The email arrives: your electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence (eCOPR) is ready. After months or years of permits, extensions and waiting, you are a permanent resident. The next few weeks involve a surprising amount of paperwork — and a few of the steps have deadlines that are easy to miss because nobody tells you about them.
Quick Answer
You are a permanent resident from the moment your eCOPR is issued — you do not need to wait for the PR card to work, live or access services. In the first 30 days: save your eCOPR securely; get a permanent SIN at Service Canada (your 9-series SIN no longer fits your status, and the COPR is accepted as proof only within one year); give your employer the new SIN; update your provincial health card; tell the CRA about your new status if you receive child benefits; and watch for your PR card in the mail. Do not plan international travel until the card arrives — the eCOPR is not a travel document.
This guide explains general rules. It is not legal advice. Check the linked official pages for your province and situation.
Your 30-Day Checklist
| Step | Where | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Download and save the eCOPR (PDF and a printed copy) | IRCC account or email | It is your proof of PR status until the card arrives |
| Check every detail (name, date of birth, date you became a PR) | eCOPR | Errors carry onto your PR card; ask IRCC to correct them now |
| Get a permanent SIN | Service Canada (online, in person or by mail) | PR SINs do not start with 9; the COPR works as your primary document only within one year |
| Give your employer the updated SIN | HR / payroll | Keeps your tax and CPP/EI records right |
| Update your health card to permanent status | Your provincial plan | A card tied to your old permit can lapse on the permit’s date |
| Update the CRA with your new status | CRA (Form RC66SCH, with your COPR) | Benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit are based on the status the CRA has on file |
| Confirm your mailing address with IRCC | IRCC account / web form | Your PR card is mailed to it |
| Tell your bank | Your bank | Updates identity records; some newcomer offers change |
Your SIN
Official rule: Service Canada says SINs for temporary residents start with 9, and that you must update your SIN record when your status changes from temporary to permanent resident. For permanent residents, the COPR is an accepted primary document only if used within one year of becoming a PR; after that you need your PR card.
Practical step: do it in the first weeks. It is free, and your employer needs the updated number. More in our SIN guide.
Health Coverage
If your provincial card was issued on a work or study permit, it probably carries that permit’s expiry date. Contact your plan with your COPR so it is updated to permanent status. If you had no coverage before (for example, you arrived on a permit that did not qualify), register now — some provinces have waiting periods (provincial registration rules).
CRA and Benefits
- Canada Child Benefit: temporary residents must wait 18 months; permanent residents do not. If you were already receiving the CCB, or were waiting to qualify, send the CRA your updated status (CCB rules).
- CGEB (formerly GST/HST credit) and provincial credits continue based on your tax return (newcomer rules).
- Keep filing every year. Benefits stop when returns are missing.
Your PR Card
IRCC mails the PR card to the address it has on file. As of IRCC’s September 22, 2026 data, new PR cards were taking about 35 days (current times). If the photo you uploaded to the PR portal was rejected, the card is delayed until you provide a new one (the PR portal explained, photo requirements).
Travel Before the Card Arrives
Official rule: to return to Canada by plane, bus, train or boat, a permanent resident needs a valid PR card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD). The eCOPR is not a travel document.
What it means: if you must travel before the card arrives, you may need to apply for a PRTD from abroad, which takes time. Wait if you can (travel while applications are pending).
Two Clocks Start Now
- Residency obligation: you must spend at least 730 days in Canada in every five-year period to keep PR status (details).
- Citizenship: you need 1,095 days of physical presence in the last five years. Days you spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before PR can count as half days, up to 365 days (citizenship timeline).
Keep a record of your travel dates from today.
What You No Longer Need
You no longer need a work or study permit. You can work for any employer, study without a study permit and pay domestic tuition in most provinces (check with your school for the date it applies from).
FAQ
Can I work before my PR card arrives?
Yes. You are a permanent resident from the moment your eCOPR is issued; show your employer the eCOPR.
Do I get a new SIN or just an update?
Your status must be updated with Service Canada, and permanent residents’ SINs do not start with 9 — Service Canada will issue what your record needs when you apply with your COPR.
My eCOPR has a mistake. What now?
Contact IRCC through its web form right away, before the PR card is printed with the same error.
