How do I change my name on my PR Card?

[Neeta2015]

Hello,

I got married a few months ago and need to change my name on both my PR card and my (Irish) passport.
Could anyone tell me if my passport is required for this? I do not know whether to apply for the card or the passport first?
Also, I need to know waiting times for a replacement PR card.
Thanks in advance!

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hi There,

Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a bit of a confusing process. Name changes generally follow an order of operations; the key is where to start!

You may find it helpful to read our Settlement.Org article, How do I change my name after I get married?, for general information about changing your name because of marriage in Ontario.

As for your PR Card, according to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website:

If you legally changed your name and you want your new name to be on your PR card, you must send an Application for a Permanent Resident Card to the mailing address at the bottom of the application form. Make sure to include the documents required to support your name change, which are listed in the Application for a Permanent Resident Instruction Guide.

This is the section of the instruction guide that applies to your situation:

Legal change of name

If your present name is different from the name printed on your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), you must send in supporting legal documentation as proof of your name change in addition to supporting identity documents as requested in section 3 of Step 1. Supporting legal documentation may include:

• a copy of a legal change of name document, court order, adoption order issued by a civil authority in a province or territory of Canada, or a marriage certificate, divorce decree, registration, declaration of union, revocation of declaration or annulment of union issued by a civil authority in a province or territory of Canada, showing your new name, unless you have been married in and are currently a resident of Quebec;

• if you are a permanent resident who changed their name outside of Canada, provide a foreign passport or other national authoritative document that has been amended to reflect the new name, and an official document linking the old and new names.

If the change of name was already approved in a previous permanent resident card application, include a photocopy of your last permanent resident card.

The information provided above is not legal advice. If you want legal advice please consult a community legal clinic or a lawyer about your particular situation.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Theresa
Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS
Your Settlement.Org Team