Canadian immigration and citizenship guides

Get CanadianCitizenship
SearchRequest legal help
HomePermanent residents of Canada

Permanent residents guide

Permanent residents of Canada

Browse guides about permanent residents. Choose a program, document, deadline or problem to get started.

In brief

Start with the page closest to your question. Each guide links to government instructions and explains what to check before you apply, respond or make a decision.

A household reviewing a financial plan
A household reviewing a financial plan

Browse this topic

Find the guide you need

Choose the page closest to your question, program, document or problem.

A newcomer speaking with employers at a community job fair
Permanent residents

Permanent resident cards

Understand what a Canadian permanent resident card proves, when it is needed for travel and why card expiry does not end PR status.

Read the guide
A newcomer using an unbranded automated banking machine
Permanent residents

Renewing a PR card

Renew a permanent resident card from inside Canada, document travel and residency days, and understand urgent processing limits.

Read the guide
A welcoming Canadian elementary school entrance
Permanent residents

Replacing a lost or stolen PR card

Report and replace a Canadian PR card that is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, including what to do when outside Canada.

Read the guide
A permanent resident being welcomed home at an airport
Permanent residents

Permanent resident residency obligation

Calculate Canada’s 730-day permanent-resident residency obligation, possible time-abroad credits and consequences of non-compliance.

Read the guide
A family arriving with luggage
Permanent residents

Calculating days for the PR residency obligation

Build an accurate five-year travel chronology and calculate physical-presence and eligible time-abroad days for Canadian PR status.

Read the guide
People preparing to move into a home
Permanent residents

Time outside Canada as a permanent resident

Understand which days abroad may count toward Canada’s PR residency obligation and the evidence required for each exception.

Read the guide
A Canadian neighbourhood transit stop in the early morning
Permanent residents

Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada

Prove days accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or common-law partner abroad for the permanent-resident residency obligation.

Read the guide
People connecting in their community
Permanent residents

Working for a Canadian business abroad

Assess the narrow Canadian-business overseas-employment credit for the PR residency obligation and assemble assignment evidence.

Read the guide
A family preparing luggage before leaving their Canadian home
Permanent residents

Permanent resident travel documents

Apply abroad for a PRTD to return to Canada without a valid PR card and address residency-obligation or humanitarian issues.

Read the guide
An immigration lawyer handling a time-sensitive telephone call
Permanent residents

Returning to Canada with an expired PR card

Compare PRTD, private-vehicle land entry and urgent renewal options when a Canadian permanent resident’s card has expired.

Read the guide
A family beginning life in a new Canadian home
Permanent residents

Renouncing Canadian permanent residence

Understand when and how to renounce Canadian PR status, travel consequences and why an expired card is not a renunciation.

Read the guide
The landscape of New Brunswick, Canada
Permanent residents

How permanent resident status can be lost

Learn the formal events that end Canadian PR status and why absence, card expiry or a removal report alone may not be final.

Read the guide
A professional consultation in an office
Permanent residents

Residency obligation reviews

Prepare for IRCC or CBSA review of a permanent resident’s travel history, foreign-day credits and humanitarian circumstances.

Read the guide
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Permanent residents

PR card refusals

Understand a refused PR-card application, the underlying residency determination and whether reconsideration or Federal Court review applies.

Read the guide
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Permanent residents

Permanent resident travel document refusals

Respond to a permanent resident travel document refusal, file an IAD appeal and present residency or humanitarian evidence.

Read the guide
The landscape of Quebec, Canada
Permanent residents

Appealing a residency obligation decision

Prepare an IAD residency-obligation appeal using day-count, foreign-credit and humanitarian evidence and meet disclosure requirements.

Read the guide
A newcomer consulting a volunteer adviser at a community tax clinic
Permanent residents

Rights of Canadian permanent residents

Understand Canadian permanent residents’ work, study, benefit and Charter rights, along with travel, residency and legal obligations.

Read the guide
An adult studying quietly at a public library
Permanent residents

Moving from permanent residence to citizenship

Track physical presence, tax filing, language evidence and travel records before applying for Canadian citizenship.

Read the guide

How to use this hub

Permanent resident status is not the same as a PR card

01

Status

Determine whether permanent-resident status has ever been formally lost.

02

Residency

Calculate relevant days and examine whether time outside Canada may qualify.

03

Travel document

Plan how the person will prove the ability to return to Canada.

Related topics

You may also need

A multigenerational family arriving together at a Canadian airport
Permanent residents

Permanent residence in Canada

Understand Canadian permanent residence, compare PR programs and follow the process from choosing a pathway to keeping permanent-resident status.

Read the guide
A newcomer thinking carefully about permanent residence eligibility
Permanent residents

Canadian permanent residence eligibility

Understand how Canadian PR eligibility depends on the immigration program, selection process, admissibility and family information.

Read the guide
A Canadian workplace team reviewing an architecture project together
Permanent residents

Choose a permanent residence program

Compare the principal Canadian PR pathway families before focusing on one program, province or application process.

Read the guide
A couple organizing their permanent residence application records at home
Permanent residents

Permanent residence application documents

Organize identity, civil-status, work, education, financial and admissibility evidence for a Canadian permanent residence application.

Read the guide
A permanent residence applicant checking for an update beside a city window
Permanent residents

After you apply for permanent residence

Understand acknowledgement of receipt, application-status tools, IRCC requests and practical responsibilities while a Canadian PR application is processed.

Read the guide
A permanent residence applicant reporting an important change by phone
Permanent residents

Report changes after applying for PR

Report marriage, divorce, children, passports, contact details and other material changes while a Canadian permanent residence application is in progress.

Read the guide