Permanent Resident Card
Renewal Lawyer
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Renewing Your Expired Canadian PR Card
Upon obtaining permanent residence in Canada, new immigrants are issued a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) valid for five years. The PR Card acts as a travel document, allowing permanent residents to easily board planes to travel to Canada, or cross the U.S. border into Canada, without the need for a visa.
To have your PR card renewed, you must meet the minimum residency obligations. To maintain your permanent residence, you must:
- Reside in Canada for at least 2 years in a five-year period.
- If you have been a permanent resident for more than 5 years, you must show that you have been physically present in Canada for a minimum of 730 days (2 years) within the past 5 years.
- You may be able to count days spent outside of Canada as part of the 730 days required to meet the residency obligation. For instance, if you accompany a Canadian citizen spouse outside of Canada, you may also count those days.
- Another common situation is when you work for a Canadian company outside of Canada. You can count each day you worked outside Canada as long as certain requirements are met. We’ll look at these two common situations below.
Type of PR Card Renewals
Meeting the Residency Requirement to Renew the PR Card
Canadian Permanent Residence cards are valid up to 5 years. If your PR card has expired, you will still remain a permanent resident even if your card expires. To have your PR card renewed, you must meet the minimum residency requirements
Accompanying a Canadian Spouse Abroad
You may be able to count days spent outside of Canada as part of the 730 days required to meet the residency obligation. For instance, if you accompany a Canadian citizen spouse outside of Canada, you may also count those days.
Working Outside of Canada for a Canadian Company
Other than being physically present in Canada, the permanent resident may fulfill the residency obligation if he/she was or is employed on a full-time basis outside Canada by a Canadian business.
Renewing PR Card on Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds
If a permanent resident needs to renew their PR card but has not met the residency requirement, and does not fall into one of the exception categories, the application to renew can be made on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds
Applying for Travel Documents
Where a permanent resident has remained outside of Canada and their permanent resident card has expired, they may apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to allow them to re-enter Canada. A PRTD is generally a one-way visa to return to Canada that is valid for several months.
Residency Appeals
If a permanent resident applies to have their permanent resident card extended and this application is refused, they may appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board within 60 days. Similarly, those who apply for a Travel Document and are found to have lost their residence may also appeal within 60 days.
Fill out our FREE PR Card Renewal Assessment form to see if we can help you with your case. We specialize in complex cases with high success rate.
Frequently Asked Questions About PR Card Renewal
What are the documents required for PR Card renewal?
There are several documents you must include in your application:
- A photocopy of your PR Card;
- One main identity document, such as a photocopy of a valid passport or travel document;
- You will have to provide two identical passport-sized (50mmx70mm) photos taken within the six months before your application;
- If you were outside of Canada for 1095 days or more in the past five years, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove that you meet one of the residency exceptions. These documents will vary depending on your specific circumstances.
- If you were accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse, common-law partner, or parent, or were working for a Canadian business or public service, you will have to provide documentation to prove that fact. If you were accompanying a permanent resident of Canada who was working for a Canadian business abroad, again, you will have to provide documentation to prove that fact;
If you cannot meet the residency obligation, you can submit documentation that speak to your individual circumstances and justify granting special relief. These humanitarian and compassionate considerations should demonstrate that the permanent resident had a compelling reason why they were unable to remain in Canada for at least 2 years out of 5.
How to apply for PR card renewal?
You must file an application for a PR card which includes government forms and necessary documents to prove that you met your residency obligation. You must also pay the necessary fees online. Your application will then be mailed to a case processing center.
How long is the processing time for PR card renewal?
The processing times for PR card renewal can vary. Currently the average processing time for renewing or replacing a PR card is 60 days. For a more accurate estimated processing time, the Government of Canada updates processing times weekly on their website, based on data from the previous 6 months.
How much does it cost to renew PR card?
The current cost to renew a PR card in Canada is $50. To stay up-to-date on the current applications fees, you can check the current Government of Canada fee list online.
How will I receive my PR card?
Your PR card can only be delivered to an address in Canada. It can also be picked-up at a local IRCC office. If you need to pick up your card, you will be contact to schedule an appointment and will need to pick it up within 180 days. If you are outside Canada and don’t have a valid PR card, you will have to apply for a permanent resident travel document to return to Canada.
What do I do if I have not received my PR card yet?
You will have to wait six weeks from the time the card was mailed to you until it is considered lost. If you did not get your PR card after six weeks have passed then you may have to re-apply for a PR card and complete solemn declaration that the card was lost.
Can I travel while waiting for my new PR card?
Yes. You can travel while waiting to receive your new PR card. If your old PR card is still valid then you can return to Canada by commercial transport (e.g., airplane, bus, train, or boat). However, if your old PR card expires while travelling, you can use other documents to return to Canada by private vehicle. If you are overseas with an invalid PR card, you will need a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada by commercial transport.
What do I do if I lose my PR Card or damage it?
If you have lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed, or never-received your permanent resident card then you may have to either fill out a solemn declaration or reapply for a PR card. You can fill out the “Solemn Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never-Received Permanent Resident Card” form if you have waited over six weeks from the time the card was supposed to have been mailed to you and have still not received your PR card or if your PR card was lost, stolen or destroyed but you don’t want to reapply for a new one.
If your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or it has been over 180 days since the PR card was mailed to you, then you will have to reapply for a PR card. On the PR card application form, you will have to fill out “Section 6 – Details Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Damaged or Never-Received PR Card.”
If you are reapplying to replace a damaged card, you can include the physical card in the application package or send proof of destruction.
We Can Help Renew your Canadian PR Card
This video explains the PR Card renewal process. Most PR Cards are valid for five years. In order to renew the card, it’s typically recommended that the applicant proves that he or she has been in Canada for a minimum of two out of five years.
A list of all absences must be documented and sent to the Immigration authorities. However, every case is unique. There are always variables to consider. If you fail to meet the residency requirements, there may be certain exceptions you can rely upon.
We specialize in complex cases. If your attempt to renew your PR Card has been rejected, fill out our PR Card Renewal Assessment form.
Here’s how we can help you:
- Formulate a strategy based on your particular circumstances
- Collect and review supporting documentation to sufficiently establish the positive outcome of your case
- Prepare you for any requested interviews
- Provide expert legal submissions in support of your appeal
- Communicate with the immigration authorities on your behalf to ensure you don’t miss anything, which could lead to significant delays
The Immigration Law Firm of Matthew Jeffery has over 20 years of experience and specializes in helping with PR Card renewals with high success rates. Fill out our FREE PR Card Assessment form to see if we are able to assist you.
