PR card renewal and the residency obligation
We did not confirm an open, paused or closed status on a government page on this date. Check IRCC before you apply. Last looked at November 9, 2026: IRCC’s page.
Permanent residents must be in Canada for at least 730 days in every five-year period (or abroad in a way the Act counts), and need a valid PR card or a travel document to return by air. This page is for PRs renewing a card, planning time abroad or holding a refusal.
Who is eligible
- The residency obligation: at least 730 days in five years physically present, or abroad accompanying a citizen spouse/partner or parent, or working full time for a Canadian business or the public service (IRPA s 28(2)(a)).
- A new PR card is issued if you haven’t lost status and meet the application requirements (IRPR s 59(1)).
- Abroad without a card, you can get a travel document if you meet the obligation, H&C grounds apply, or you have a pending residency appeal and were in Canada in the last 365 days (IRPA s 31(3)).
Steps
- Count your days for the relevant five-year period.
- Apply to renew the PR card (in Canada) or for a PR travel document (abroad).
- If refused, consider an appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IRPA s 63(4)).
Documents you’ll usually need
- Travel history and passports.
- Evidence for any “counts as in Canada” days (spouse’s citizenship, employment letter).
What the law says
“shall, following an examination, be issued a travel document”
Travel document for PRs abroad without a status document.
“An officer shall, on application, issue a new permanent resident card”
Renewing the PR card.
Official IRCC pages
Program rules not written in the statute, plus current fees and processing times, are on IRCC’s own pages:
Common mistakes
- Assuming an expired PR card means lost status — status is lost only by a final determination, not card expiry.
Frequently asked questions
Does an expired PR card mean I lost PR status?
No. You lose status in the ways set out in IRPA s 46(1), such as a final determination that you didn’t meet the residency obligation — not because the card expired.
Questions answered in depth
- How many days do you need in Canada to keep PR status? The 730-day rule, explained
730 days in every five-year period, under IRPA s 28. Which days abroad count, how the five years are measured, and what happens if you fall short.
Related streams
- Canadian citizenship Check IRCC
The physical-presence, tax, language and knowledge requirements for a grant of citizenship.
- Inadmissibility and record suspensions Check IRCC
The grounds that make someone inadmissible, and how rehabilitation or a record suspension can help.