When to renew
| Situation | What IRCC says |
|---|---|
| Card expires in less than 9 months | Apply to renew |
| Card has already expired | Apply to renew. Your PR status doesn't end because the card expired. |
| Card expires in more than 9 months | Wait — IRCC's renewal instructions start at 9 months before expiry |
| Card lost, stolen or damaged | Apply for a replacement card |
| Error on a card you got in the last 60 days | Ask for it to be reissued at no cost (form IMM 5531) |
Who can get a renewed card
- You have permanent resident status.
- You're in Canada — IRCC doesn't mail PR cards outside Canada.
- You haven't lost PR status, for example through a removal order, becoming a citizen, or failing the residency obligation.
The 730-day residency obligation
To keep PR status you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every 5-year period. The days don't have to be continuous. If you've been a PR for less than 5 years, you comply as long as you can still reach 730 days by your 5-year anniversary.
Some time outside Canada counts as days in Canada:
- Working full-time outside Canada for a Canadian business or organization, or for the federal, provincial or territorial government.
- Travelling with your spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen — or a PR working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or government.
- As a dependent child, travelling with a parent who is a Canadian citizen — or a PR working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or government.
Use the PR residency calculator to add up your trips. Even if you don't meet the obligation, you stay a PR until an official decision is made on your status.
How to renew, step by step
- Sign in to the Permanent Residence Portal and start the application for a PR card (form IMM 5444).
- Complete the document checklist (IMM 5644) and upload it with your supporting documents and a photo that meets IRCC's specifications.
- Pay the $50 fee on IRCC's online payment page — not in the portal — then upload the receipt.
- Sign electronically by typing your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, and submit.
Urgent processing is possible in some cases, but IRCC says the minimum is 3 weeks and it can't guarantee the date. Check current renewal times on the processing times page. Refunds aren't possible while the application is in progress.
If you're outside Canada without a valid card
To return to Canada by plane, boat, train or bus you must show a valid PR card and your passport. If your card has expired or you don't have it, apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) — fee $50 — before you travel back. An officer reviews the residency obligation as part of a PRTD application.
Fees
| Application | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| PR card (renewal, replacement, or first card after 180 days) | $50 |
| Permanent resident travel document | $50 |
| First PR card, if you give your address and photo within 180 days of becoming a PR | Free |
Thinking about citizenship instead? Once you have enough days, a citizenship application replaces the need to keep renewing.