Since December 31, 2003 Canadian permanent residents, including children, coming back to Canada by commercial vehicle - plane, boat, train or bus - have needed a Permanent Resident Card to prove their permanent resident status. The cards are issued for five years, or occasionally for only one year. When your card expires you must apply for a new Permanent Resident Card.
Five-year permanent resident cards began expiring in July 2007. If you are a permanent resident and plan to travel outside Canada, you should check the expiry date on your Permanent Resident Card. Be sure to allow enough time for your application for a new card to be processed, and apply at least two months before you plan to leave the country.
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Canadian Permanent Resident Cards
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Five-year permanent resident cards began expiring in July 2007. If you are a permanent resident and plan to travel outside Canada, you should check the expiry date on your Permanent Resident Card. Be sure to allow enough time for your application for a new card to be processed, and apply at least two months before you plan to leave the country.
More on Immigration to Canada
Immigration to Canada
Canadian Permanent Resident Cards
Check Your Canadian Immigration Status Online
Comments
Unfortunately, 2 months is not nearly enough time. I am stuck waiting for a card to be renewed and it looks like i will not be able to take a trip to the US that i have planned at the end of the month.
New arriving immigrants get their NEW cards within 30 days, yet existing ppermanent residents have to wait. Current wait time is listed as 93 days. I mailed mine in end of August and they have not even OPENED it yet and today’s date is November 5th!
I am also dismayed that processing times for renewals of permanent resident cards are presently listed at 95 days – that is well over three months!!! My renewal application was received by the 9th of September. My papers have not even been looked at, and it appears processing time will go right into Christmas time before I can even pick up my new card. Meanwhile, my card has expired (October 19).I am virtually ‘stuck’ for travel, I have an 80 year old mother living by herself in Europe who recently fell and injured herself and now I cannot make any concrete travel plans. Very distressing to say the least… New Residents get their PR cards in 30 days!!!…..Is there nothing that can be done to improve the situation? I am sure I am not alone in this!
hello – i just want to inquire regarding renewing a permanent resident card. Where can I find the form for renewal?
Thank you for your time.
Sheila,
You can download an application kit from the Citizen and Immigration site at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/prcard.asp
How can I find the status of a renew application? already sent 3 months ago.
Natasha,
You can check on the status of a permanent resident card application renewal using CIC’s Client Application Status service at
http://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/ECAS.jsp
Susan
Ok. we managed to get through to immigration and that is what we got:
When they say 67 days, this only means 67 days until they_open_ the application!
After that it takes more time that nobody tracks — apparently.
Can’t believe that Canada has such a bureaucracy.
Anywhere to file a complaint about this? We have a passport renewal that depends on the card. No card, no passport, no way to exit the country. Why do immigrants have to be treated like this? Why always any immigration process has to be so humiliating?
When applying to renew my PR Card, Do i have to be in Canada? or could my son send in my application on my behalf assuming i have filled out all the required documentation.
my Pr card expired on 5th april 2007 as i had to leave for USA , unfortunately since approximately 2 years they didnot issue me the visa .My husband is in america, i m in pakistan,as my parents are old and there is noone to take care of them. what will be the best option to renew my and my sons PR card.
I got my PR card in the year 2006 and I lived in Canada for a year. Then I returned to my home country. My PR card expires in 2011, which means that soon I have to return to Canada to complete the two years out of five. Would it be a way I could renew my PR card in 2011 without acomplish being there another extra year?
I immigrated to Canada in 1987 and have lived in Canada until 2006. For the last three years I’ve been living in Ireland, but I would like to return to Canada to be close to my kids. My PR card expiried about three month ago. Can I return to Canada and renew my PR card once I’m back? Can I even renew my PR card or have I lost my status all together?
I got my PR card in September 2006 and I lived in Canada for a year. Then I returned to my home country. My PR card expires in Sept 2011, which means that soon I have to return to Canada to complete the two years out of five years.What is the correct way I could renew my PR card in 2011 without completing two years?
ii)How much time it takes to renew PR card?
iii)How can I apply for the same?
iv)what documents are needed?
v)Should I have to go and stay there in Canada?
Please guide me as I cannot leave my job and stay in canada for one more year.
Thanks & Regards
Anil
iI HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH THE CALL CENTRE FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS. THE ANSWER IS ALL AGENTS ARE BUSY–TRY AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT’S ALL THE CIRCUITS ARE BUSY.
WHY DO CLIENTS HAVE TO GO OVER THE SAME RECORDINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. CAN’T YOU IMPLEMENT THE SYSTEM ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS USE THAT BEING YOU WILL BE SERVED BY THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENT.
YOUR SYSTEM IS MOST FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST.
REGARDS,
DON KLINE SR.
Current wait time for renewal is 220 days. And from the look of things right now, it could be longer….
I am a Canadian PR,, My card is about to expire, I lost my job and its been really hard to find one for about 2 years, I am a litle scared that because of that If I renew my PR card it would be denied,, Do i Need to go for an entreview when I renew my PR card???
