PR Card Renewal
A PR Card is required for travelling – specifically, for returning to Canada from abroad. Permanent Residents must have a valid PR Card to return to Canada by plane, train, bus or boat, at the time of boarding the vessel. If they do not have a valid PR card, they must obtain a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) that will allow them a one time entry into Canada. This is a temporary official documenting that will prove their status as a Permanent Resident in Canada. For more information on PRTD’s please click here.
Most Permanent Resident (PR) Cards expire after 5 years, while some PR Cards expire after 1 year. Your expiry date is noted directly on your card.
If you know your card will expire while you’re traveling, you need to renew it before you leave, since you can only renew your card while in Canada. The Government of Canada does not send PR Cards to non-Canadian addresses and does not allow a third party (e.g., a family member) to get it for you.
The processing time to renew or replace your PR Card is approximately 4 months, so it is recommended that you keep your PR Card valid and apply for renewal 6 months prior to expiry. However, you are still a Permanent Resident even if your card expires.
Processing times for these applications can vary significantly, but you can obtain an estimate from the Government of Canada here. Some cases are more complex than others and need more time or information to process, especially if anything changes during your application, such as medical status, new dependants, or a marriage.
If you’re looking for more information on your PR Card or PR status, you can schedule a professional consultation with one of our licensed consultants here. They’ll be able to provide you with all of the information you need to get your application started.
