Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR): What It Is and What to Do With It

After months, sometimes years, of paperwork, the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) is the document that tells you IRCC has approved your case. It's a milestone worth celebrating — but it's also not the finish line. What you do with your COPR in the weeks that follow matters just as much as receiving it.

This article explains what the COPR actually represents, what to check before you rely on it, and what happens after you use it to land.

What the COPR Actually Is

The COPR is an official IRCC document confirming that your application for permanent residence has been approved, subject to you completing the final step: landing in Canada. It's typically issued once the required fees — including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which sits at $600 CAD as of mid-2026, verify the current figure before relying on it — have been accounted for in your file.

It is not the same thing as your PR card. The COPR is your approval document; the physical PR card comes later, after you've landed.

Checking Your COPR for Errors

Before you travel to use your COPR, review it carefully. Small clerical errors are more common than you'd think, and they're far easier to fix before you land than after.

• [ ] Your name is spelled exactly as it appears in your passport
• [ ] Your date of birth is correct
• [ ] Your passport number matches your current passport
• [ ] Every family member included on your application is listed correctly
• [ ] Your photo matches your current appearance

If you spot an error, raise it as early as possible rather than assuming it will sort itself out later.

Using Your COPR to Become a Permanent Resident

Your COPR, along with your valid passport, is what you present at the port of entry when you land. A border services officer reviews your documents, confirms the details match, and formally grants your status as a permanent resident. This step — landing — is what actually converts your approval into permanent resident status; the COPR by itself doesn't do that.

What Happens After You Land

Once you've landed, your COPR has served its purpose. Your physical PR card is produced and mailed separately to the Canadian address you provide, which is why having a reliable mailing address in place matters as soon as you land. From the day you land, your residency obligation also starts running — permanent residents generally need to accumulate a set amount of physical presence in Canada within each rolling multi-year period to maintain their status, so it's worth understanding that obligation early rather than after the fact.

Why the COPR Still Matters After You Land

Even after you've landed and your COPR has technically served its purpose, it's worth keeping a copy in a safe place. It's part of your immigration history, and having it on hand can make future dealings with IRCC — a lost PR card application, a citizenship application down the road, or a question about your landing date — considerably easier to resolve. Treat it the way you would any other foundational identity document, not something to discard once you've cleared the border.

If Your COPR Expires Before You Land

A COPR is only valid for a limited window, not indefinitely. If your circumstances mean you won't be able to land before it expires, contact IRCC as soon as possible — waiting until the last minute narrows your options considerably.

Frequently asked questions