[5] The permanent resident card was first proposed during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

[1] After the establishment of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in 2002 the first first Canadian Permanent Resident cards were distributed on 28 June 2002.

Hence permanent residents, including those from one of the visa-free countries (except the U.S.), need either a PR card or a PRTD to board a flight to Canada.

Permanent residents enjoy many of the same social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including becoming contributing members of the Canada Pension Plan and receiving coverage by their province or territory's universal health care system, and as of 2022 are allowed to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada for a certain amount of time.

[9] As non-citizens, permanent residents must use the passport of their current nationality in combination with a permanent resident card for international travel because they cannot be issued Canadian passports (unless they are stateless and issued a Canadian Certificate of Identity or Refugee travel document).

Some countries will grant visa-free entry to Canadian permanent residents even if their current nationality would not typically qualify.

However it can be revoked if the bearer is outside of Canada for longer than 730 days in a five year period (unless serving abroad as a Crown servant), or has committed criminal or immigration infractions resulting in a removal order.

[10] Canadian permanent resident holders can voluntarily renounce status after filling form IMM 5782.

The colour of the card is aqua, with graphs in purple and orange, and a maple leaf can be seen in the front.

[14] In circulation since 25 November 2015, the 2015 version of the card has an RFID chip which can be used for future land border crossings.

Permanent residents as of 28 June 2002 and new permanent residents who did not provide a Canadian residential address, or whose PR card was expired, lost, stolen or damaged, must apply to IRCC's processing centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, for a new card.

If, however, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the port of entry considers the permanent resident may not meet the residency obligation, the person may be reported to IRCC and may be required to attend a hearing to determine his or her PR status.

A PR card is the most convenient way of proving status to authorities within Canada (e.g. provincial governments, employers, schools).

For visa-free travel, Canadian permanent residents require a PR card, unless the person's passport in itself is sufficient for exemption.

[47] A Canadian permanent resident has the right to enter Canada under section 27(1) of IRPA, provided that their PR status has not been revoked, hence legally speaking, a permanent resident does not need a PR card to enter Canada.

[49] As any person can approach one of the Canadian land ports of entry along the Canada–United States border, a permanent resident does not need to hold a valid PR card to enter Canada from the United States, although they may face difficulties when boarding a commercial carrier (bus, ship or train).