It is common to lose or damage an immigration document and need to reissue it for several purposes, the most common one is the verification of status.

What is Verification of Status document?

A Verification of Status document will contain information that appeared on your original Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, Work Permit, Study Permit or other immigration documents. This document can be used when you must provide proof of historical immigration information, such as the date and place of entry to Canada.

You may obtain a VOS document outlining the pertinent historical information for the following:

• Certificate of Departure (IMM 0056)
• Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000)/Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)
• Visitor Record (IMM 1097 or IMM 1442)
• Work Permit (IMM 1102 or IMM 1442)
• Study Permit (IMM 1208 or IMM 1442)
• Exclusion Order (IMM 1214)
• Deportation Order (IMM 1215)
• Departure Order (IMM 5238)
• Permit to Come Into or Remain in Canada (IMM 1263)
• Authorization to Return to Canada (IMM 1203)
• Protected Persons

The Verification of Status document cannot be used for travel and is not an identity document.

The Permanent Resident Card is the proof of status document for permanent residents re-entering Canada on a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus).

If you are a permanent resident of Canada and are travelling outside the country without the appropriate documentation to prove your status in Canada, you will need to obtain a travel document to demonstrate to representatives of a transportation company that you are entitled to re-enter Canada as a permanent resident. For more information, consult the application package Applying for a Travel Document (Permanent Residents Abroad) (IMM 5529).

Replacement of a valid Temporary Resident document

You may request a replacement of a current and valid temporary resident document if it is lost or stolen. You must provide the police report number proving that your current and valid temporary resident document has been lost or stolen. The following documents can be replaced:

• Visitor Record
• Work Permit
• Study Permit
• Temporary Resident Permit