed forces) of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act coming to Canada to carry out official duties.
• Diplomats accredited by the Government of Canada.

5. Visa-Required Travelers: Who Needs a Visa?

Do you need a visa to enter Canada? Many travelers do, depending on their nationality.

5.1. Countries Requiring a Visa

Holders of a foreign national passport and stateless individuals need a visa to visit or transit through Canada. Here is a list of countries whose citizens require a visa:

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Argentina (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belize
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cameroon, Republic of
• Cabo Verde
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• China, People’s Republic of
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo, Democratic Republic of
• Congo, Republic of
• Costa Rica, Republic of (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Cuba
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel (Travelers must have a valid Israeli “Travel Document in lieu of National Passport.”)
• Ivory Coast
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Korea, North
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• Macao Special Administrative Region
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives Islands
• Mali
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mexico (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Micronesia, Fed. States
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Macedonia
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Palestinian Authority
• Panama (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Qatar
• Romania (holder of a non-electronic passport, such as a temporary passport)
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Sao Tomé e Principe
• Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Sri Lanka
• St. Kitts and Nevis (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• St. Lucia (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines (St. Vincent) (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Sudan
• Surinam
• Syria
• Taiwan (Travelers must have a passport other than an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number.)
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Thailand (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Timor-Leste
• Togo
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• Uruguay (Some citizens may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

5.2. Checking Visa Requirements

It’s crucial to check the specific requirements based on your nationality before planning your trip. The Government of Canada’s website provides a comprehensive list of countries and their visa requirements.

6. Biometrics: Do You Need to Provide Them?

Are biometrics required for your trip to Canada? In many cases, providing your fingerprints and photo is a necessary step.

6.1. Who Needs to Give Biometrics?

In most cases, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply for a visa, study permit, or work permit.

6.2. Finding Out If You Need Biometrics

To determine if you need to provide biometrics, visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

7. Traveling to Canada as a Worker or Student

What do you need if you’re coming to Canada to work or study? Work and study permits have specific requirements.

7.1. Basic Requirements

If you’re a worker or student, you must also meet Canada’s entry requirements. Remember, a work permit or study permit is not a visa. In most cases, you’ll also need a valid visitor visa or eTA to enter Canada.

7.2. First-Time Applicants

If you’re applying for your first study or work permit, IRCC will automatically issue you a visa or eTA if you need one and your application is approved. When you travel to Canada make sure you have:

• Your letter of introduction
• Valid passport or travel document
  • If you’re visa-required, it must contain the visa sticker that IRCC put in it
  • If you need an eTA and you’re flying to a Canadian airport, it must be the passport that’s electronically linked to your eTA.

7.3. Existing Permit Holders

If you already have a work or study permit and you’re visa-required, make sure that your visitor visa is still valid if you choose to leave Canada and re-enter.

If you need an eTA and you’re flying to a Canadian airport, make sure you travel with the passport that’s electronically linked to your eTA. You must travel with your valid study or work permit, a valid passport and travel document.

7.4. Working or Studying Without a Permit

If you’re eligible to work or study without a permit, you’re considered a visitor to Canada. You must meet the entry requirements for travelers from your country of citizenship.

8. Super Visa: Visiting Family in Canada

Are you a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident? You might be eligible for a Super Visa.

8.1. About the Super Visa

If you’re the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a Super Visa. This visa lets you visit your child or grandchild in Canada for 5 years at a time, allows for multiple entries, and is valid for up to 10 years.

8.2. Benefits of the Super Visa

The Super Visa is an excellent option for extended visits, allowing you to spend significant time with your family in Canada without the need to constantly renew your visa.

9. Planning Your Trip with SIXT.VN

Are you looking for reliable and convenient travel services for your trip to Canada? SIXT.VN offers a range of services to make your journey seamless.

9.1. How SIXT.VN Can Help

SIXT.VN provides various services to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to Canada:

• Airport Transfers: Start your trip stress-free with our reliable airport transfer services.
• Hotel Booking: Find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs and budget.
• Tour Packages: Explore Canada’s top destinations with our curated tour packages.
• Visa Assistance: Get expert guidance on visa requirements and application processes.

9.2. Contact Information

For personalized assistance and to book your travel services, contact us:

• Address: 260 Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Hotline/WhatsApp: +84 986 244 358
• Website: SIXT.VN

10. Conclusion: Ensuring a Smooth Entry to Canada

Can you travel to Canada with a Permanent Resident Card? Yes, if you are a permanent resident of the U.S., along with a valid passport. Understanding the entry requirements for Canada is crucial for a hassle-free travel experience. Whether you’re a permanent resident, student, worker, or visitor, having the correct documents ensures a smooth border crossing. With SIXT.VN, you can plan your trip with confidence, knowing that all your travel needs are taken care of. From airport transfers to visa assistance, SIXT.VN is your trusted partner for exploring the beautiful landscapes and vibrant cities of Canada. Safe travels and enjoy your adventure with reliable Canada travel services and efficient Canadian border crossing assistance!

FAQ Section: Your Questions Answered

1. Can I enter Canada with just my U.S. Green Card?

No, as of April 26, 2022, lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must present a valid passport from their country of nationality in addition to their Green Card.

2. Do I need an eTA if I am driving to Canada from the U.S.?

No, an eTA is only required for air travel. If you are entering Canada by land or sea, you do not need an eTA.

3. What if my Permanent Resident Card has expired?

If your Permanent Resident Card has expired, you must have Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status), or Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [Green Card]).

4. Can I apply for an eTA if I am from a visa-required country?

No, citizens of visa-required countries must apply for a visa to enter Canada, regardless of the method of travel.

5. What is the Super Visa, and who is eligible?

The Super Visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing them to visit Canada for up to 5 years at a time with multiple entries valid for up to 10 years.

6. Do I need to provide biometrics every time I apply for a Canadian visa?

No, biometrics are generally valid for 10 years. If you have provided biometrics in the past, they may still be valid. Check the IRCC website for more information.

7. What should I do if my eTA application is denied?

If your eTA application is denied, you will need to apply for a visitor visa to enter Canada.

8. Can SIXT.VN help me with my visa application?

Yes, SIXT.VN offers visa assistance services to guide you through the application process and ensure you have all the necessary documents.

9. What if I have dual citizenship?

Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, must travel with a valid Canadian passport. American-Canadians can travel with either a Canadian or U.S. passport.

10. Where can I find the most up-to-date information on Canadian travel requirements?

The most reliable source for up-to-date information is the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).