It is encouraged for permanent residents of Canada to carry a valid PR card at all times. Not only does the PR card allow a permanent resident to show proof of status, but it also allows a person to travel in and out of the country freely. If a PR card is within 9 months of expiration, or it has already expired, a permanent resident can apply for a new PR card.

NSRIC Immigration and Visa Consulting (NIVC) will help you with your PR card renewal application. The application package consists of the instruction guide and all the forms that need to be completed. Use the instruction guide and document checklist to ensure you get everything with our experts when submitting your documents online.

To renew a permanent resident card, an applicant must submit to one of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Case Processing Centres for PR cards. Upon submission, provided that an application is complete and that the permanent resident meets all requirements, a new PR card will be issued.

It should be noted that permanent resident status does not expire when a person’s PR card expires. People can only lose their PR status if they go through an official process. You can lose your PR status in the following situations:

• An officer determines you are no longer a permanent resident after an inquiry (including PR card renewal) or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) appeal.
• You voluntarily renounce your permanent resident status.
•  A removal order is made against you and comes into effect.
• You become a Canadian citizen.

Even if a person fails to meet the permanent resident residency obligation, their PR status remains in effect until an official decision is made on their status. It should be noted that even if a person is eligible for urgent processing, the Canadian government cannot guarantee that they will process applications urgently or that PR cards will be received on time. It’s therefore advisable to always maintain a valid PR card in an emergency. If your PR card is approaching the end of its validity period, and you have not yet applied for Canadian citizenship, you may be interested in applying for a permanent residence card renewal.