PR residency obligation calculator
Check the 730-days-in-5-years rule before you renew your PR card or plan a long trip.
Last reviewed 2026-11-08 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
To keep permanent resident status you must be in Canada at least 730 days in every 5-year period. If you've been a PR for 5 years or more, IRCC looks at the last 5 years. If it's less than 5 years, you comply as long as you can still reach 730 days by your 5-year PR anniversary. Some time abroad — with a Canadian-citizen spouse or parent, or working full-time for a Canadian employer — counts as days in Canada.
How the 730 days are counted
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 730 days physically in Canada in a 5-year period; the days don't need to be continuous |
| PR for 5+ years | The 5 years immediately before the date being examined |
| PR for under 5 years | You must be able to reach 730 days within the 5 years after you became a PR — so you can be away about 1,096 days in total (1,095 if no leap day falls in that period) |
| Time abroad that counts | Full-time work for a Canadian business or government; accompanying a Canadian-citizen spouse, partner or parent (or one who is a PR working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or government) |
| Trip days | This calculator counts the day you leave and the day you return as days in Canada, as IRCC does for citizenship |
| Expired PR card | Doesn't end your status; you remain a PR until an official decision |
Worked example
Arjun became a PR on March 1, 2015 and checks on March 1, 2026. His window is March 2, 2021 to March 1, 2026 (1,826 days). He was away from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2025: 1,095 days absent, so 731 days counted in Canada — just over 730.
Next steps
- Renewing? Read the PR card renewal guide ($50, Permanent Residence Portal, renew within 9 months of expiry).
- Outside Canada without a valid card? You need a permanent resident travel document to fly back.
- Close to citizenship? Check the citizenship calculator — it needs 1,095 days in 5 years.
Official sources
| What we checked | Official page |
|---|---|
| 730 days in 5 years; expired card doesn't end status | IRCC — Understand permanent resident status |
| Time outside Canada that counts | IRCC Help Centre — Can my time abroad count? |
| Rule for PRs under 5 years | Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 28 |
Sources last checked 2026-11-08.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PR residency obligation?+
A permanent resident must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every 5-year period. The days don't need to be continuous (IRCC; Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 28).
What if I've been a PR for less than 5 years?+
Section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act says you comply if you can still meet the 730 days within the 5 years after you became a PR. The calculator shows how many more days you could spend outside Canada.
Which days outside Canada count?+
Days working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or organization or a Canadian government, and days travelling with a Canadian-citizen spouse, common-law partner or parent — or with one who is a PR working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or government.
Do I need 730 days to renew my PR card?+
IRCC's PR card eligibility says you must not have lost PR status, including by failing the residency requirements. An officer can review your time in Canada when you renew or apply for a PR travel document.
Is this result official?+
No. It's an estimate from the dates you enter. Only an IRCC or border officer decides whether you meet the residency obligation, and you stay a PR until an official decision is made.