Permanent Resident Cards

PR Card Renewal

Is your permanent resident card expiring, already expired, or no longer usable? A valid PR card proves your permanent resident status and is used with your passport or travel document to return to Canada on a commercial carrier. Renewal allows an eligible permanent resident in Canada to obtain a new card from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

01 What Is PR Card Renewal?

PR card renewal is the process of applying for a new card when your existing card has expired or is approaching expiry. A PR card is usually valid for five years, although some cards are valid for one year.

Your PR card and your permanent resident status are different. An expired card does not by itself end your status. You remain a permanent resident until your status is formally lost under Canadian immigration law.

02 When Should You Apply?

Select the reason you need a new card to see the applicable general rule.

Expired or Expiring Card

You can apply to renew your PR card if it has expired or has less than nine months of validity remaining.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card

Use the PR card application process to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged card. If your card was lost or stolen, provide the information required by IRCC about what happened.

Changed Personal Information

You may apply for a new card when your legal name, gender identifier, or signature has changed. The supporting documents depend on the change you are requesting.

03 Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for a PR card, you must:

have permanent resident status;
be physically present in Canada;
meet the applicable residency obligation;
not be under an effective removal order;
not be a Canadian citizen; and
not have been convicted of an offence related to the misuse of a PR card.

Meeting the Residency Obligation

The way the 730-day obligation is assessed depends on how long you have held permanent resident status.

730days

Look Back Over the Previous Five Years

You must have at least 730 qualifying days in the five years immediately before the assessment. The days do not need to be consecutive.

730days

Count Forward to Your Fifth Anniversary

If you have been a permanent resident for less than five years, you must show that you can accumulate at least 730 qualifying days by your fifth anniversary as a permanent resident.

Certain days outside Canada may count towards your 730-day residency obligation, including:

Accompanying a Canadian citizen: Living abroad with your Canadian citizen spouse or common-law partner, or, a child under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship, with your Canadian citizen parent.

Working abroad: Completing a qualifying full-time assignment outside Canada for a Canadian business or the federal, provincial or territorial public service. Not all employment outside Canada counts, even if your employer is Canadian. Eligibility depends on the business’s operations in Canada and the terms of your work abroad.

Accompanying a permanent resident working abroad: Time spent living abroad with your permanent resident spouse or common-law partner may count if they work full-time for a qualifying Canadian business or the federal, provincial or territorial public service and meet their own residency obligation. The same applies to a child under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship living abroad with a permanent resident parent who meets these conditions.

Each category has specific conditions. Supporting documents are required to show that your time outside Canada qualifies.

04 How to Apply

The usual renewal process is completed online through the Permanent Residence Portal.

Check When You Can Apply

You must be in Canada to apply. Your PR card should be expired or have less than nine months of validity remaining. Review your travel history and confirm that you meet the residency obligation.

Prepare the Application

Complete the application and gather the required documents according to IRCC’s instructions.

Pay the Processing Fee

Pay the required fee according to IRCC’s current instructions.

Review and Submit

Check that your application is complete, all answers are accurate, and the required documents are included. Follow IRCC’s current instructions for signing and submitting your application.

Track and Receive the Card

Check your application status and provide any additional information IRCC requests. If approved, your card will usually be mailed to you. In some cases, IRCC may ask you to collect it in person.

05 Travelling Without a Valid PR Card

Your location and method of return determine which document or process is relevant.

Check Your Card

Make sure it will remain valid through your return date.

Apply in Canada

If eligible, renew before leaving and allow for processing and delivery.

Plan for Return

IRCC cannot mail a PR card outside Canada or to a third party.

Outside Canada

You do not have a valid PR card in your possession.

Apply for a PRTD

You must apply for a permanent resident travel document to return by commercial carrier.

Board the Carrier

Present the valid PRTD and passport or travel document required for your trip.

Approach by Land

Travel in a private car, truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow, or rent.

Bring Status Documents

You may use your PR card or other documents to establish your status at the border.

Apply After Return

Once in Canada, apply for a new PR card if you need one.

06 Frequently Asked Questions

Does an expired PR card mean I have lost permanent resident status?+

No. Your card’s expiry does not by itself end your status. Permanent resident status continues until it is formally lost through one of the processes set by law.

Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?+

No. You must be in Canada to apply. If you are outside Canada without a valid PR card, you generally need a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return on a commercial carrier, such as an airline.

Can I renew my PR card more than nine months before it expires?+

Generally, no. IRCC directs applicants to renew when the card has expired or will expire in less than nine months, subject to separate reasons for obtaining a new card, such as a legal name change.

Can I travel while my renewal is being processed?+

Yes, but a pending application is not a travel document. If you are outside Canada without a valid PR card, you must apply for a PRTD to return by airplane, bus, boat, or train.

What if I may not meet the residency obligation?+

A renewal application can lead IRCC to assess your compliance and status. Because qualifying time abroad and humanitarian considerations are fact-specific, obtain advice before applying if your calculation may be short.

Can IRCC process a PR card urgently?+

Urgent processing may be available for limited qualifying travel reasons, but it is not guaranteed. You must provide the travel and urgency evidence required by IRCC.

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