Key facts
- Card validity
- Usually five years
- When to renew
- Within nine months of expiry, or after it expires
- Residency obligation
- 730 days in Canada in the last five years
- Expired card
- Your PR status continues
- Abroad with no valid card
- Apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)
- Official authority
- IRCC
Last verified against official sources: 2026-09-21
The 730-day rule, in plain terms
You don't need to spend two years in a row here. Any 730 days across the last five years counts, and some time abroad can count too — for example, time spent with a Canadian citizen spouse, or working outside Canada for a Canadian business. If you're short, talk to someone before you apply; a renewal can trigger a review of your status.
If you're outside Canada
Airlines won't let you board a flight to Canada without a valid PR card or PRTD. If your card has expired while you're abroad, apply for a PRTD. You'll need to show you meet the residency obligation, or explain the humanitarian reasons you don't. Crossing by land from the US is different: you can generally present yourself at the border without a card.
Common mistakes
- Booking a trip abroad around the time the card expires.
- Assuming an expired card means lost status.
- Applying to renew without checking the 730-day count first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel while my PR card renewal is being processed?
You can, but if your card expires while you're away you'll need a PRTD to fly back. Many people avoid travel until the new card arrives.
Do I lose PR status if my card expires?
No. The card is only proof of status. Status ends only through a formal process — for example, if IRCC decides you didn't meet the residency obligation, or you give it up voluntarily.
What to do next
- Check your card's expiry date.
- Count your days in Canada for the last five years.
- Apply once you're within nine months of expiry.
Your next steps
Continue in the order most people find useful, rather than a list of unrelated pages.