Visiting your home country or vacationing outside of Canada? To ensure worry-free travel, it is best to be ready with the following documents and information:

Necessary documents:

1. Passport – A passport validity of six months from the time of departure is usually required, but this may vary depending on the country you are going to. Most airlines will not allow passengers to board with soon-to-be expiring passports. To be safe, check the passport validity requirements of your destination before you buy your tickets.
    
   If you need passport renewal services, inquire from your home country’s embassy or consulate: 25 local Consular corps (in Winnipeg) or Foreign embassies and consulates in Canada (most are in Ontario). Some consulates conduct outreach programs periodically. They bring services, like passport renewals, to Winnipeg. To know the dates of the next outreach, contact your consulate.
2. Visa – You may need a visa to enter the country you’re visiting. This is why it’s important to find out the entry/exit requirements before buying your ticket. Check with the specific country’s embassy or consulate, or go to the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories. If you’re booking tickets through a travel agency, make sure to ask. They should be able to advise you about entry/exit requirements. Remember that official documents usually take time to process. So plan ahead if you’re going on a trip abroad, especially if it’s a place that is likely to require a visa.
3. Proof of your valid PR status – If you’re a permanent resident, you will need proof of your PR status when you return (this applies to all family members who are permanent residents, including children). If you’re re-entering Canada by commercial carrier (plane, train, boat or bus), you can present:
• Your PR card, or
• a valid Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)

If you’re travelling by car (or any private vehicle), there are other immigration documents that you can present:

1. If you’re a permanent resident and a member of the NEXUS or FAST programs, you must travel with your membership card, and carry a passport and proof of permanent residence.
2. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you must carry proof of citizenship. This can be a passport, birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, or Certificate of Indian Status along with a photo identification.
3. If you’re a U.S. permanent resident, bring your U.S. permanent resident card.
• If your PR card expired (or you lost it) while you were outside Canada, you will need to apply for a permanent resident travel document from a Canadian visa office abroad.
4. Travelling with minors – If you’re travelling with minors (a child under the age of 18) and you’re the parent but the other parent is not travelling with you; or you are not the parent or legal guardian; a consent letter may be required. The consent letter signifies that you are authorized to take them on a trip and enter Canada. It should contain their parents’ (or the legal guardian’s) full name, address, signature and telephone number. Having the consent letter notarized further supports its authenticity and can help avoid delays (but is not mandatory). You can get a consent letter template on this page: Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad.For more tips on traveling with minors, go to Travel.gc.ca.
5. Travelling with pets – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) established import requirements for all animals entering Canada, including pets. Requirements depend on the kind of animal you will be travelling with. Check the CFIA page: Importing or Travelling with Pets to know the exact requirements. Read Can I come too? Protecting pets when they travel for additional information.

Other important things to remember

• You don’t lose your PR status when your PR card expires or if the card is stolen or misplaced.
• As a permanent resident, you can live outside of Canada, but you’re required to observe residency requirements. You must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period (does not have to be continuous). A tip: To keep track of your stay in Canada and your travels, make a travel journal. This information will come in handy when you become eligible to apply for citizenship and decide to apply.
• Health card validity – It is recommended that you buy private health insurance since your Canadian health insurance is not valid outside of Canada. Health/hospital services may cost higher in other countries, so make sure that you are covered for any health contingencies. The Government of Canada will not pay your medical bills.
• Travel insurance – Some types of travel insurance cover health, life, disability, and even flight cancellations and disruptions. Of course, the more contingencies it covers, the higher the price of the plan. Consider what makes the most sense to you – for example, if you have health concerns, then having health insurance makes sense. If you need to travel during possible inclement weather, then choose insurance that has money-back guarantee in case your flight gets cancelled. Read the provisions of the insurance plan you’re buying carefully, before you travel.

 
Article updated August 30, 2024, with edits from Lori Morency.