New permanent residents are often confused by two different dates: the deadline to make their first entry to Canada using their COPR, and the expiry date on the visa sticker in their passport — and whether these are the same thing.
What group members clarified:- Your last entry date is 1 year from the date of your medical exam, not a flat '6 months from COPR' rule. This exact date is printed on your COPR letter, so check that document directly rather than relying on generalized advice you hear from others, since it varies by applicant.
- The passport visa sticker has its own separate expiry date, printed on the sticker itself — it doesn't necessarily match the COPR's last-entry date, so check both documents independently rather than assuming they align.
Don't rely on secondhand '6 months' rules — read the actual dates on your own COPR letter and visa sticker, since they're calculated differently and can differ from person to person.