PR card renewal, replacement and PR travel document (PRTD) services
A PR card renewal looks like a simple form, but the officer is really checking one thing: whether you've met the residency obligation of 730 days in Canada in the last five years. Star Immigration counts your days from your passports first, then files the right application, so a routine renewal doesn't become a residency problem.
What is a permanent resident card?
The PR card is the official proof of your permanent resident status when you travel. You must show it, or a PRTD, to board a commercial flight, train, bus or boat back to Canada. Your status itself doesn't expire with the card; it depends on meeting the residency obligation.
Travel document
Required to return to Canada on a commercial carrier.
Usually valid five years
Some cards are issued for one year.
Status is separate
An expired card doesn't mean you've lost PR status.
Mailed in Canada only
Cards are sent to Canadian addresses; some are collected in person.
Which PR card application do you need?
PR card renewal
Your card expires within nine months or has expired.
PR card replacement
Lost, stolen or damaged. Report theft to police first.
Amended PR card
Your name, sex designation or date of birth changed or is wrong.
Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)
You're outside Canada without a valid card. The visa office assesses your residency obligation.
First PR card not received
180 days after landing without a card, apply for a new one.
PR card renewal eligibility
You're a permanent resident
Not a Canadian citizen, and you haven't lost or renounced PR status.
Residency obligation met
At least 730 days physically in Canada in the last five years, or since landing if more recent.
Days abroad that count
Time accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or parent, or working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or the public service.
No removal order
You aren't under a removal order or a final residency determination.
Applying from Canada
Card renewals are filed from inside Canada; from abroad, apply for a PRTD.
Residency obligation calculator: 730 days in 5 years
Count your days outside Canada in the last five years, or since landing. Include days that still count, such as time abroad with a citizen spouse.
Estimate only. Officers count days from passports, travel history and CBSA entry records.
PR card renewal document checklist
- Application for a PR card (IMM 5444)
- Current PR card, front and back
- Current and previous passports, every page
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
- Two photos meeting PR card specifications
- Full travel history for the last five years
- Proof of residence: lease, utility bills, employment or school records
- Fee payment receipt
Additional documents for a PRTD
- PRTD application form and passport
- Evidence of days in Canada
- If short of 730 days: proof of the reasons you were away
- Evidence of ties to Canada: home, job, family, taxes
- Humanitarian and compassionate submissions where needed
Short of 730 days?
Don't renew and hope. A residency determination starts the loss of PR status. We prepare H&C submissions and, if needed, a residency appeal within 60 days.
How to renew your PR card
Apply when your card is within nine months of expiry, or sooner if you need to travel. Urgent processing is possible for emergencies, a job requiring travel or urgent medical needs, with proof.
Count your days
Confirm you meet the residency obligation.
Gather documents and photos
Passports, COPR, travel history and proof of residence.
Pay the fee and apply
Online through IRCC, from inside Canada.
Respond to requests
IRCC may ask for more residence evidence.
Receive your card
Mailed to your Canadian address or collected in person.
Our PR card service: what Star Immigration handles
- Day count from your passportsReconstructed travel history compared with 730 days.
- Right applicationRenewal, replacement, PRTD, or citizenship instead.
- H&C submissionsFor clients short of days.
- Urgent processing requestsEvidence and a written request.
- Clients abroadPRTD applications prepared by phone, WhatsApp and email.
Not sure about your days?
Bring your passports and travel dates. We'll count them with you first.
PR card and PRTD FAQs
Does my PR status end when my card expires?
No. Status continues until you become a citizen, renounce it, or a final decision removes it.
Can I travel while my renewal is processing?
You can leave, but need a valid card or PRTD to fly back.
Should I apply for citizenship instead?
If you have 1,095 days in the last five years, citizenship may make more sense. Check eligibility.
Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?
No. From abroad, apply for a PRTD to return, then renew from inside Canada.
What if my PRTD is refused?
You can appeal to the IAD within 60 days.
Renew your PR card without the risk
Book a walk-in at our Brampton office or a phone consultation.