RC-1 — Humanitarian and Compassionate PR Travel Document (Humanitarian/Immigrant)

The RC-1 is a Canadian Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) issued to PRs abroad who have failed their residency obligation but qualify on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds. It is discretionary — officers weigh compelling personal circumstances before approving — and costs CAD 50 to apply.

The RC-1 is single-use: once it gets you back to Canada, you must apply for a PR card to restore normal travel rights. Approval requires extensive H&C evidence; processing times vary. Spouses and dependants do not travel on the same document.

This visa is ideal for permanent residents stranded abroad who missed the 730-day residency requirement due to exceptional circumstances such as illness, caregiving, or hardship beyond their control.