If you are a U.S. permanent resident, you don’t have to apply for a visa in order to visit Canada. Even if you hold a passport from a country whose citizens are required to present a visa to enter Canada, all you need is your green card or other evidence that can prove your U.S. permanent residence.
Below is an excerpt from the Canadian immigration authority’s website with regard to Visitor Visa Exemptions:
persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence
If you are staying in the United States under a non-immigrant status, such as F-1, B-2 or H-1, you do need to obtain a visitor visa before travelling to Canada, if your country is on the list that requires visas. You may have heard of the “30-day rule (Automatic Revalidation),” but don’t confuse it with entering Canada because it is only referring to your return to the United States.
If you are already a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a visa to visit Canada or a long list of other countries. The Department of State publishes extensive country-specific information, including entry/exit requirements, for U.S. passport holders planning to travel abroad.
You said “persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence”.
What dose the other evidence of permanent residence mean?
Would I-131 Advance parole and renewed I-94 (asylum granted stamp) be sufficient enough? I looked and looked all over the Interned. Even Canadian Embassy or Consulate or Canadian Border Services and other agencies can not provide me accurate answer.
Please help.
Thank you
Other evidence may include, for example, a “green card stamp” on your passport. This is issued when you have already become a permanent resident but for some reason don’t yet have a physical green card in hand, and need one for travelling. Form I-131 (AP) is issued when you are not yet a permanent resident (your application is still pending) and therefore cannot be used as proof of permanent residency. Form I-94 is for non-immigrants.
Does the two years temporary permanent resident still suffice. I just obtained one through marriage and intends to visit my friend in Canada. Thanks.
Did you mean the two-year conditional green card after marriage to a U.S. citizen? Yes, the two year requirement is still there, but it doesn’t affect visiting Canada.
Ok. Thank you very much.
Cool! U.S. Permanent Residents Can Visit Canada without a Visa. I am planning to go in Canada but I am thinking how much would it cost for applying a visa. Now, thanks for this info, I easily can visit Canada.
I have a valid permanent resident alien card but an expired passport from my country of origin. Can I still travel to Canada for business?
I have DV immigration visa for USA. Can I visit Canada before entering US? I mean just by us immigration visa and no green card stamp on my passport.
Hello , good day!
Excuse me I have a question, my dad is Mexican citizen but he lives in U.S and hes permanent resident there , but Mexicans citizens need a visa for be able to come for vacation here in Canada , so according what here you said in this page he will not problems to fly from states to Canada right?
So what he need to do ? Just show his green card in the airport and after in the customs desk arriving to Canada ?
I really appreciate your attention.
Manuel.
A valid passport and a valid permanent resident card (green card) will do.
I am Mexican. Permanent US resident. I do have a mexican passport. What do I need to go into Canada?
Your valid passport and green card.
Hello,
I am a permanent resident, but my Ukrainian passport expired like a year ago. Can I get into Canada on just my green card and driver’s license or must I renew my Ukrainian passport first?
Thanks
“The Government of Canada requires that all travellers carry a valid passport because it is the only reliable and universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel.” – http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifvc-rpvc-eng.html#a1
Hello,
I know this question has been asked many times, but I think my case might be a little different. I am a U.S permanent resident, I have a valid green card and I am planning to go to Canada for three weeks for a summer camp. However, I am not a citizen of US, and I do not have a passport from Uzbekistan, my home country. I was too young to have a passport of my own when I left Uzbekistan. I also learned that non-citizens of US cannot obtain passports. Does this mean I cannot travel to Canada until I become a citizen of US and obtain a passport? Thank you.
@Nikita Annekov : You will have to find an embassy for your country here in the US and get a passport issued
That’d be my suggestion too. Even if you’re eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, the process may take several months all by itself. So the easiest way might be to apply for an Uzbekistan passport at an Embassy or consulate near you.
Thank you so much for such a quick reply. The only problem is that it is impossible to get a hold of Uzbekistan embassy.
Another question though,
On USCIS website it says:
What documents do I need to travel outside the United States?
In general, you will need to present a passport from your country of citizenship or your refugee travel document to travel to a foreign country. In addition, the foreign country may have additional entry/exit requirements (such as a visa). For information on foreign entry and exit requirements, see the Department of State’s webpage at http://www.travel.state.gov.
I am an asylee with an I-94 card (and a green card). Would I-94 be considered my refugee travel document?
Again, thank you so much for your help.
Thank you so much for such a quick reply. The only problem is that it is impossible to get a hold of Uzbekistan embassy.
Another question though,
On USCIS website it says:
What documents do I need to travel outside the United States?
In general, you will need to present a passport from your country of citizenship or your refugee travel document to travel to a foreign country. In addition, the foreign country may have additional entry/exit requirements (such as a visa). For information on foreign entry and exit requirements, see the Department of State’s webpage at http://www.travel.state.gov.
I am an asylee with an I-94 card (and a green card). Would I-94 be considered my refugee travel document?
I-94 is not a travel document. In addition, once you receive your green card, I-94 is no longer useful as it is for non-immigrants.
Since you have a green card, you will have no problem leaving and returning to the U.S. The passport requirement is on the Canadian government side. You might want to contact them with regard to your dilemma.
Nikita: If you got your green card as a political refugee, it might hurt your immigration status here in the U.S. if you get a passport from the country from which you were persecuted.
Hi I am about to travel to Canada by land from US in a few days but my US passport has already expired. I however still have a valid US green card with me. My question is that would the green card be sufficient for me to get into Canada and out of Canada to come back into the states?
Mongolian citizen and permanent resident of USA, traveling to Canada for a week. I am thinking to travel by bus. Do I need to have other documents beside a passport and a green card to travel Canada and come back?
I am reading “Did you mean the two-year conditional green card after marriage to a U.S. citizen? Yes, the two year requirement is still there, but it doesn’t affect visiting Canada.” My wife got a permanent resident card which lasts 2 years. She wants to visit a friend in canada with this card, and her chinese passport. is this possible without getting a canadian visa? thanks, Phil
@T.C. Your green card is no longer valid after you became a U.S. citizen.
So you don’t want to use that.
@Phil: A valid conditional green card is still a green card, so along with her Chinese passport, she should be able to visit Canada without a Canadian visa.
To all,
Whether a person is allowed to enter a country is strictly up to the border agent at the country’s port of entry. What this article and the comments below are describing is simply stating the minimum requirements – directly from the government sources – but it is in no way a guarantee of your admission.
So is a permanent resident card enough to visit canada with a chinese passport? Sorry, I’m still a little confused if the ‘two year conditional green card” = 2 year permanent resident card?
Thanks,