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What is COPR Canada and How Does it Work?
Many a time new Canada PR aspirants wonder “What is COPR Canada?”. COPR Canada is an official document that one gets after their PR is approved by the Canadian government. COPR Canada is a crucial document in your PR process and provides you the right to live and work in Canada. In this article we are going to look into what a COPR is, how to use it, what information it contains, and when it expires.
What is COPR Canada outside of Canada?
COPR Canada, also known as Confirmation of Permanent Residence Canada is a document that a new permanent resident receives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (IRCC) when their permanent resident application has been approved.
What is COPR Canada’s purpose outside of Canada?
If you are travelling to Canada for the first time to complete your PR process you must bring COPR with you along with all the other necessary documents. It is important to note that COPR is not a travel document.
In conjunction with COPR, people whose Canada PR application has been approved will also be issued a permanent resident visa so as to travel to Canada and enter the country. For those candidates who have an eTA visa or electronic Travel Authorization visa facility to travel to Canada will only require a permanent resident visa only when they have not received their respective COPR by the date of their landing in Canada.
Your COPR is also instrumental in receiving your PR card once you have landed in Canada.
What is COPR Canada inside Canada?
A COPR document outside Canada is received when a person’s application for PR is approved by IRCC. Just like COPR documents issued outside Canada there is a COPR issued when a person is inside Canada. Once a person’s residency status is updated to PR status then he or she receives an e-COPR or electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence document that reflects that status.
What is the process for getting e-COPR?
Below is the quick breakdown of the virtual landing process for new PRs inside Canada.
After your PR status is updated, you will receive emails from their official email id. These emails will serve various purposes, including:
- Request for confirmation of your email address
- Will help IRCC know that you are physically present in Canada
- Provide information about the Permanent Residence Portal and alternative options if you are unable to use it.
It is to be noted that the Permanent Residence Portal is different from your account with IRCC. Although there is a separate account for permanent residence portal it would be practical to not to try to create your own account there as it might lead to delays, instead one should follow the instructions given on the email and an account will be created for you.
It is essential that you inform IRCC if you happen to leave Canada before they grant you Permanent Residence Status.
Once your PR process is completed in Canada and your status changes to permanent resident, IRCC will make an e-COPR for you and make it available to you through the portal.
What is COPR Canada’s purpose inside of Canada?
This document serves as a proof of your permanent residency in Canada.
Additionally within the same portal where e-COPR was issued, you will be asked to provide a photograph for initiating the process of issuing your first PR card. It is not practical to separately apply for a PR card. While the issuing of your PR card is in process you can use e-COPR to:
- Verify your permanent status in Canada
- Apply for government services and benefits for which you are eligible
What information can I find in my COPR?
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) contains following documents:
- Legal name (Surname, Given Name, Alias)
- Photograph
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Country of Birth
- Gender in time of landing
- Marital Status in the time of landing
- Citizenship at the time of landing
- Passport Number
- Validity of Passport
- Country of Issue of Travel Documents
- Family status at the time of landing
- Height
- Color
- Accompanying family members (if applicable)
- Address of the First Residence in Canada and Name of the Host (if applicable)
- Government Reference
- Verification of the information provided, including the landing date including date and signature.
- Remarks by CBSA officer
- Flight Number
- Amount of money in possession
- Conditions on PR status
- Date of becoming PR
- Place of Landing
- Immigration Officer’s Signature
What should I do if my COPR expires?
It is advised to candidates with a valid COPR to land in Canada during its validity period. It is generally seen that COPR is valid for one year from the time of issue and candidates are advised to come to Canada and complete the PR process.
Although there were certain relaxations on validity of COPR given during the COVID -19 period, all such relaxations have been rolled back. It is necessary for a person to arrive in Canada within the given time frame. Otherwise, if somehow COPR expires and you did not reach Canada then you need to start the PR process again and reapply for permanent residence.
Salient features about COPR
COPR is an essential document in your PR visa process journey. The details on COPR must be correct and complete, otherwise there can be delay due to wrong information. Make sure you bring all the relevant documents while bringing your COPR to a Border Officer.