Record of landing (IMM 1000) and proof of PR status: how to get a verification of status

By Pardeep S. Grewal, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation · Reviewed November 11, 2026

Published November 11, 2026

Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.

Updated November 11, 2026: IRCC’s Guide 5545 on verification of status (modified October 21, 2026) and its page on immigration documents (modified April 16, 2026) checked that day.

For people who became permanent residents before 2002, the record of landing, form IMM 1000, is the document that shows when and how they immigrated. Newer permanent residents have a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) instead. These papers matter for citizenship applications, pensions, benefits and proving status to employers. If yours is lost, IRCC doesn’t reissue the original. It issues a verification of status, a plain-paper document that confirms what your immigration record says.

Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, helps permanent residents prove and protect their status; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.

Book a consultation about your proof of status TapClick to open a short form. Our team will contact you to arrange a time.Short form, 4 quick fields Open form

What is a verification of status?

A VOS confirms your immigration record. Guide 5545 says it is issued on plain paper and that “The actual document itself will not be issued.” IRCC’s documents page says a VOS can be issued to foreign nationals, permanent residents or citizens when the original document was lost, stolen or destroyed.

How do I apply for a verification of status?

Follow Guide 5545, pay the $30 fee for each person and each document, and give as much detail as you can about your landing: your name at the time, date of birth, approximate date and place of entry. If your name has changed since you immigrated, include proof of the change.

Checklist: before you apply

• Your full name at the time you landed, and any later names.
• The approximate date and place you arrived.
• Copies of any old documents: passport pages, a copy of the record, old PR cards.
• A fee for each person and each document you need.
• If you immigrated before 1936, contact Library and Archives Canada instead.

Do I need a VOS for citizenship?

Often not. A current PR card or your landing details may be enough, depending on the application. But if you have no PR card and no landing document, a VOS can be the simplest way to show your status and landing date. Check the requirements of the application you are making before you order one.

What if I am outside Canada without a PR card?

A VOS won’t get you on a plane. Permanent residents outside Canada without a valid PR card need a permanent resident travel document, and that application is assessed against the residency obligation. See our guides on a PR card lost abroad and the 730-day residency obligation.

Why this needs a lawyer

One lawyer, one file, every step:

• working out which proof of status you need, and for what;
• tracing an old landing record when the details are uncertain;
• advice on the residency obligation before a travel document or card application;
• problems with status that surface during a citizenship or benefits application.

Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only lawyers can appear for you in the Federal Court.

Mistakes I have seen

• I have seen people order a VOS expecting to travel with it, then miss a flight.
• I have seen VOS requests delayed because the applicant gave only their current name, not the name they landed under.
• I have seen long-time permanent residents assume they were citizens, and only discover otherwise when they needed proof.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a copy of my original IMM 1000?

No. IRCC issues a verification of status instead. Guide 5545 says the actual document itself will not be issued.

Is a VOS proof of identity?

No. It confirms your immigration record but is not an identity document.

I landed before 1936. Where are my records?

With Library and Archives Canada, not IRCC.

Can a VOS help if I was a child when I landed?

Yes. If you came as a child on a parent’s application, a VOS can confirm your own record. Give your parents’ details and your name at the time.

Do I need a VOS if I already have a PR card?

Usually not for everyday proof of status. You may still want your landing details for citizenship or pension purposes.

Related guides

See our guides on the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), PR card renewal and citizenship refused over physical presence.

What should I do right now?

Work out what you need the proof for. If it is travel, you need a PR card or travel document, not a VOS. If it is your landing record, gather your old names, dates and any copies, and apply under Guide 5545.

Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.

Ready to book? Open the booking form ↑

Sources (official)

• IRCC: Guide 5545, verification of status or replacement of an immigration document (modified October 21, 2026)
• IRCC: Types of immigration documents (modified April 16, 2026)

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.