Detailed explanation of Canadian Maple Leaf Card

The Permanent Resident Card (Maple Leaf Card) is a credit card-sized plastic card.

The Maple Leaf Card is the official identification document for Canadian permanent residents.

If you continue to have resident status, you must show this card when taking commercial transportation vehicles, such as airplanes, merchant ships, trains, or buses, when you return to Canada. If you use privately controlled transportation, such as when you drive back to Canada, other documents that are sufficient to prove your need can also be presented. It is even possible to have no documents.

If you plan to leave Canada, be sure to ensure that your Maple Leaf Card is still valid when you return. Most Maple Leaf cards are valid for 5 years.

If you do not plan to leave Canada, you do not need this card.

When to apply for a Maple Leaf Card

If you are not currently a permanent resident of Canada, you must first handle immigration matters. Please refer to Immigrate to Canada. ,,.

When newly arrived immigrants log in for the first time, they inform the border officials of the address where the card will be received. Afterwards, the Maple Leaf Card will be mailed to the applicant by regular mail in about three months.

If your Maple Leaf Card is lost, damaged, has expired, or you have not received your Maple Leaf Card when you first logged in, you may need to apply for a Maple Leaf Card according to the list on this page.

Eligibility

· Meet the residency obligation (generally, 2 years within 5 years)

· The applicant is currently in Canada

· No removal order has been issued, and

· Not a Canadian citizen or Indian

Checklist

· Application form

· A scanned copy of your ID document (can be a passport)

· Two photos that meet the photo requirement details

If you have lived outside Canada for more than 1095 days in the past five years, you will need to provide proof that you can meet the residency obligations.

· Children under 18 years old need to provide birth certificate and school certificate

· If you change your name or gender, you need to submit the appropriate form