The permanent resident card (PR card) is proof of your status. It can be renewed or replaced, but it is not a pathway to permanent residence.
Expired, lost or stolen card
- Renewal: IRCC recommends applying within the 9 months before the card expires;
- Replacement: a lost, stolen, destroyed, damaged or expired card;
- the application is submitted from within Canada, online or on paper.
An expired card does not mean you lose your permanent resident status: the card and the status are two different things.
The residency obligation (730 days)
To obtain a new card, IRCC checks that you were physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in the last 5 years. This rule is separate from the card's expiry date: your residency situation should be assessed separately before any application.
Travelling with an expired or lost card
To return to Canada on a commercial carrier (a flight, for example), you need a valid card or, from abroad, a permanent resident travel document (PRTD), normally valid for a single entry. Depending on your case, we explain the options to consider.
How we can help
Pro Immigration can help you:
- check whether you need to renew or replace the card, and review your residency situation (730 days);
- prepare the application online or on paper, the photos and the evidence;
- handle cases of a lost, stolen or destroyed card;
- follow the application and respond to IRCC's requests;
- explain your travel options while the application is processed, including the travel document.
We cannot guarantee that the application will be approved, or a processing time.
See also: permanent residence.