A benefit a lot of Canadian PR holders don’t know about their residence card is that it can provide you visa-free access to a lot of countries!
Canadian PR Card Travel Countries
Here is a list of countries you can travel to visa-free if you have a Canadian PR Card!
- All Dutch Caribbean territories (90 days)
- Anguilla (maximum 3 months)
- Bahamas (maximum 3 months)
- Bermuda (maximum 6 months)
- British Virgin Islands (maximum 6 months)
- Cayman Islands (2 months max) – Must arrive directly from Canada/US
- Costa Rica (maximum 1 month) – Financial proof required
- Cuba (maximum 1 month)
- Dominican Republic (maximum 2 months)
- El Salvador (does not apply to all nationalities)
- Georgia (maximum 6 months)
- Guatemala (does not apply to all nationalities)
- Honduras (does not apply to all nationalities)
- Jamaica (maximum 6 months)
- Kosovo (maximum 15 days)
- Mexico (maximum 6 months)
- Nicaragua (maximum 6 months, does not apply to all nationalities)
- Panama (1 month or 6 months)
- Peru (maximum 6 months for Indian and Chinese nationals)
- Philippines (maximum 1 month)
- Qatar (maximum 1 month)
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon (maximum 3 months)
- South Korea (maximum 1 month when in transit, does not apply to all nationalities)
- Singapore (maximum 3 days visa-free transit, Chinese and Indian citizens only)
- Sint Maarten, Netherlands (maximum 3 months)
- Taiwan (maximum 1 month, online registration mandatory, does not apply to all nationalities)
- Turks and Caicos Islands (maximum 3 months)
Legal Disclaimer – Please note that this list is not comprehensive and is subject to change!
If you are not sure if you can travel visa-free to a country using your Canadian PR card, you should check with the country’s immigration website for the latest information and if any additional requirements need to be met before your travel.
Travel Eligibility Requirements
Before you travel make sure you have the following –
- Valid Passport with more than 6 months validity
- Valid Canadian PR card
- Proof to fund your travel
- Round-trip ticket
You must be able to satisfy the immigration officers that you plan to return to your country of residence within the period or they might deny your entry.
Issues Using PR Card
It’s important to note that Airport Employees usually won’t be familiar with immigration laws, so do not take their advice but instead follow the guidance only by an immigration officer regarding the rules of their country.
When I visited the UK, I had an instance where the airport employee was giving me wrong information about using PR card for transit but I had no issue with the UK Border Agency for using my PR Card to be eligible for a single day transit.
Have you run into any issues while using your PR card for travel? Feel free to share your experience.
Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.
Hello, I’m planning to go to Germany for a visit but I’m not sure if I can travel with Canadian pr and Pakistani passport. If you have any information please advise.
In your case, a visa would be required.
my wife and I are planning on a trip to costa rica, i am Canadian w/passport, she is cuban with her cuban passport and valid Canadian permanent resident card, should we be ok with these docs?
Keep return ticket and proof of funds with you.
You should be good with the documents.
I have a Canadian PR card and would like to visit Switzerland as a tourist. I am an Indian National.
Do I require Schengen visa and how do I apply to get one.
Please advise
Yes you would need a Schengen visa for tourism purposes.
https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/india/en/home/visa/entry-ch.html