Landing as a Permanent Resident

1. Do I become a permanent resident of Canada as soon as my landing documents are issued?

No. You will only become a permanent resident when you cross a Canadian port-of-entry with your valid passport and your valid Canadian Immigrant Visa.

2. How long can I wait to come to Canada after my Immigrant Visa is issued?

You must arrive in Canada before the expiry date which appears on your Immigrant Visa. Usually, it is one year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as you receive your Immigrant Visa.

3. Can the expiry date on my Canadian Immigrant Visa be extended?

As a general rule, the expiry date on your Canadian Immigrant Visa will not be extended. Failure to land in Canada before the expiry date may result in the necessity of re-application.

4. Must I land at or near the location I indicated as my intended destination on my application form?

Generally, the holder of a Canadian Immigrant Visa may land at any port of entry in Canada without difficulty. This is not the case, however, in the Province of Quebec, due to its exclusive right to select immigrants. If, in your application for permanent residence, you declared an intended destination in Canada outside Quebec, then landing in Quebec may be problematic. Likewise, you may be asked to land in Quebec if your intended destination in Canada had been indicated as Quebec.

5. What should I arrive with when I land in Canada?

You must have your valid passport and your valid Canadian Immigrant Visa. It will be helpful to have an inventory of all belongings that you intend to bring in after landing. It's also a good idea to have evidence of your settlement funds.

6. When must my accompanying dependents land?

Accompanying dependents cannot land before the principal applicant has landed. The accompanying dependents should land with the principal applicant or after the principal applicant, but in either case prior to the expiry date indicated on their Canadian Immigrant Visas.