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Lost or Stolen PR Card? IMM 5451 and Edmonton Commissioning Guide
If your PR card is lost or stolen, do three things right away: protect your identity, report the theft if it was stolen, and start a replacement PR card application with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. For a lost, stolen, or destroyed PR card, you will usually need to include the `IMM 5451 Solemn Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never-Received Permanent Resident Card`, and you must sign that declaration in front of an authorized commissioner for oaths or notary.
Do not sign IMM 5451 at home before your appointment. The whole point of the form is that your signature is sworn or affirmed in front of the authorized person.
This guide explains the key steps, what to bring, and how commissioning works in Edmonton. It is general information only, not legal or immigration advice.
What to do first
A missing PR card is stressful, but the first steps are practical.
If the card was stolen, report it to the police. Keep a copy of the police report number or any written confirmation you receive. IRCC may ask for details, and the report helps show that you acted responsibly.
If the card was lost, write down what happened while the details are still fresh. Include:
The date you last had the card
The place you last remember using or seeing it
When you noticed it was missing
Where you searched
Whether anyone else may have had access to it
Any steps you took to protect your identity
If the card was destroyed, keep a simple note of how it was destroyed. For example, it may have gone through the wash, been damaged in a fire, or been cut up by mistake. If any pieces are still available, follow IRCC’s instructions about whether they should be included.
The safest rule is simple: do not travel until the issue is resolved. A PR card is the main document permanent residents use to return to Canada on a commercial carrier, such as a flight, bus, train, or boat. If you leave Canada without a valid PR card, returning can become complicated and delayed.
If travel is urgent, check official IRCC guidance before making plans. Do not assume an airline will accept other ID in place of a valid PR card.
The replacement application
To replace a lost, stolen, destroyed, or never-received PR card, you generally complete the PR card application package. The main form is `IMM 5444`, the Application for a Permanent Resident Card.
For a missing or destroyed card, the application normally also requires `IMM 5451`, the solemn declaration form. This form is where you explain what happened to the old PR card and confirm the facts under oath or affirmation.
The replacement package may include:
`IMM 5444`
`IMM 5451`
PR card photos that meet IRCC specifications
Copies of identity documents
Proof of fee payment
Any extra documents requested in the current instruction guide
Check the current IRCC instruction guide before you submit. Forms and requirements can change, and IRCC will assess the application based on its current rules.
The IMM 5451 is not a casual note. It is a sworn or affirmed declaration. That means the information should be complete, accurate, and consistent with the rest of your application.
If you need help with the oath or affirmation step, Edmonton residents often use commissioner for oaths services for IMM 5451 and other sworn forms.
Completing IMM 5451
Complete IMM 5451 carefully before you attend for commissioning, but leave the signature area blank unless the commissioner or notary tells you otherwise.
The form should explain the basic facts clearly. Do not overcomplicate it. IRCC is looking for a truthful account of what happened and what you did after discovering the issue.
Your declaration should cover these details where they apply.
Facts of what happened
State whether the PR card was lost, stolen, destroyed, or never received. Use direct wording.
For example:
“I lost my PR card.”
“My PR card was stolen from my wallet.”
“My PR card was destroyed after being damaged.”
“I never received my PR card in the mail.”
Avoid guessing if you do not know something. If you are unsure of an exact date, use the most accurate date range you can and make it clear that it is approximate.
Dates and place
Include the date you last had the card, if known. Include the location where it was lost, stolen, or destroyed, if known.
Useful details include:
City and province
Name of building, store, airport, school, or transit station, if relevant
Approximate time of day
Date you discovered the card was missing
If you do not know the exact location, explain where you believe it happened and why.
Steps taken after the card went missing
Describe what you did after you realized the card was gone. This may include searching your home, checking with a lost and found, contacting a landlord or transit office, cancelling or monitoring other documents, and reporting theft to police.
If the card was stolen, include the police report number if you have one.
Leave the signature blank
This is the part many applicants miss. Do not sign IMM 5451 until you are in front of the commissioner for oaths or notary.
The commissioner or notary must witness you signing the declaration. If you sign it early, you may have to print a fresh copy and sign again in front of them.
