Canada’s department of Citizenship and Immigration has announced two major changes to the process of applying for a Permanent Residency (PR) card.

The first change in policy is that citizens applying to replace a PR card which is due to expire no longer need to send their current valid card with their application. Instead, they will be able to obtain a new card in exchange for their old one when they visit a local Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.

It is believed that allowing permanent residents to keep their valid PR cards whilst waiting for a replacement would benefit them as the cards can be used for travel.

The second alteration is that people applying for a new or replacement PR card are no longer required to obtain the signature of a guarantor, or sign a statutory declaration should they be unable to do so. Removing the need for a guarantor will simplify the application process for a PR card without compromising security as CIC can verify an applicant’s permanent residence status and identity due to passport, driver’s licence and employment information.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Diane Finley commented:

"These changes demonstrate our continued commitment to providing more convenient services to newcomers. We recognize that people may want to hold on to a valid card for travel purposes while waiting for the replacement. We also understand that newcomers may have difficulty finding a guarantor who has known them for at least two years."