Permanent Resident Card Renewal Tips You Need To Know

You received your permanent resident card and it is going to be expired soon. When should you renew it? What is the requirement? How long does it take? What to do if you are outside Canada when your card expires? If you find yourself in such a situation, then this blog-post is for you!

A Permanent Resident Card (hereinafter referred as PR Card) is an official ID card issued by the government which proves that you are a Canadian permanent resident. Typically, PR cards are valid for five years, but some may be valid for one year. One needs to check the expiration date that is mentioned on the card.

A PR card cannot be accessed by individuals on visitor visa. It should be noted that the expiration of the card does not mean that your permanent residence will end.

Who Governs The Applications For PR Cards?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is responsible for looking over the applications of for permanent resident cards. Once an individual arrives in Canada, a PR Card is mailed to the individual by IRCC.

When Can You Apply?

When applying for a PR Card, one must meet the Residency Requirement. If your PR Card is expiring, then you can apply for its renewal. If your PR Card is not expiring in 9 months (270 days) then you cannot apply for a renewal. Otherwise, your application will not be entertained.

What Is The Requirement?

In order to get a renewal of your permanent resident card, you must prove that you have been physically available in Canada for a minimum period of 2 years (730 days) within the past five (5) years.

Do not apply for the renewal of PR, if you do not fulfill the requirement of 730 days. Thus, it is important for an individual to record the trip or working schedules outside Canada since he or she became a permanent resident.

• In case of Accompanying a Canadian Citizen

When you have accompanied a Canadian citizen outside Canada who is your spouse, common-law partner or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age), then each day can be counted towards the residency requirement.

• In case of being employed outside Canada

Each day you worked outside Canada may be counted towards the residency requirement if:

1. You are an employee of, or under contract to, a Canadian business or the public service of Canada or of a province or territory and as a term of your contract, you are appointed on a full-time basis to:
2. a position outside Canada;
3. a client or a specified person of the Canadian business or the public service outside Canada; and
4. you plan to continue working for the employer in Canada after the assignment.

In case the applicant does not satisfy the above-mentioned requirements, then the applicant may have to rely on Humanitarian and Compassionate (“H&C”) grounds to justify why he or she should keep the permanent resident status.

H&C grounds may include severe illness or injury, or sudden death of a family member or any close relative, or looking after an unable individual who is in a de facto relationship with you.

How Long Does It Take?

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, IRCC has struggled to shorten the immigration processing times. The processing time for PR Card renewal as of 2023 is 95 days.

What If You Are Outside Canada When Your PR Card Expires?

A valid permanent resident Card is required to return back to Canada. If you plan to return to Canada, then you need to get a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) from a Visa Application Centre. Otherwise, you may not be permitted to enter Canada. The PTRD allows the permanent resident to enter Canada and is only valid for a single entry. If you know that your PR Card is going to expire soon, then it may be wise to get your PR card renewed before leaving.

If you are returning to Canada by private vehicle, you need to carry documents that can indicate your identity and status, such as passport, provincial photo ID and provincial driver’s license.

Contact The lawyers At Ayaz Mehdi Professional Corporation

Ayaz Mehdi Professional Corporation has Immigration Lawyers who have depth of experience to help you with your specific case. Our immigration lawyers can also represent your residency appeal case at Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), if you have been declared inadmissible to your PR. If you have any query regarding any type of immigration application in Canada, please get in touch with us.

Disclaimer: Kindly note that sending or receiving information through this site does not establish a solicitor-client relationship. Legal matters are fact-specific, and the law is variably changing. The views expressed and the content provided on this blog are general guidelines and cannot substitute for proper legal advice. Schedule your legal consultation by clicking here: Let’s meet!