PR card expiring? We'll help you renew it the right way
We'll count your 730 days, gather the documents, fill out the form and submit your application to IRCC. If you're short on days, we'll tell you honestly what your options are.
Three facts you should know
An expired card doesn't mean lost status
You remain a permanent resident as long as you meet the residency obligation. The card is only the document that proves your status.
What matters: 730 days in 5 years
This is exactly what the officer checks when you apply for a new card. That's why your days need to be counted precisely — before you apply.
Returning is harder without a card
If you're outside Canada and your card has expired, you'll need a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return by plane.
- The days don't have to be in a row — you can leave and come back
- The last 5 years before your application date count
- Some days outside Canada may also count
- Your travel dates must match border-crossing records — so we count from documents, not from memory
What's your situation?
Pick yours — and you'll know where to start.
Your card expires soon and you have enough days
We prepare and submit your application for a new card
Message us on WhatsApp →You have fewer than 730 days
Start with a consultation: we'll check which days abroad count and go through your options
Book a consultation →You're abroad and your card has expired
We'll help you apply for a PRTD so you can return to Canada
Message us on WhatsApp →How we help
We count your days
From your trips, stamps and documents — precisely, before you apply.
We gather documents
A checklist for your situation, and we review every document.
We fill out and submit
The form, a cover letter and, if needed, a request for urgent processing.
We stay with you to the new card
We track your application and respond to IRCC requests.
Want to apply on your own? We'll review your application before you submit and show you what to fix.
File review →How to renew your PR card: step by step
The application itself is mostly paperwork. What decides the outcome is whether you meet the residency obligation — so check that first.
Check your timing
Apply when your card expires in less than 9 months, or if it has already expired. Apply earlier only if you've legally changed your name or gender identifier — otherwise your application may be returned. You must be physically in Canada when you apply.
Count your 730 days
Add up your days in Canada over the last 5 years. The application asks for every trip outside Canada, plus your addresses and your work or school history for the same 5 years. Applications with gaps are returned.
Apply online
Most people apply through IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal: you fill out the application, then upload the document checklist and the documents it asks for, including a photo that meets IRCC's specifications. If you can't apply online, you can ask to apply on paper.
Pay the government fee
The IRCC fee is $50 per person. You pay it online and upload the receipt to the Fee Payment section of the portal.
Wait — or ask for urgent processing
Processing times change, so check IRCC's website for the current estimate. If you need your card sooner — for example, for a job or because a family member is seriously ill — you can ask for urgent processing. Even then, it takes at least 3 weeks.
Get your new card
Most cards are mailed to your Canadian address — P.O. boxes aren't accepted. IRCC may ask you to pick up your card at a local office instead. Cards that aren't picked up within 180 days are destroyed.
Not sure you have 730 days? Don't apply yet — book a consultation and we'll count them with you.
PR card questions
Will I lose my status if my PR card expires?
No. You remain a permanent resident as long as you meet the residency obligation — 730 days in Canada in the last 5 years. The card only proves your status, but travelling is harder without a valid one.
Can I travel outside Canada while my card is being renewed?
You can, but there is a risk: if your old card expires while you are abroad, you will need a PRTD to return to Canada by plane. It's best to plan trips ahead — we'll tell you how.
How long does renewal take?
Processing times change — IRCC publishes current ones on its website. If your trip is urgent (work, a family illness), you can ask for urgent processing — we'll prepare the reasons and documents.
Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?
No. You must be physically in Canada to apply, and IRCC doesn't mail PR cards outside Canada. If your card has expired while you're abroad, you'll need a PRTD to come back — then you can apply for a new card.
What if I don't have 730 days?
Don't apply blindly: an officer may decide you haven't met the residency obligation, and that puts your status itself at risk. Start with a consultation — we'll review your days and your options, including humanitarian grounds.
Do days outside Canada count?
Sometimes, yes — for example, if you were abroad with a spouse or partner who is a Canadian citizen, or worked full time for a Canadian business. We'll check whether this applies to you.
Card expiring in the next few months?
Message us — we'll count your days and tell you where to start.
