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When you get a confirmation of permanent residence, you become a permanent resident i.e., it grants someone with legal status who can live, work, and study in Canada but does not have all the rights of a citizen – like the ability to vote or hold a Canadian passport.
Getting a confirmation of permanent residence is highly beneficial. It gives you the right to live and work in Canada. Moreover, you can get free education for your children, universal healthcare, and numerous social security benefits.
Now, the question you may ask is how do I get a confirmation of permanent residence?
That is what this article will answer and we will also let you in on the entire process of getting a confirmation of permanent residence status! Let’s dive in.
A. How do you get a confirmation of permanent residence status?
If you want to get a confirmation of permanent residence, you have to submit an application using the Permanent Residence Portal provided by the Canadian government.
In most cases, the permanent residence status can be confirmed
- without in-person interviews
- through a secure online portal
B. What is the Permanent Residence Portal?
This portal has been created to allow Canadians to submit applications to get a confirmation of permanent residence. You can submit your application using this portal. If your application is approved, you’ll be called by the authorities to get your confirmation of permanent residence status and send a photo of your permanent resident card.
Suppose you have already confirmed your permanent residence and become a permanent resident. You can apply for your permanent resident card (PR card) or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD).
After you have applied to the portal, they will create an account for you. They will send you your username and temporary password. You can use this account to take the next steps to get your confirmation of permanent residence.
Note: You should only create a new account if you’re starting a new application to confirm permanent residence or apply for a PR card/PRTD using this portal.
C. What can I do in the portal?
Through this portal you can:
- declare you’re in Canada
- confirm your address
- submit a recent photo that will be used to make your PR card
- receive access to your proof of permanent resident status
- share personal information safely
Note: As the principal applicant, by default, you act on behalf of your family. In case you want them to have their accounts, you can inform the authorities at the portal.
D. How does the portal work?
Once your application is approved, you will be sent an invitation to confirm the following:
- your email address
- all email addresses for each person on your application
- you’re in Canada
Next, an account will be created for you. Then, you’ll be sent another email with your temporary account details.
Note: Do not try to create your account. This can delay the process. Follow the instructions in the email that is sent and they’ll create it for you.
Following this you can:
- sign in for the first time and create your password
- confirm you are in Canada
- provide an updated home or postal address
- upload your photo (this must be a digital or scanned photo, not a picture of a paper photo taken with a camera or phone)
After you’ve uploaded your photo:
- they’ll review the photo and accept it if it meets the requirements (this may take some time)
- once approved, they’ll create your PR card within 2 weeks
- they’ll send it to the mailing address in Canada you have provided them
Finally, you can check the portal to see if they’ve accepted your photo or not.
In an interview with the Icy Canada team, Alex Freeburg, Owner of Freeburg Law, shared essential tips for navigating the Canadian Permanent Residency Application process. Here is what he said:
“One of the first things you’ll notice about Canada is its rich cultural tapestry. Canada is proud of its diversity, and rightfully so.
It’s not just about tolerating differences; it’s about embracing them wholeheartedly. Getting well acquainted with cultural diversity and immersing yourself in it would be my top suggestion.
This is also a very important aspect that inevitably trickles down into the application process for permanent residency. Canada values not just your qualifications but also your character.
Show that you’re adaptable, open-minded, and eager to contribute to your new community. And when you finally arrive, be prepared to adapt. It might take some time to get used to the Canadian way of life, but stay patient and open to new experiences.”
What if my photo is returned?
In case your photo is returned, you can resubmit a new image into the portal. Make sure the new photo meets all the photo requirements listed in the portal before you upload a new one.
The reasons your photo may be returned:
- photos are too dark
- the background is not white
- facial features not visible
- glare on photo
- measurements are not between 715×1000 and 2000×2800 pixels
- the file size is above 4MB
E. What are the photo requirements?
To avoid such errors, it will be good to learn the exact requirements:
- Firstly, check your application guide. It will tell you how many photos you require for your application.
- You must provide identical and unaltered photographs.
- Photos may be in color or black and white.
- Photos must be original and not altered in any way or taken from an existing photograph.
- Taken by a commercial photographer.
