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Soft landing at Toronto Pearson: what actually happens at the border, and PR-card logistics after

Canada • Permanent Resident • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Timeline

Total Duration
Landing itself took well under an hour; PR cards quoted at 2–4 months by mail

Documents Needed

  • COPR

    Stamped at the immigration counter — the core document of the landing.

  • Passport

    Presented with the COPR.

  • Canadian mailing address

    Needed for PR-card delivery; a relative's or friend's address works and no proof of residence was requested.

  • Proof of funds

    Officially required to carry, but not asked for in this landing — carry it anyway.

Step-by-Step

A mid-2022 soft-landing account (flight from Europe into Toronto Pearson); kiosk layouts and card timelines change, but the flow is representative.

  1. Declaration kiosks first. On arrival you declare what you're bringing; with just personal luggage this takes minutes. (Soft landers with goods-to-follow lists spend longer here.)

  2. Immigration counter is short and factual. The officer asked: first landing? do you have a Canadian address for the PR cards? ever refused entry to Canada? — then stamped both spouses' COPRs. No proof of funds, no supporting documents requested. Queue time: ~10 minutes.

  3. Give any reliable Canadian address for the PR card. No proof of that address was required. If you don't have one at landing, it can be provided later — but expect delays.

  4. PR cards come by mail in ~2–4 months. They're not needed to leave Canada — only to re-enter by commercial carrier. That's why short soft-landing trips work: land, get COPR stamped, fly out on your passport, return later once the card exists (or via alternative documentation).

  5. Don't expect to link the PR-card application online immediately — the applicant couldn't link it right away; members noted some post-landing services (and things like citizenship-adjacent applications) only open up weeks later (~90 days was cited for one follow-up step).

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Carry proof of funds even though officers often don't ask — it's still a formal requirement at first landing.
  • Tip: You don't need the PR card to leave Canada — only to board a flight back in. Plan soft-landing trips around that.
  • Do: Have a Canadian mailing address ready for the PR card; no proof of it is required.

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