Immigration Guide

PR card renewal in Canada: fee, processing time and the 730-day rule

By Alex Francisco Updated Sep 30, 2026 Figures checked Sep 30, 2026 11 min read

How do you renew a PR card in Canada?

PR card renewal costs $50 per person and is done online in IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal once your card expires in less than 9 months or has already expired. IRCC's posted renewal processing time was 38 days on September 22, 2026. To qualify, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in the past 5 years.

Renewing a PR card costs $50 per person, paid online to IRCC, and the fee is not refunded once processing starts or if the application is refused.
Apply only when the card expires in less than 9 months or has expired; IRCC returns renewals filed with more than 270 days left unless your name or gender changed.
IRCC's posted processing time on September 22, 2026 was 38 days for a renewal and 35 days for a new card, and delivery can take up to 6 weeks longer.
You must show at least 730 days physically present in Canada in the past 5 years, backed by 2 pieces of evidence such as notices of assessment or pay stubs.
An expired PR card does not end PR status, but you need a valid card or a $50 PR travel document to board a plane, train, bus or boat to Canada.
Urgent processing takes at least 3 weeks and needs proof of travel for a reason IRCC accepts, such as serious illness, a death in the family or work.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. Sources

This guide explains how PR card renewal works for permanent residents of Canada, based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages checked on September 30, 2026. It is general information, not immigration or legal advice. IRCC changes forms, fees and processing times without much notice, so confirm the details in the Permanent Residence Portal or your IRCC account before you apply, and talk to a licensed immigration lawyer or regulated consultant if your residency days are close to the line.

How much does PR card renewal cost?

PR card renewal costs $50 per person, the same fee IRCC charges for a replacement card or a card with updated details. The fee is paid online to IRCC, not inside the Permanent Residence Portal, and you upload the receipt with your application. IRCC does not refund it once processing has started or if the application is refused, so check your residency days before you pay.

PR card and PR travel document fees (IRCC)

How to read this table: find your situation in the first column. A family renewing together pays the fee once for each person who needs a card.

What you are applying for	Fee per person	How it is paid
PR card: renewal, replacement, name or gender update, or a first card applied for after 180 days	$50	Online to IRCC (not inside the Permanent Residence Portal); upload the receipt
Permanent resident travel document (PRTD), applied for from outside Canada	$50	Online when you apply; include the receipt
First PR card sent automatically (photo and Canadian address given within 180 days of becoming a PR)	$0	No fee
Reissued card when IRCC made the mistake (request within 60 days of receiving the card)	$0	No fee; mail the IMM 5531 request

For a household, the fee adds up quickly. A couple renewing with two children pays $200, plus the cost of professional photos for each person. Compare that with the price of getting stuck abroad: a PR travel document is another $50 per person, on top of rebooked flights and extra nights away. The full list of IRCC charges for permanent residence, citizenship and permits is on the IRCC fees guide.

What is the PR card processing time right now?

The PR card processing time IRCC posted on September 22, 2026 was 38 days for a renewal and 35 days for a new card. These are the figures that feed IRCC’s own “check processing times” tool, and they move week to week, so check the tool again on the day you apply.

PR card processing times posted by IRCC

How to read this table: the posted time is how long IRCC recently took to process most applications, not a promise. Delivery by mail can add up to 6 weeks.

Application	Posted processing time	What to add when planning
Renewal of an existing PR card	38 days	Plus up to 6 weeks for the card to reach you
New PR card (first card)	35 days	First cards sent automatically cannot be tracked; allow up to 6 weeks more
Permanent resident travel document (PRTD)	Not posted	IRCC processes PRTD applications on a priority basis

Source: IRCC processing times data (non-country applications) - Canada.ca; IRCC processing times data (last update) - Canada.ca; Apply urgently for a PR card or PRTD - Canada.ca (PRTD times not posted). In effect from September 22, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.

Completeness matters as much as speed. IRCC returns an application with a missing document or an unclear photocopy, and the wait effectively starts over when you resend it.

Worked example: when will a renewed card arrive?

Someone submits a complete renewal on October 5, 2026.

If IRCC matches the posted renewal time, the card is processed around November 12, 2026.
Allowing IRCC’s extra delivery window, the latest expected arrival is about December 24, 2026.

In that example, travel booked before late December would mean applying earlier or looking at the urgent route below.

When should you renew your PR card?

Renew your PR card when it will expire in less than 9 months or has already expired. A PR card is usually valid for 5 years, and in some cases for only 1 year, so check the expiry date printed on the front rather than counting from your landing date.

