IMM 5444, screen by screen
Updated
Renewing a PR card for a child under 18: who signs and what to send
Children who are permanent residents need a PR card too. The form is the same IMM 5444, with three differences: who signs, one extra document, and a biometrics rule for children who turn 14.
A child uses the same form
IRCC says you need a PR card if you are a permanent resident, “including a child”. There is no separate child form: the application is the IMM 5444, with the same instruction guide as an adult’s.1
The form is filled in about the child.2
Note: What we could not verify
The IRCC pages we read give no child-specific rule for photos, fees or how long a child’s card is valid, so we say nothing about them here. Check the current figures on IRCC’s PR card page before you apply.1
Who signs the application
Section 8 of the IMM 5444 instructions sets the rule by age:2
| Child’s age | Who signs |
|---|---|
| Less than 14 | One of the child’s parents or a legal guardian |
| 14 or more, but less than 18 | The child and one of their parents or a legal guardian |
IRCC says to sign and date the form. When you finish the PDF, print it and sign it by hand. An unsigned or undated form is returned as incomplete.2
The extra document for an applicant under 18
Guide 5445 asks applicants under 18 for a clear, legible photocopy of one of these:1
- A birth certificate showing the child’s name, date of birth, place of birth and the names of their parents or adoptive parents.
- Guardianship papers, if the child has a legal guardian: legal documentation issued by a Canadian court that proves guardianship.
- School records: report cards, transcripts or attendance records.1
In the PR Portal this is the “Birth certificate - dependent” slot on the document checklist (IMM 5644).
Biometrics when a child turns 14
Most PR card applicants do not give biometrics. IRCC makes an exception: you give them if you were less than 14 years old when IRCC received your application for permanent residence, you are now older than 14, and you are applying for a new card.1
So a teenager who became a permanent resident as a young child may be asked for biometrics at renewal. A child who is still under 14 is not in that group.1
Counting a child’s days in Canada
The residency obligation applies to the child too: 730 days in Canada in the last five years. IMM 5444 sections 5.3 and 5.5 ask about time abroad accompanying a Canadian citizen who is your spouse or common-law partner or, “in the case of a child, your parent”.2
IRCC’s definition of “child” for the residency rules changed on October 24, 2017, from under 19 to under 22.1
Note: Case-specific questions
Only lawyers and paralegals in a Canadian law society, Quebec notaries, and consultants who are members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants can charge you to represent you. prcard.ca explains IRCC’s own instructions; it doesn’t give advice on your case. If a child has been outside Canada for long stretches, speak to one of them.3
Fill in the form one section at a time
The renewal pack walks you through each IMM 5444 section and the document checklist. The interview is free.
Quick answers
Does a child need a PR card?
IRCC says you need a PR card if you are a permanent resident, including a child.
Who signs a child’s PR card application?
For a child under 14, one parent or a legal guardian signs. From 14 up to 18, the child signs and so does one parent or a legal guardian.
What document does an applicant under 18 send?
A photocopy of a birth certificate showing the parents’ names, court guardianship papers if there is a legal guardian, or school records.
Does my child need biometrics?
Only if they were under 14 when IRCC received their PR application, are now over 14, and are applying for a new card.
Is there a separate form for children?
No. The application is the IMM 5444, with the same instructions.
