Worldway Group reminds all Canadian immigrants to take note! According to official notifications from Canadian immigration authorities, starting November 21, Canada will introduce a redesigned Permanent Resident Card (commonly known as the Maple Leaf Card). The new card features more advanced security features and updated specifications for cardholder photos. Residents currently holding a Permanent Resident Card will receive the new version when they renew their card upon expiration. Residents applying for permanent residency will also receive the new card once their application is approved.
Changes to the new Permanent Resident Card include: new specifications for the holder's photo, the removal of the immigration category from the card, and an increase in the character limit for the holder's name. The limit has been increased from the original 20 characters for surnames and 15 characters for given names to a maximum of 28 characters for both surnames and given names. Additionally, there are new security measures, such as anti-counterfeiting ink, new foil patterns embedded in the card, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, with each card featuring a unique identification number.
[Old and New Permanent Resident Cards]
[Embedded Chip Pattern]
[Unique Identification Number]
The RFID chip does not contain personal information, only a unique identifier. When a Permanent Resident Card holder exits the country via a land border, the card with the embedded RFID chip will be read securely and accurately by a card reader. When the RFID chip is read, the chip's unique identifier is transmitted to a database, acting like a key to unlock the database and authorizing the transmission of the holder's personal information to border officials for review. The installation of RFID card readers at land border crossings will begin in 2016.