The timing rule has a trap: IRCC’s instruction guide (IMM 5445) says a renewal filed while the card is still valid for more than 9 months (270 days) is returned, unless your legal name or gender has changed. Nine calendar months and 270 days are not always the same day, so use the later of the two.

A card expiring on June 30, 2027 can be renewed from about October 3, 2026. Nine calendar months before expiry is September 30, 2026, so waiting until October 3 avoids a returned application.

One more rule matters for travellers: your current card stops being valid 60 days after IRCC issues the new one. If you leave Canada with the old card after that, you cannot use it to return and would need a PR travel document.

PR card rules at a glance

How to read this table: each row summarises one IRCC rule from the PR card pages and the IMM 5445 instruction guide.

Rule	What IRCC says
How long a PR card lasts	Usually 5 years; in some cases only 1 year
When to renew	When the card expires in less than 9 months, or has expired. IRCC returns renewals filed with more than 9 months (270 days) left unless your legal name or gender changed
Residency obligation (PR for 5 years or more)	At least 730 days physically present in Canada within the past 5 years; the days do not need to be continuous
Residency obligation (PR for less than 5 years)	Show you will be able to reach 730 days within 5 years of the date you became a PR
Proof of residency	Copies of 2 pieces of evidence, such as pay stubs, bank statements, CRA notices of assessment, rental agreements
Old card after a new one is issued	Stops being valid 60 days after IRCC issues the new card
Where the card is sent	Only to an address in Canada; IRCC cannot mail it to a third party or outside Canada
Card not picked up	If IRCC asks you to pick it up and you don't within 180 days, the card is destroyed and you reapply and pay again
Delivery after approval	Up to 6 weeks beyond the posted processing time
Expired card and status	An expired card does not end PR status; status ends only by an official decision, renunciation, a removal order or citizenship
Fee refunds	Not refunded once processing starts or if the application is refused
Biometrics	Most PR card applicants do not give biometrics; IRCC's biometric instruction letter tells you if you must

Do you meet the 730-day residency obligation?

To renew a PR card you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in the 5 years right before you apply. The days do not need to be continuous. If you have been a permanent resident for less than 5 years, you must show that you will be able to reach 730 days within 5 years of the date you became a permanent resident.

The IMM 5444 form asks for every absence from Canada in the past 5 years, and IRCC wants copies of 2 pieces of evidence that you lived here: pay stubs, bank statements, CRA notices of assessment, a rental agreement, records of government benefits or club memberships. IRCC offers a free travel journal to log trips as they happen, which is far easier than rebuilding 5 years of dates from old boarding passes.

Worked example: a permanent resident for more than 5 years

A permanent resident applies on October 1, 2026. The 5 years before cover 1,826 days.

Trips abroad added up to 1,000 days, so days in Canada were about 826, which clears the requirement by 96 days.
With 1,150 days abroad instead, days in Canada would be about 676, short by 54 days, unless some of that time abroad counts as time in Canada (see the next table).

Worked example: a permanent resident for less than 5 years

Someone became a permanent resident on March 1, 2022 and applies on October 1, 2026, 1,675 days later. They have spent 1,000 days abroad, so about 675 days in Canada. With 151 days left before their 5-year mark, staying in Canada for all of them would bring the total to 826 days, so they can still show they will meet the obligation. Every extra trip before March 2027 eats into that margin.

These examples are rough counts for planning. For a date-by-date tally, the citizenship physical presence calculator uses the same kind of trip log, and the same records will matter later for a Canadian citizenship application, which has a higher day count.

Which days outside Canada count toward 730?

Some time abroad counts as time in Canada. IRCC’s guide lists three situations. The supporting documents for them are mandatory only for people who were outside Canada for more than 1,095 days; below that they are optional, although leaving them out can affect how IRCC assesses your days.

Time outside Canada that can count toward the residency obligation

How to read this table: a child means under 22 for time abroad on or after October 24, 2017 (under 19 before that date).

Situation	Which days count	Main proof IRCC asks for
Accompanying a Canadian citizen	Each day abroad with a spouse, common-law partner or parent who is a Canadian citizen	Their citizenship proof and passports for the past 5 years, their addresses, proof of the relationship
Full-time work abroad for a Canadian business or public service	Each day assigned full time to a position, affiliate or client outside Canada, if you will keep working for the employer in Canada afterward	Signed letter from the business describing the assignment, plus pay records or contracts
Accompanying a PR who works abroad full time	Each day abroad with a PR spouse, partner or parent employed full time by a Canadian business or public service	Proof the PR meets the residency obligation, their passports, proof of the relationship

A Canadian business here means a company incorporated in Canada or a province with an ongoing operation in Canada, a mostly Canadian-owned enterprise with an ongoing operation here, or an organization created by federal or provincial law. The employer’s signed letter must also confirm the business was not created mainly to help someone meet the residency obligation. Working from abroad for an employer that is not a Canadian business does not fit this category.

