Permanent Residence Online
Reviewed and updated October 6, 2026
Applying for permanent residence online begins with identifying the immigration program and the account that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires. There is no single portal for every permanent-residence application. Using the wrong account or an outdated checklist can delay preparation or cause an applicant to miss important requirements.
Which account should I use?
IRCC’s Permanent Residence (PR) Portal handles most permanent-residence programs, PR cards and permanent-resident travel documents. Express Entry applicants instead use the IRCC secure account after receiving an invitation to apply. The route depends on the program and the stage of the application.
Check IRCC’s account selector and your program’s current guide before starting. A program appearing in a portal does not mean its intake is open or that you qualify. An account used for an earlier application may not be the correct one for a new application.
Application and confirmation are different stages
The PR Portal also supports confirmation of permanent residence for eligible applicants in Canada after approval. Creating an account or receiving a portal invitation is not, by itself, proof that permanent-resident status has been granted. Follow the instructions for the particular stage; do not confuse submitting an application with completing the confirmation process.
What if I use an authorized representative?
IRCC’s representative account guide directs authorized paid representatives to different accounts. Non-Express Entry permanent-residence applications use the representative PR Portal; Express Entry uses the Authorized Paid Representatives portal. Confirm who will receive correspondence, who must sign or personally complete declarations, and how document requests will reach you. Appointing a representative does not remove the applicant’s responsibility for accurate information.
Before submitting an application
Confirm the program, eligibility, correct account and current document checklist.
Check the applicable deadline, fees, signatures, translations and required evidence. Do not rely on an old article or saved checklist.
Review forms and supporting documents together for consistency. Complete any declarations that IRCC requires you to make personally.
Retain the complete submission, fee receipt and confirmation. Starting or saving a form is not submitting it.
Monitor the specified account and correspondence channel, including document requests and deadlines.
IRCC provides alternate-format application packages where accommodation is required, including for a disability. Follow the current request process. For technical difficulties, use the IRCC technical-problem web form and retain evidence of the problem. Do not assume a technical report automatically extends a deadline.
Temporary status and work permits remain separate
A permanent-residence application does not, by itself, extend temporary resident status or authorize work. An eligible sponsored spouse or common-law partner’s open work permit is a separate application; IRCC directs that application to the secure account, not the PR Portal. Check the current eligibility rules and protect any existing status before it expires.
Related guidance
For advice about your circumstances, contact our office. This article provides general information, not legal advice.