How to Renew Your PR Card in Canada: 2026 Guide

Your permanent resident (PR) card is the document that proves you are a permanent resident of Canada. It is also the document an airline will ask for when you fly back to Canada. This guide explains, in plain steps, how to renew a PR card, who can apply, and what to do if your card has already expired.

What a PR card is, and when it needs renewing

A PR card is a wallet-sized status document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Most cards are valid for five years. Some are issued for one year.

Two important points:

• Your PR status does not expire when the card expires. Only the card does.
• You need a valid card to board a plane, train, bus or boat travelling to Canada as a permanent resident.

Because of this, most people apply for a permanent resident card renewal a few months before the expiry date printed on the front of the card.

"LPR renewal" — a quick clarification

Many newcomers search for "LPR renewal" or "green card renewal". Those are United States terms. In Canada there is no green card and no lawful permanent resident (LPR) card. The Canadian equivalent is the PR card. If you are renewing status in Canada, you are applying for a permanent resident card, not an LPR card.

Who is eligible to renew

You can apply to renew if all of the following are true:

1. You are still a permanent resident of Canada.
2. You have not become a Canadian citizen.
3. You are physically inside Canada when you apply.
4. You meet the residency obligation.

The residency obligation, in simple terms

You must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (two years) within the last five years. The 730 days do not have to be in a row.

Some time spent outside Canada can still count — for example, time accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or common-law partner, or time working abroad full-time for a Canadian business. The rules are specific, so check them on the IRCC page linked below if any of your time abroad might apply.

A worked example

Priya became a permanent resident five years ago. In that period she spent 18 months visiting family overseas and 6 months on a work assignment abroad. That is 24 months outside Canada, so 36 months (about 1,095 days) inside Canada. She is above 730 days, so she meets the obligation.

If Priya had spent 40 months abroad, she would only have 20 months in Canada — under 730 days — and her renewal could be refused. In that situation it is worth getting advice before filing.

How to renew my permanent resident card: step by step

Here is how to renew a PR card from start to finish.

1. Check your expiry date. It is printed on the front of your card. Start early; renewals are not instant.
2. Confirm you meet the 730-day residency obligation. Write out your trips outside Canada with dates. You will need them on the form.
3. Get the current application package. The application to apply for a permanent resident card is form IMM 5444, together with the document checklist. Always download the newest version from IRCC — older versions are rejected.
4. Complete the form. Fill in every field. Use "N/A" rather than leaving a box blank. List all absences from Canada in the last five years.
5. Prepare your photos. PR card photos follow strict IRCC specifications for size, background and the photographer''s stamp. Ask the studio for "IRCC PR card photos" and check them against the current specification sheet.
6. Gather your supporting documents. These usually include a copy of your current or expired PR card, a passport or travel document copy, and a primary identity document. The checklist tells you exactly which pages to copy.
7. Pay the fee. Pay online through IRCC and keep the receipt. Include it with your application.
8. Submit your application. Where eligible, you can apply online through a secure IRCC account, which gives you a submission confirmation and lets you track progress. Paper applications are mailed to the Case Processing Centre address shown on the current IRCC checklist — confirm the address before mailing, as it changes from time to time.
9. Respond to IRCC quickly. IRCC may ask for more documents or ask you to attend in person to pick up the card. Answer within the deadline given.
10. Collect or receive your new card. Some cards are mailed; others must be picked up at a local IRCC office.

Online or paper?

Online filing is usually faster to confirm and easier to track. Paper filing may still be needed in certain situations, for example some urgent requests or where an online option is not available for your case. Check which channel IRCC currently offers for PR card applications before you start.

Fees and processing times

There is a government fee for a PR card. Fees and processing times both change, and IRCC publishes the current figures. Rather than relying on numbers that may be out of date, check them directly:

• IRCC — apply for, renew or replace a PR card
• IRCC — check current processing times
• IRCC — fee list

Processing times are estimates, not promises. They can move up or down depending on volumes and whether your file needs extra review.

What to do if your PR card has already expired

Do not panic. An expired card does not mean you lost your status.

1. If you are in Canada, simply apply for the renewal. There is no penalty for applying late.
2. Do not book international travel until you have a valid card in hand, unless you have arranged a permanent resident travel document (see below).
3. If an employer, landlord or bank asks for proof of status while you wait, ask IRCC about a confirmation letter or use other status documents you hold, such as your Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

If you are outside Canada with an expired card

You cannot apply to renew a PR card from outside Canada. Instead, apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) through a visa office abroad. A PRTD is a single-use document that lets you board a commercial carrier to Canada. Once you are back, you apply for the new card from inside Canada.

A PRTD application also assesses the 730-day residency obligation, so prepare your travel history carefully.

Urgent and expedited processing

IRCC can process a PR card urgently in limited circumstances — for example travel for a job, for your own medical care or the medical care of a family member, or the death or serious illness of a family member. You must show proof, such as a letter from your employer, a hospital or a funeral home, along with proof of travel.

Urgent processing is discretionary. IRCC decides whether your reason qualifies, and approval is never guaranteed.

Common reasons renewals are refused or delayed

• Not meeting the 730-day residency obligation, or not explaining time abroad that could count.
• Incomplete travel history — missing trips, or dates that do not match passport stamps.
• Photos that do not meet the specification, which is one of the most frequent causes of delay.
• An outdated version of form IMM 5444.
• Missing signatures, missing fee receipt, or unreadable document copies.
• Address changes not reported, so IRCC mail never reaches you.
• Slow responses to a request for additional documents.

Most of these are avoidable with a careful check before you submit.

Frequently asked questions

How can I renew my permanent resident card in Canada?

You must be inside Canada. Complete the current version of form IMM 5444, attach the photos and documents listed on the IRCC checklist, pay the fee, and submit online or by mail to the address on the checklist.

How do I apply for a permanent resident card for the first time?

New permanent residents usually receive their first card automatically after landing, provided IRCC has a valid Canadian mailing address on file. If your first card never arrived, you apply using the same IMM 5444 process.

When should I start a permanent resident card renewal?

Many people start several months before the expiry date, especially if they plan to travel. Check the current processing time and work backwards from your travel plans.

Can I travel while my renewal is being processed?

Travel inside Canada is fine. For international travel, you need a valid PR card to board a flight back, or a PRTD if you are already abroad without one.

Is a PR card the same as an LPR or green card?

No. LPR and green card are United States terms. Canada issues a permanent resident (PR) card.

What if I no longer meet the residency obligation?

This is a situation where advice matters. Depending on your circumstances there may be humanitarian and compassionate considerations to raise, or appeal rights if a decision goes against you. Get advice before filing.

Talk to a licensed consultant

If your travel history is complicated, your card has already expired, you are stuck outside Canada, or you have been refused before, a review can save you months.

McBean Immigration Consulting Inc is a licensed Canadian immigration consulting firm based in Toronto. Book a 15-minute intro call to talk through your PR card renewal, or contact us with your questions.

This article is general information about Canadian immigration and is not legal advice. Rules, forms, fees and processing times change — always confirm the current requirements on canada.ca before you apply.