How do you renew a PR card online, step by step?

To renew a PR card online, you fill out the IMM 5444 application in IRCC’s Permanent Residence Portal, upload your documents, pay the $50 fee on IRCC’s payment page and upload the receipt. Paper applications are for people who cannot apply online and need an accommodation.

Check your dates. Confirm the card expires in less than 9 months (or has expired) and count your days in Canada for the past 5 years.
Get a professional photo. Use a commercial photographer, and check the photo rules below before you pay for it.
Sign in to the Permanent Residence Portal and start the Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444). Fill out the absences table with every trip.
Complete and upload the document checklist (IMM 5644) with copies of your passport, current PR card and 2 pieces of residency evidence.
Pay the fee online on IRCC’s payment page, then upload the receipt to the Fee Payment section of the portal.
Sign electronically by typing your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, then submit.
Track the application once the acknowledgement of receipt arrives, and update your address if you move within 3 weeks or have already moved.

When the card arrives, check it for mistakes. If IRCC made an error, you can ask for a free reissue within 60 days; after that, correcting it means a new application and fee. Destroy the old card by cutting it in half.

What documents and photos do you need for a PR card renewal?

A PR card renewal needs the IMM 5444 application, the IMM 5644 checklist, the fee receipt, a recent photo, a copy of your passport, a copy of your current card and proof that you lived in Canada. Missing items or unreadable copies get the application returned, which restarts the wait.

PR card renewal document checklist

How to read this table: work down the list before you pay the fee. Items in the last row apply only if your situation needs them.

Document	What IRCC expects
Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444)	Filled out in the Permanent Residence Portal; sign by typing your full name exactly as on your passport
Document checklist (IMM 5644)	Completed and uploaded with the application
Fee receipt	Receipt from IRCC's online payment page
Photo	Online: 1 digital photo (front and back information). Paper: 2 identical photos. Taken within 12 months
Primary identity document	Copy of your valid passport or travel document, or the one you had when you became a PR
Your current PR card	Copy of the card you are renewing; destroy the old card once the new one arrives
Proof of residency	Copies of 2 pieces of evidence covering the past 5 years (or since you became a PR)
Time outside Canada	Every absence in the past 5 years, entered in the IMM 5444 table
Situation documents, if they apply	Police report or incident number (lost card), legal name-change proof, humanitarian and compassionate evidence, IMM 5476 or IMM 5475 for a representative

Photos can hold up an application. The portal’s photo checker may warn about brightness or background; an officer then decides whether a new photo is needed, which adds time.

PR card photo requirements

How to read this table: online applicants need the digital row; paper applicants need the paper row. The other rows apply to both.

Requirement	IRCC specification
Digital photo (online application)	1 photo, between 715 x 1000 and 2000 x 2800 pixels, 4 MB or less, .jpeg or .jpg
Paper photo (paper application)	2 identical photos, 50 mm wide by 70 mm high; head 31 mm to 36 mm chin to crown
How recent	Taken no more than 12 months before you apply
Background and expression	Plain white background; neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Editing	No alterations of any kind, including colour, brightness, cropping or background changes
Where	A commercial photographer or studio; a phone picture of a paper photo is not accepted

The uploaded photo shows in black and white in the portal. That is normal and not a technical problem.

How do you get urgent PR card processing?

Urgent PR card processing is available only for specific reasons, and even then the minimum processing time is 3 weeks. IRCC’s guide says you must show you need the card to travel within the next three months, and it does not guarantee the card will be ready in time.

Reasons IRCC accepts for urgent processing

How to read this table: a holiday or a cheaper flight is not on the list. Without proof of one of these reasons, IRCC processes the application normally.

Reason	Applies to
A job opportunity or work related to your current job	PR card and PRTD
Your own serious illness	PR card and PRTD
Serious illness or death of a family member	PR card and PRTD
Loss or theft of your PR card while temporarily outside Canada	PR card and PRTD
A crisis, emergency or vulnerable situation	PR card and PRTD
Other reasons an officer may deem legitimate	PRTD only

With the application, include proof of travel (itinerary or ticket), proof of payment for the trip showing the date, amount and payment method, a letter explaining the urgency, and proof such as a doctor’s note, death certificate or employer letter, with English or French translations if needed. Online, tick the urgent-request option in the portal; on paper, write “urgent” on the envelope. If you already applied and now need the card faster, IRCC asks you to send the same documents through its web form.

