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PR Card Renewal
PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD
What is a Permanent Resident Card?
With the approval of your permanent residency application, you become eligible for a PR (Permanent Residency) card. Your PR card is a means of identification to prove that you’re a permanent resident of Canada. Permanent residency cards are only valid for five years which makes it easy for a cardholder to forget its renewal. In very few instances, the PR card may be valid for just 12 months. Your PR card is a valid travel document at any Canadian border.
Permanent residents traveling outside Canada or back into the country must have valid PR cards. This is their only means of identification as Canadian permanent residents when crossing the borders. Without your PR card (expired or stolen), you can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to travel to Canada. This travel document is a temporary fix to allow you to return to Canada without a valid PR card.
WHO IS A PR
Who is a Permanent Resident?
As a foreign national, you can become a permanent resident in Canada after migrating from your home country. The Canadian government has to deem you fit for permanent residency status to become a permanent resident. Canadian permanent residents are also nationals of other countries. Persons in Canada for study or work reasons temporarily are not permanent residents. Their study visa or work permits would expire at some point.
PR CARD APPLICATION
What is a Permanent Resident Card Application?
Existing permanent residents need to reapply for their PR cards when they get expired. New foreign nationals with permanent residency status need not apply for a card. The Canadian government automatically issues PR cards to new permanent residents. They’d get them at their Canadian mailing address as seen in their contact information. Only foreign nationals that meet the following requirements can apply for a PR card:
- If they haven’t received their PR cards after 180 days of moving to Canada
- If their PR cards have an expiry date of fewer than nine months
- If their PR cards were destroyed, stolen, or lost
- If they changed their names legally and need to update their PR cards
All PR card applications must go through the IRCC’s designated office (Case Processing Centres). This unit of the IRCC coordinates the renewal of PR cards for existing permanent residents and issuing for new residents.
PR CARD ELIGIBILITY
What is the Eligibility for PR Card Renewal?
You must meet the following eligibility requirements to reapply for a PR card renewal:
- Be a permanent resident of Canada
- Be physically present in Canada
- Not under an effective removal order
- Free of conviction for any type of offense
- Not a Canadian citizen or registered Indian under the Indian Act
- Provide proof of a lost or stolen PR card (if applicable).
APPLYING FOR A PR RENEWAL
How to apply for PR Card Renewal?
You must fill out the IMM 544e form to begin your PR card renewal process. The form alongside other documents would help the IRCC track your existing permanent residency information. Please have the following documents ready for your PR card renewal:
- Provide proof of loss in the case of a stolen PR card
- One copy of your valid travel document. Permanent residents are allowed to present clear copies of their passports
- Clear images of yourself according to the image specifications
- Provide other identification documents
- Provide criminal record check
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A Permanent Resident Card is typically valid for five years from the date of issue. However, it is essential to maintain your permanent resident status by meeting residency obligations, such as living in Canada for at least 730 days in a five-year period.
If your Permanent Resident Card expires while you are outside Canada, you must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) from the nearest Canadian visa office. This document allows you to return to Canada as a permanent resident. It is crucial to renew your card upon returning to Canada.
Yes, you can lose your permanent resident status if you fail to meet residency obligations, which require living in Canada for at least 730 days in a five-year period. If you are outside Canada for an extended period and cannot meet these obligations, you may risk losing your permanent resident status.
The processing time for a PRTD application varies depending on the applicant’s country of residence and the current workload of the immigration authorities. It is essential to apply for a PRTD well in advance of your planned return to Canada to avoid potential travel delays.