I have no words for this frustrating system, but will try…;
SEVEN MONTHS from today?? Then they will look at it??
what kind of government service is this? …and then this whole renewal process… I do not see how the initial application is any different from a renewal, did we not submit all the same info before? If this is on a computer it should be a very speedy confirmation process. There seems the be a huge wait diffrerence between the two.
I wonder what the hidden government message is to me.
Is it perhaps a plan, so that they tell me to become a citizen this way out of my sheer frustration?
Maybe I should close my business here, leave a few un-employed and set up shop in the country I came from.
I have a friend who is Cuban and whose permanent residency card was taken from him and recently returned to him only to find out that it expired in 2007. Are there any penalties and can he be deported? Will the fact that he is paying his current child support plus arrears from when he became homeless 3 years ago be held against him when he attempts to re-apply for a new card?
Totally agree with “Frustrated” Been in Canada for about 3 years and have found that EVERYTHING is so tied up in red tape, its almost strangled itself. I honestly do not want Canadian citizenship but like most things here, I am having so much trouble in getting a straight answer, especually as to how much it costs to re new. Is it the whole processing fee again, or is it maybe $50? Even the Immigration website is ( as usual in Canada ) vague at best. I too feel like shutting up shop, taking my funds ( Which are not unconsiderable ) and heading back home. Seems thats what this country wants!
I got PR card in 2007 which is valid till 2012. After eceiving PR card I came to my country anD nnow I wish to renew my PR card and cards of my family members but 730 days stay is not completed. Pl advise what shoulld I do for renewal of my PR card?
Who are these people that want to get permanent residency without staying in Canada, these people slow down the process for the people that really wants to participate in the growth of Canada and have a positive impact. these people only want to abuse the system and get the benefits of the canadian permanent residency status!!!!
I too would welcome any info on renewing my PR card even though I haven’t been in the country for more than 2 yrs. I’ve only been in Canada for 7 months and my PR card expires in Aug 2012. Please don’t judge me for not moving sooner, there are personal reasons for this!
Hello
I want to know how long does it take between PR card approval and inviting for piking up the renewed PR card?because I am not in Canada now, it is very important for me to be able to plan my trip.
hello,
Im just wondering that if i apply for renew PR card which way is faster ?
Could i apply online faster or i download the form from online and mail to the office . The reason i ask because my PR card have 2 months to be expired but im going back to vn in june . Could u tell me the faster way to do please?
Kieuvan
Hello
I am going to apply for renewing my son `s PR card, because it will be expired in the following months ,my son is 8 yr/o and he isnot in Canada right now. I am wondering that can he send his photos with taken date and photographer confirmation on the back of the photo from outside of Canada to me for submit to immigration office or the photos should be taken in Canada and confirmed by Canadian Photographer?
thank you
Hello , i have a question , my Permanent Residents Card expired in 2011 , but i never left Canada . My question is do i re apply for PR or do i just renew my card, did i lose my PR status in Canada in 2011 ? Thanks you
hi Susan,
I have a question. My and my wife’s PRs are expiring in May 2013. we were not in canada for first 2 years. my wife has already completed her 730 day stipulation. she is currently on mat leave and has a permanent job here. I will be completing my 730 day stipulation by Oct end. we have a travel planned in nov-12 for a month. my question is can we apply for our PR extensions and travel on the current PR card or do we have to surrender the PR card when applying for the new one. Your guidance is highly appreciated.
thanks
Phani
My wife and children are Canadian citizens but I just have a PR card. We all are living outside Canada. Can I renew my PR card (without staying in Canada) because i am with my wife and children living outside Canada?
If they don’t renew it, I will be sponsored again and it is more paper work for them. So do they have an exception?
(28) Husain says:
My wife and children are Canadian citizens but I just have a PR card. We all are living outside Canada. Can I renew my PR card (without staying in Canada) because i am with my wife and children living outside Canada?
If they don’t renew it, I will be sponsored again and it is more paper work for them. So do they have an exception?
Yes, if you are out of the country with your spouse who is a canadian citizen you are still considered to be (in-the-country) for calculation purposes. When you fill out your renewal form there is an area to provide evidence and explain why you are outside the country. You’ll want to include your marriage certificate and her documents proving her citizenship.
Can someone tell me the EXACT total cost to RENEW your PR card? It is due to expire soon and i get so confused with all the mumbo jumbo wording on the online fee payment schedule. Is it just $50 a person? do you have to pay a processing fee or a right to perm res fee again? I hope someone reads this!!!
thank you in advance!
hi! what can you say to immigrationdirect.ca. i went to their website apply for my permanent resident card and my family. but there was an error occured. thanks.
I applied for PR card renewal in September and in December (same year lol) it was ready.
Hi Vitali,
Can you tell me when you received your client id number after you mailed you application?
Has anyone here applied for a renewal of PR Card before in an urgent process? I was just wondering how long did the “urgent process” take? (You need to purchase a ticket to have this process done). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know! I’m just incredibly worried when I’ll receive mine.
I lost my wallet inside it all my canadien id and 1000IMM credit card too health card assurance num card and am sick assurance malady ask me any immigration id to renew my health card do it’s urgent to get my permanent resident card immediatly ???