Leaving in less than 3 weeks changes the plan. IRCC cannot process a PR card that fast, so if your current card will not be valid for the trip home, IRCC’s route is to travel and then apply urgently for a PR travel document from abroad once your return flight is within 5 days, with proof of one of the reasons above.

What if your PR card expires or is lost while you are outside Canada?

If your PR card expires, is lost or is damaged while you are abroad, apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) before flying home. It costs $50, is applied for online from outside Canada, and is normally valid for one entry only. You then apply for a new PR card once you are back.

Who can apply: permanent residents outside Canada without a valid PR card who will return by airplane, boat, train or bus.
Processing: IRCC does not post PRTD processing times but processes them on a priority basis.
Driving back: in a private vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle or RV that you own, borrow or rent), you can use your PR card or other documents to return.
Residency check: a PRTD application must show you still meet the residency obligation, so the 730-day count matters here too.

What if you never received your first PR card?

Your first PR card is sent automatically, at no cost, if you gave IRCC your Canadian address and photo within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident, either at the port of entry or online. The posted time for a new card was 35 days on September 22, 2026, and IRCC says delivery can take up to 6 weeks beyond that. First cards sent automatically cannot be tracked online.

Missed the 180-day window: apply for your first card in the Permanent Residence Portal and pay the $50 fee.
Card not received, more than 6 weeks past the processing time but less than 180 days: complete IRCC’s solemn declaration with your correct Canadian address and IRCC reissues the card.
Card not received after 180 days or more: apply for a new card, fill out section 6 (lost, stolen, damaged or never received) and explain what happened. If IRCC finds it made the error, it refunds the fee.

While you wait, your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR or e-COPR) works as proof of status for government services, such as a Social Insurance Number or an OHIP health card in Ontario. It is not a travel document for returning to Canada.

What if you don’t meet the residency obligation?

If you have fewer than 730 days, you can still apply and ask IRCC to keep your status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. You answer question 5.7 on the application, explain why you could not meet the obligation, and show the hardship that losing status would cause you, affected family members and any children.

IRCC is clear that an expired card or a shortfall in days does not end status on its own: you remain a permanent resident until an official decision is made. A refusal is serious, though, and the stakes justify paying for advice from a licensed immigration lawyer or regulated consultant before you file. Long stays abroad can also change your tax position; the guide to tax residency and the NR74 form covers how the CRA looks at that separately from IRCC.

Common PR card renewal mistakes

Applying too early. Renewals filed with more than 270 days of validity left are returned, and the time is lost.
Leaving it too late before a trip. At the time posted on September 22, 2026, processing plus the delivery window adds up to 80 days.
Travelling on the old card after the new one is issued. The old card stops being valid 60 days after issue.
Counting only the trips you remember. The form asks for every absence in 5 years, and IRCC returns applications with sections left incomplete.
Using a home-made or edited photo. Altered or retouched photos, and phone pictures of printed photos, are not accepted.
Paying before checking eligibility. The $50 is not refunded once processing starts or if the application is refused.
Forgetting to update your address. Cards are mailed only to Canadian addresses; a card not picked up within 180 days is destroyed.

What changes next?

IRCC updates PR card processing times regularly, and the figures on this page are dated so you can see how fresh they are. This page is checked against IRCC’s processing-time data at least monthly and against the fee list and PR card pages whenever IRCC changes them. If IRCC changes the $50 fee, the residency rule or the renewal window, the tables here are updated from the official pages first.

After the card is sorted, the next money tasks for many newcomers are banking and taxes: compare bank accounts for newcomers to Canada, and if you plan to apply for citizenship, start with the citizenship application guide, since it uses the same travel history as your PR card renewal.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to renew a PR card in Canada?

The PR card fee is $50 per person, paid online to IRCC before you submit, with the receipt uploaded to the Permanent Residence Portal. The same $50 applies to a replacement or a card with updated details. Your first card is free if you gave IRCC your photo and Canadian address within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. IRCC does not refund the fee once processing starts or if the application is refused.

What is the PR card renewal processing time right now?

IRCC's posted processing time on September 22, 2026 was 38 days for a PR card renewal and 35 days for a new PR card. IRCC updates these figures regularly, so check its processing-times tool on the day you apply. The card can take up to 6 weeks beyond the posted time to reach you by mail, so plan travel around the longer figure.

When should I renew my PR card?

