Choose the right PR document
| Your situation | What to do | Where you must be |
|---|---|---|
| New PR, within 180 days of becoming a PR | No application: give a Canadian mailing address and a photo (to the border officer at landing, or online in the Permanent Residence Portal). The first card is then mailed to you free of charge. | In Canada |
| First card not requested within 180 days, card expiring or expired, lost, stolen or damaged card, or a change to your details | PR card application (form IMM 5444) through the Permanent Residence Portal; fee $50 | In Canada (cards are not mailed abroad) |
| Outside Canada without a valid card, returning by commercial carrier | Permanent resident travel document (PRTD); fee $50 | Outside Canada |
| Mistake on a card you received within the last 60 days | Request a reissue on paper form IMM 5531 within 60 days of receiving the card, by mail, with no fee (details in the replacement guide) | In Canada |
See the separate guides for renewal, lost, stolen or damaged cards and the PRTD.
PR card eligibility and timing
- Who can applyYou must be a permanent resident, be physically in Canada, and not have lost PR status (for example through a removal order that has taken effect, or by becoming a Canadian citizen). IRCC's eligibility page also lists people who have not met the residency requirement among those who cannot get a PR card, so check your days before you apply.
- Residency is reviewedThe application asks for 5 years of address history and every absence from Canada. An officer may review whether you meet the residency obligation, and files that may not meet it are referred to a local IRCC office.
- ValidityA PR card is usually valid for 5 years; in some cases it is issued for 1 year.
- When to renewApply when your card expires in less than 9 months or has already expired. Applying earlier is discouraged unless you are updating a legal name or gender identifier.
- Missed the 180-day windowIf you did not give your address and photo within 180 days of becoming a PR, apply for your first card through the portal and pay the fee.
The residency obligation: 730 days in 5 years
PR for 5 years or more
You must show at least 730 qualifying days in the 5 years immediately before the examination. The days do not have to be continuous.
PR for less than 5 years
You must show that you can still reach 730 days within 5 years of the day you became a PR.
Days abroad that can count
Days outside Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse, common-law partner or (for a child) parent; days employed full time abroad by a Canadian business or the public service; and days accompanying a PR who is so employed.
Evidence
Passports, entry and exit records, leases, employment and pay records, tax assessments, bank, school, health and family records should all tell the same story.
For the full rules, including humanitarian and compassionate considerations, see the residency obligation guide.
An expired card does not mean lost PR status
- How status endsYou lose PR status only if an officer decides you are no longer a PR after an inquiry, or a PRTD refusal becomes final after the appeal period or an appeal; if you voluntarily renounce; if a removal order against you takes effect; or if you become a Canadian citizen.
- Short of 730 daysFalling short of the residency obligation does not end your status automatically. You remain a PR until an official decision is made, and IRCC always notifies you.
- Do not apply as a visitorWhile you are still a PR, you cannot simply apply for a visitor visa or eTA. If you do not intend to keep PR status, the route is voluntary renunciation; otherwise it is a PRTD or a PR card, depending on where you are.
- Humanitarian considerationsIf you do not meet the 730 days, an officer may still find that humanitarian and compassionate considerations, including the best interests of a child directly affected, justify keeping your status. This needs a full, documented explanation.
Build the PR card application carefully
- Use the portal and current formsApply online through the Permanent Residence Portal using form IMM 5444, guide IMM 5445 and checklist IMM 5644. Paper is possible only if you cannot apply online and need an accommodation. Add IMM 5476 if a representative will act for you, or IMM 5475 to let another person receive information. If you are changing your gender identifier, also submit IRM 0002; for a legal name change, follow the guide's list of documents.
- Report absences accuratelyList every trip and any days abroad you claim as qualifying, and upload the supporting documents for those periods.
- Lost, stolen or damaged cardA damaged card must be destroyed and a photo of the destroyed card uploaded. For a lost or stolen card, include a police report or incident number if you have one.
- Pay the fee outside the portalPay the $50 fee online with IRCC and upload the receipt. Fees are not refunded once processing has started.
- Photos and addressPhotos must meet IRCC's specifications. Keep your address current: if you move, or will move within 3 weeks, update it so the card reaches you. Cards are mailed only to a Canadian residential address (a PO box user must also give a civic address). An undeliverable card is held for 180 days and then destroyed, after which you must reapply and pay again.
Plan your return before you leave Canada
Plane, train, bus or boat
To return on a commercial carrier you must show a valid PR card or a PRTD, plus your passport or refugee travel document.
Private vehicle at a land border
IRCC notes that a different rule applies when you arrive by private vehicle. Your status and residency can still be examined at the border.
PRTD
An officer abroad decides whether you still meet the residency obligation. A refusal can be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division within 60 days of receiving the decision.
Card still being processed
A PR card cannot be processed in less than 3 weeks. If you must leave sooner, you will need a PRTD from abroad to come back by commercial carrier.
Urgent PR card and PRTD requests
- Qualifying reasonsA job opportunity; work for your current job; your own serious illness; serious illness or death of a family member; loss or theft of your PR card while temporarily outside Canada; or a crisis, emergency or vulnerable situation. For PRTDs, an officer may accept other legitimate reasons.
- Timing rulesUrgent PR card processing applies only if you leave Canada in more than 3 weeks. If you leave sooner, apply for a PRTD once you are outside Canada and your return trip is within the next 5 days.
- ProofItinerary or ticket showing destination and dates, the trip receipt (date, amount, payment method), a letter explaining the urgency, and proof such as a doctor's note, death certificate or employer letter, translated into English or French if needed.
- Mark the request urgentOnline, tick "Yes, my request is urgent" in the portal. On paper, write "urgent" on the envelope. If a PR card application is already in process, use the IRCC web form instead of reapplying.
- No guaranteeEven eligible urgent requests may not be finished in time. Do not finalize travel on an assumed timeline.
Outside Canada without a valid card: the PRTD in brief
A PRTD lets a permanent resident who is outside Canada return by commercial carrier. Each family member needs a separate, complete application, normally through the Permanent Residence Portal (form IMM 5444) or on paper where the local visa application centre accepts it. The fee is $50. The officer reviews your residency obligation, so the application must include your passport pages for the last 5 years and residency evidence. A PRTD is usually valid for a single entry; after returning, apply for a new PR card. Full details are in the PRTD guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?
No. PR card applications must be made in Canada and cards are not mailed abroad. If you are outside Canada without a valid card, apply for a PRTD.
My card has expired. Am I still a permanent resident?
Yes. An expired card does not end PR status. You remain a PR until an official decision, a renunciation, a removal order or citizenship ends it. Cut an expired card in half before you dispose of it.
Does a PR card renewal application trigger a residency review?
It can. The application asks for 5 years of absences, and an officer may assess whether you meet the 730-day obligation. Review your travel history before applying.
Can I apply for citizenship with an expired PR card?
Yes. You can apply for citizenship with a valid or an expired PR card if you meet the requirements. See the citizenship guide.
Official sources
- IRCC: Get a permanent resident card
- IRCC: Get, renew or replace a PR card (how to apply)
- IRCC: PR card eligibility
- IRCC: Apply urgently for a PR card or PRTD
- IRCC: Understand permanent resident status
- IRCC: Permanent resident travel document
- IRCC: PR card renewal and replacement (program delivery instructions)
- IRCC: Fee list
- Justice Laws: IRPA section 28 (residency obligation)
- Justice Laws: IRPA section 46 (loss of PR status)
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.