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IMM 5644: The Document Checklist for Your PR Card or PRTD Application (2026)

IMM 5644 is the IRCC document checklist you complete and include when you apply for a permanent resident (PR) card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD). It is not your application. It is the packing list that decides whether IRCC accepts your package or returns it to you unopened.

That return is the real stake. IRCC states in its instruction guide that if any required document is missing or a photocopy is not clear, your application will be returned. Weeks lost to a returned package can turn a simple renewal into a travel problem, and if your days in Canada are borderline, into a PR residency obligation question. Confirm every item against the official IMM 5644 document checklist and Guide 5445 on canada.ca.

A close-up photograph of a brown mailing envelope stamped "RETURN TO SENDER - INCOMPLETE" in large red letters, addressed to the "Case Processing Centre – PR Card" in Sydney, Nova Scotia. A document titled "IMM 5644: Document Checklist" is partially visible next to it on a wooden table.

What is the IMM 5644 form?

The IMM 5644 form is IRCC's "Document Checklist: Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document." One checklist covers two applications: a new, renewed, or replacement PR card, and a PRTD for permanent residents who are outside Canada without a valid card. The current version of the form was last updated in December 2024.


The checklist is a companion to the actual application form, the IMM 5444, and its instruction guide, Guide 5445. You tick each box as you gather the documents and complete the forms, then include the completed checklist with the rest of your package. One practical note that trips people up: the PDF may not open on a phone or tablet. Download it to a computer and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

What documents does the IMM 5644 checklist require?

The checklist confirms which supporting documents go with your PR card or PRTD application. Based on Guide 5445, the core items are:

  • A completed and signed application form (IMM 5444).

  • Proof of fee payment: the receipt showing the amount paid.

  • Photos that meet IRCC's specifications. If you apply online, one photo with images of the front and back. If you apply on paper, two identical photos taken within the last 12 months, placed in a small envelope with your name on it.

  • Proof you meet the residency obligation: copies of two pieces of evidence, such as pay stubs, bank statements, CRA Notices of Assessment, or rental agreements, covering the past five years.

  • A copy of one primary identity document, usually your valid passport or the passport you used when you became a permanent resident.

Any document that is not in English or French needs a translation, plus an affidavit from the translator unless the translation is done by a translator certified in Canada, and IRCC does not accept translations done by you or a family member. Getting the photo specs right is its own common failure point, which we cover in PR card photo requirements.

Do you submit IMM 5644 online or by mail?

Most applicants now apply online through IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal, where you upload the completed checklist along with the rest of your documents. If you apply on paper instead, the order matters: place the completed IMM 5644 checklist on top of your package before mailing it to the Case Processing Centre for PR cards in Sydney, Nova Scotia.


The checklist itself is a free PDF. The fee sits on the application it supports: IRCC's Guide 5445 lists the permanent resident card processing fee as $50 per person, paid online, with proof of payment included in your package. Always confirm the current amount on the official IRCC fee list before you pay, since fees can change without notice.

The mistakes that get an IMM 5644 package returned

In practice, the item that gets these packages returned is rarely the checklist form itself. It is the residency-obligation evidence behind it. A permanent resident who has been a PR for five years or more must have been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in the past five years, and thin or vague proof is where applications stall. When I explain this to students, the point I stress is that IRCC reads a package the way an auditor does: two solid pieces of evidence beat ten weak ones.

A few other avoidable returns show up again and again:

  • Renewing too early. If your PR card is still valid for more than nine months (270 days), IRCC will return a renewal, unless your legal name or gender designation has changed.

  • Photos that fail the spec: wrong background, glare, or the wrong dimensions.

  • Applying for a PR card while you are outside Canada. If you are abroad without a valid card, the correct application is a permanent resident travel document, not a PR card.

If your residency days are borderline, that is a 30-minute question worth asking Ansari Immigration's licensed RCIC directly ($80), before a returned package becomes a status problem. Have you had an IRCC package returned over a document detail? Share what tripped you up in the comments, and keep it general.


A top-down photograph of an organized arrangement of application documents on a light wood desk, including an IMM 5644 checklist with filled-out checkboxes, an open Canadian passport, two compliant passport photos in a clear sleeve, a bank statement, and a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment. A blue pen rests on the papers.

Why the IMM 5644 checklist matters for your PR status

Your PR card is proof of your permanent residence for travel and identity. It is not the source of your status, and an expired card does not by itself mean you have lost status. The risk is sequencing: a package refused close to your card's expiry, or a PRTD refused because IRCC decides you did not meet the residency obligation, is where a travel inconvenience escalates. Getting the checklist complete the first time is the cheapest insurance you have. Most permanent residents earned status through a program such as Express Entry, and clean, on-time renewals are what keep the path to citizenship open.

Frequently asked questions about IMM 5644

What is the IMM 5644 form used for?

It is the IRCC document checklist for a permanent resident card or PRTD application. You use it to confirm you have every required form and supporting document, then include the completed checklist with your package.


What documents are needed for a permanent resident card?

A completed IMM 5444, proof of fee payment, IRCC-compliant photos, a copy of one primary identity document (usually your passport), and proof you meet the residency obligation. Non-English or French documents need a certified translation and affidavit.


What documents are needed for proof of residency in Canada?

Copies of two pieces of evidence covering the past five years, such as pay stubs or employment records, bank statements, CRA Notices of Assessment, benefit records, or rental agreements. Do not send originals, as IRCC will not return them.


Do I submit IMM 5644 online or by mail?

Both are allowed. Most people apply online through the Permanent Residence Portal and upload the checklist. If you apply on paper, place the completed checklist on top of your mailed package.


Is there a fee for the IMM 5644 document checklist?

No. The checklist is a free PDF. The fee belongs to the application it supports. Guide 5445 lists the PR card processing fee as $50 per person, which you pay online and confirm on the official IRCC fee list.


How long does it take to get a PR card or PRTD?

Processing times change often and depend on the application type and how it is submitted. Check IRCC's official processing times tool, and see our breakdown in PR card renewal processing time for current expectations.

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Doing the PR card or PRTD package alone: you assemble the residency proof, get the photos right, and hope the checklist tells IRCC the story it needs before your card expires. With Ansari Immigration (PR card renewal $1,000 flat, quoted upfront, additional family members quoted separately): the firm's licensed RCIC builds the residency-evidence file, completes the forms, and handles every IRCC follow-up, and the relationship does not end at approval, because Ansari Immigration sends document-expiry reminders even after your file closes. Book a consultation with Ansari Immigration for a straight answer on whether your file is ready, at $80 for 30 minutes. Which checklist item are you least sure about? Ask in the comments, and keep it general; for advice on your specific case, use a consultation.

This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.

 
 
 

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