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POE letter received but no PPR: why visa-exempt (eTA) applicants don't get a passport request

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • Port of entry (POE) introduction letter

    The approval letter you present at the border — for eTA nationals this is the key document.

  • eTA or TRV

    Which one you need depends on your nationality; it determines whether a PPR/stamping step exists at all.

Step-by-Step

An applicant (from Singapore) received their port of entry (POE) letter but no passport request (PPR) and asked whether they could travel. The thread untangled why:

  1. PPR is only for visa-required nationals. The passport request / stamping step exists so IRCC can put a temporary resident visa (TRV) counterfoil in your passport. If your country is visa-exempt — you only need an eTA — there is no counterfoil to stamp, so no PPR ever comes. The POE letter is your approval.

  2. Check which group you're in. Members' first diagnostic question was "do you have a valid TRV?" / "are you from a visa-exempt country?". Singapore is visa-exempt (eTA only), so the poster's file was complete: POE letter + eTA linked to the passport is everything needed to board and land.

  3. Sequence for visa-required nationals is different. Others in the thread had the reverse experience (POE letter after biometrics-validity letter, then stamping) — if you need a TRV, you should not travel until the visa is in your passport.

  4. Before flying, verify your eTA is approved and linked to the same passport you'll travel on, and carry the POE letter to present to the border officer, who issues the actual study permit on arrival.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Visa-exempt (eTA) nationals never receive a PPR — the POE letter plus an approved eTA is the complete approval package.
  • Don't: If you're from a visa-required country, don't travel on the POE letter alone — wait for the TRV to be stamped in your passport.
  • Do: Confirm your eTA status is 'approved' and tied to your current passport number before booking flights.

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