Swearing it before a commissioner for oaths or notary
IMM 5451 must be sworn or affirmed before an authorized person, such as a commissioner for oaths or a notary public.
In Alberta, a commissioner for oaths can usually commission sworn declarations for use in Canada. A notary public can also do this, and may be needed for some documents that have international use. For IMM 5451, a commissioner is commonly sufficient, unless IRCC instructions or your situation require something different.
The appointment is usually quick. If the form is complete and you have proper ID, commissioning IMM 5451 often takes about 10 minutes.
Bring these items:
The completed IMM 5451, unsigned
Valid government-issued photo ID
Your current passport, if available
Any police report number or written police report, if the card was stolen
Any supporting notes about dates, places, and steps taken
Your PR card application package, if you want it reviewed for completeness
The commissioner or notary will confirm your identity, ask whether you understand the declaration, administer the oath or affirmation, watch you sign, and then complete their section.
If you need a copy of your ID certified for the package, read this guide on how to get a certified true copy before your visit.
For situations where a notary is preferred or required, notary public services can also handle sworn declarations and certified copies.
Photos, fees, and processing times for the replacement
A replacement PR card application usually needs new PR card photos. These are not the same as a casual passport-style photo from a phone. IRCC has specific photo size and quality requirements. Poor photos can cause delays or rejection.
Use a provider that understands PR card photo rules. Keep the receipt if one is provided, and follow the application guide on how to attach or include the photos.
You will also need to pay the required IRCC fee and include proof of payment with the application. Check the current fee on the official IRCC website before paying. Do not rely on old saved forms or outdated fee lists.
Processing times can change. IRCC publishes current estimates online, but these are not guarantees. Missing signatures, incorrect photos, unclear ID copies, or an incomplete IMM 5451 can add extra time.
Before sending the package, check:
Every required form is included
IMM 5444 is complete and signed
IMM 5451 is complete, sworn or affirmed, and signed correctly
Photos meet IRCC requirements
Fee receipt is included
ID copies are clear
Mailing address and contact information are accurate
A careful package does not guarantee approval, but it reduces preventable delays.
Common mistakes
Signing IMM 5451 before meeting the commissioner or notary
Forgetting to include IMM 5451 for a lost, stolen, destroyed, or never-received PR card
Giving vague details, such as “I lost it somewhere,” without dates, places, or steps taken
Using photos that do not meet IRCC’s PR card photo requirements
Travelling outside Canada before the replacement issue is resolved
FAQ
Can I sign IMM 5451 at home?
No. Leave the signature blank until you are with the commissioner for oaths or notary. They must witness you signing. If you sign at home, the declaration may not be properly commissioned.
Do I need a police report for a lost card?
Usually, a police report is for a stolen card, not a card that was simply lost. If your PR card was stolen, report it to police and keep the report number. If it was lost, write a clear explanation of when and where you lost it and what steps you took to find it.
Can a commissioner do it or must it be a notary?
A commissioner for oaths can commonly commission IMM 5451 in Alberta. A notary public can also do it. If your situation involves documents for use outside Canada, or if IRCC gives you a specific instruction, a notary may be the safer choice.
What if I find the old card later?
Do not use two PR cards or assume the old one is still valid. Follow IRCC’s instructions. If you have already applied for a replacement, contact IRCC or check the current guidance on what to do with the recovered card.
How Can Document Genie Help You?
Document Genie has helped clients with sworn declarations, certified copies, PR card photos, and immigration document support since 2017. The team serves clients across Canada and abroad, and has handled thousands of similar files. Document Genie also has about 3,000 Google reviews with a 4.9-star rating.
For a lost or stolen PR card replacement package, Document Genie can help with:
Commissioning IMM 5451 on a walk-in basis
Taking PR card photos
Certifying copies of ID
Checking the package for common missing items
Limits: Document Genie does not submit the PR card application for you and does not advise on residency obligation questions.
Need IMM 5451 commissioned in Edmonton? Call 587-501-2088 or book online. You can also visit Document Genie at Unit 18, 9186 34A Ave NW, Edmonton AB T6E 5P4.
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