- 50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide x 2- 3/4 inches long) and sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1- 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1- 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of the head (natural top of head).
- Clear, sharp, and in focus.
- Taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and visible, mouth closed, no smiling).
- Taken with uniform lighting and does not show shadows, glare, or flash reflections.
- Taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera (i.e., the photographs must show the full front view of the person’s head and shoulders, showing the full face centered in the middle of the photograph).
- Taken in front of a plain white background with a clear difference between your face and the background. Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones.
- Original photos that are not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo.
- Reflect on your current appearance (taken within the last six months)
- Professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper (photos printed at home and photos printed on heavy-weight paper are not acceptable)
The back of one photo must include the following:
- The subject’s name and date of birth
- The name and complete address of the photography studio
- The date the photograph was taken
Note: The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are unacceptable.
Extra details
- Glasses may be worn in photos as long as the eyes are visible and there is no glare in the glasses.
- Sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses are unacceptable.
- Photos with the red-eye effect or red-eye alterations are unacceptable.
- Hats and head coverings must not be worn unless they are worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, your full face must be visible and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Your hair can be down.
- Shadows are not acceptable. Lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows across the face or shoulders, around the ears, or in the background.
For child photos
- Child photos must follow the same rules indicated above.
- Photos must show the child’s head and shoulders only. The parent’s or child’s hands must not appear in the photo.
- They recognize the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow for some minor variations in this regard.
- For newborn babies, the photo may be taken while the child is sitting in a car seat, as long as a white blanket is placed over the seat behind the child’s head. There must be no shadows on the face or shoulders, around the ears, or in the background.
Medical considerations
Wheelchairs:
If you are in a wheelchair, they recommend that a plain white blanket be placed over the wheelchair behind the applicant’s head so that your facial features and the edges of your face are visible.
Headwear or nasal cannula:
When required for medical reasons, you can wear headwear or a nasal cannula in your permanent resident photo – as long as your eyes remain visible. They recommend that you include a signed explanation with your application. They may also request you to submit a letter from your doctor.
For more information, you can refer to this.
F. How to submit a photo?
- Make sure you’re in the Permanent Residence Confirmation 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)
- a selfie (as long as it meets the photo requirements – submitting an incorrect photo will delay your PR card)
- Follow the directions in the photo editor window to position and crop your photo
- 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 automatically replaces the previous photo)
- Check the Declaration box and click “next” to upload your 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
- Press “submit documents” (once you do this, it can no longer be changed)
Rowland Alexander, Founder of Which Pad, suggested researching the immigration application process and seeking guidance from reliable immigration professionals. Here is what he had to say:
“In my experience, for individuals contemplating a move to Canada for permanent residency, I would personally recommend thoroughly researching the immigration application process and seeking guidance from reliable immigration professionals or resources.
It’s crucial to gather all required documentation and ensure eligibility for the selected immigration stream, based on my expertise and knowledge.
After applying, exercising patience is key, as processing times can vary, as I’ve encountered similar situations before.
Upon arrival in Canada, I found that taking advantage of settlement services provided by government and community organizations greatly aided in integration, such as language classes, employment assistance, and cultural orientation programs.
Adapting to Canadian culture and lifestyle involves being open-minded, respectful, and willing to adjust to new norms and practices, as I’ve learned from my journey.
Building a support network of friends, colleagues, and fellow immigrants has proven to be invaluable in easing the transition and enriching the overall experience of establishing oneself in Canada, reflecting on my own experiences.”
G. Help with technical issues
Reset a password
When they will create an account for you, they’ll send a temporary password valid for 30 days to your email address. If this temporary password expires or is lost, they will reset it for you. If your temporary password isn’t working, contact them using the email address on your invitation message.
If you already created a portal account and forgot the password you set, you can reset it through the link in the portal.
Supported browsers and devices
You can access the portal using the following:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Edge
It works on both mobile devices and desktops/PC.
Privacy
Their system will briefly need access to your photo library so you can select the photo you want to upload to the portal. But, this access won’t give them the ability to go through your photo library or access it for any other purpose.
Now there you go, hopefully, this article was able to clear some of your doubts. For more information on how to get confirmation of permanent residence, you can visit this website.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty
