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PR card guide

Your PR card expired. Your status did not.

In IRCC's own words, you don't lose PR status when the card expires. What changes is travel. Here is what an expired card means, in Canada and abroad.

Verified Sep 18, 2026 against canada.caNo advice, only what IRCC says

An expired card, at a glance

1
How long a card lasts
Usually 5 yearsIn some cases, only 1 year.
When to renew
When it expires in less than 9 months, or has expiredAn expired card is renewed the same way as one about to expire.
Where
The Permanent Residence Portal, from inside Canada
Fee
$50 CADPaid on IRCC's payment site, not in the portal.
1

Your status did not expire

IRCC says
You won't lose your PR status when your PR card expires. You will only lose your PR status if an officer determines you are no longer a PR after an inquiry or PRTD appeal, you voluntarily renounce your PR status, a removal order made against you comes into force, or you become a Canadian citizen.2
You do
  • Read the card as proof of your status, not the status itself. The expiry date is the card's, not yours.
  • You can stay in Canada with an expired card. IRCC notes that some provincial services may ask for a valid one.

What is a PR card, and what does it show?

2

Before you renew, count your days

IRCC says
To keep your PR status, you must have been in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years. Even if you don't meet the residency obligation, you will stay a PR until an official decision is made on your status.2
You do
  • Count the days you spent in Canada in the five years before the day you apply. The renewal form asks for this.
  • At 730 days or more, renew the usual way.
  • Short of 730 days? Speak to a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or a lawyer before you apply. This site gives no advice on individual cases.
Residency days calculator
Enter your trips and get the totals the portal asks for.
Count my days
3

Renew the expired card

IRCC says
Renew your PR card if it will expire in less than 9 months or if it has expired. A PR card is usually valid for 5 years. In some cases, it's valid for only 1 year.1
You do
  • Apply in the PR Portal: the IMM 5444 form, your documents and photo, and the fee receipt.
  • Pay the $50 fee on IRCC's payment site. IRCC's current processing time for a renewal is 38 days.
  • Apply from inside Canada. IRCC does not mail PR cards outside Canada.
When to renew your PR card
IRCC's 9-month rule, the exception for a name or gender change, and how long to allow.
Read the guide

The full renewal guide, step by step

4

Travelling with an expired card

IRCC says
If you're travelling in a commercial vehicle, you need a valid PR card, along with a valid passport or travel document, to return to Canada. If you're travelling in a private vehicle, you can use your PR card or other documents to return to Canada.3
You do
  • Flying, or taking a train, bus or boat to Canada: you need a valid PR card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD). IRCC warns that without one you may not be able to board.
  • Already abroad with an expired card: apply for a PRTD from where you are. It can only be requested from outside Canada.
  • Driving in from the US: IRCC says you can use your PR card or other documents. CBSA publishes the list of documents.
  • Planning a trip: IRCC's advice is to apply before you leave. The new card is only mailed to an address in Canada.
Abroad with an expired card?
Who needs one, how to apply from abroad, and the fee.
Read the PRTD guide

Need it fast? Letter of explanation for urgent processing

What IRCC says, in one paragraph

When your PR card expires, you still have your PR status and can stay in Canada. You may need a valid PR card for some services in your province. If you leave the country, you'll need a valid PR card to return to Canada by commercial vehicle. If you want to travel outside Canada and don't have a valid PR card, you can apply to renew or replace your card.4

Common questions

Do I lose my PR status if my PR card expires?
No. IRCC says you won't lose your PR status when your PR card expires. Status ends only through an official decision, renouncing it, a removal order coming into force, or becoming a Canadian citizen.
Can I travel with an expired PR card?
You can leave, but coming back by plane, train, bus or boat needs a valid PR card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD). IRCC says you can't use an expired PR card as a travel document.
Can I drive back into Canada with an expired PR card?
For a private vehicle, IRCC says you can use your PR card or other documents, and CBSA lists those documents. IRCC's pages do not say more about an expired card at a land crossing.
How long is a PR card valid?
Usually 5 years. In some cases, IRCC issues a card valid for only 1 year. The expiry date is on the card.
My card expired and I have fewer than 730 days in Canada. What now?
IRCC says you stay a permanent resident until an official decision is made on your status. Because the renewal form asks about the 730 days, speak to a regulated immigration consultant or a lawyer before you apply.
  1. 1.canada.ca, get, renew or replace a PR card — canada.ca
  2. 2.canada.ca, understand PR status — canada.ca
  3. 3.canada.ca, travelling outside Canada as a permanent resident — canada.ca
  4. 4.IRCC help centre, what happens if my PR card expires — ircc.canada.ca