Renew when your card will expire in less than 9 months or has already expired. IRCC's instruction guide says an application filed while the card is still valid for more than 9 months (270 days) will be returned, unless your legal name or gender has changed. If you have trips planned, applying as early as the rule allows gives the new card time to arrive; keep in mind that the old card stops being valid 60 days after the new one is issued.

Can I renew my PR card online?

Yes. Renewals are filed in IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal: fill out the Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444) there, upload the document checklist (IMM 5644), your photo, passport copy, a copy of your current card and your residency evidence, then upload the fee receipt. Paper applications are for people who cannot apply online and need an accommodation, such as an accessibility need.

Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?

No. IRCC only mails PR cards to addresses in Canada and cannot send one to a third party or abroad, and you must be in Canada to be eligible for a card. If you are outside Canada without a valid card, apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to fly home, then apply for a new PR card as soon as you are back.

Do I lose PR status if my PR card expires?

No. IRCC states that you won't lose permanent resident status when your PR card expires. Status ends only after an official decision following an inquiry or PRTD appeal, if you renounce it, if a removal order comes into force, or when you become a Canadian citizen. The practical problem is travel: airlines, trains, buses and boats need a valid PR card or PRTD to bring you back.

What documents do I need to renew my PR card?

IRCC's checklist (IMM 5644) asks for the completed IMM 5444 application, the fee receipt, a photo taken within 12 months, a copy of your passport or travel document, a copy of your current PR card, and copies of 2 pieces of evidence that you met the residency obligation, such as pay stubs, bank statements, CRA notices of assessment or a lease. You also list every trip outside Canada in the past 5 years.

What happens if I don't meet the 730-day residency obligation?

You can still apply and ask IRCC to consider humanitarian and compassionate grounds by answering question 5.7 on the application and explaining the circumstances that kept you outside Canada, with evidence of the hardship losing status would cause. An officer decides based on what you send. Until an official decision is made, you remain a permanent resident. A licensed immigration lawyer or regulated consultant can review the case before you file.

How do I get urgent PR card processing?

Tick the urgent-request option in the portal (or write urgent on a paper envelope) and include proof of travel, proof of payment for the trip, a letter explaining the urgency and proof such as a doctor's note, death certificate or employer letter. Accepted reasons include your own serious illness, a family member's serious illness or death, work, or a crisis. Even urgent cards take at least 3 weeks, and IRCC does not guarantee the date.

What should I do if I lost my PR card?

If you are in Canada, apply for a new card in the Permanent Residence Portal, fill out section 6 about the lost or stolen card and include a police report or incident number if you have one. The fee is $50. If you only want to report the loss and do not need a new card, submit IRCC's solemn declaration instead. If the card was lost abroad, apply for a PRTD to return.

How long after COPR do you get your first PR card?

IRCC sends the first card automatically when you give your Canadian address and photo within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. The posted processing time for a new PR card was 35 days on September 22, 2026, and IRCC says the card can take up to 6 weeks longer to arrive. First cards sent this way cannot be tracked online, so keep your address up to date.

Do I need biometrics to renew my PR card?

Most PR card applicants do not give biometrics. The exception is someone who was under 14 when IRCC received their permanent residence application (filed on or after mid or late 2018, depending on the country) and is now older than 14. If that applies to you, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter after you apply, and processing starts only after your biometrics are collected.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 30, 2026
Next scheduled check: October 30, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Permanent resident card — fees, renewal timing, residency obligation, documents, photos, urgent processing and PRTD	June 1, 2026	September 30, 2026
PR card processing times posted by IRCC (new card and renewal)	September 22, 2026	September 30, 2026

Official sources

Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list - IRCC (PR card and PRTD) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Get a permanent resident card - Canada.ca (first card free) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Get, renew or replace a permanent resident card - Canada.ca (validity and when to renew) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Guide 5445 - Applying for a permanent resident card - Canada.ca (270-day rule) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Permanent resident photos - Canada.ca (digital photo) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Understand permanent resident status - Canada.ca (730 days, status not lost at expiry) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Getting your PR card after you apply - Canada.ca (delivery delay) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Permanent resident travel document - Canada.ca (single entry) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Permanent resident travel document - How to apply - Canada.ca (fee) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Apply urgently for a PR card or PRTD - Canada.ca (PRTD urgent window) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Travelling outside Canada as a permanent resident - Canada.ca (card only in Canada) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC processing times data (non-country applications) - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

How we check figures: our methodology and editorial policy.

General information for education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change — confirm anything you act on with the official source or a licensed professional (for immigration, a lawyer or a licensed consultant registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).