PR Card Renewal | Macropus Immigration & Visa Services

Permanent Resident (PR) Card Renewal

Permanent residents (PRs) must have a valid PR card or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada by plane, train, bus or boat. Without one, you may not be able to board.

Your PR card needs to be valid when you show it. If your card expires, you will have to apply for a new one. You are still a permanent resident if your card expires.

Eligibility

New permanent residents don’t need to apply for a PR card. CIC will send one to you when you immigrate to Canada to your Canadian mailing address. You have 180 days to send the address after immigrating. If not there will be a $50 processing fee for PR card applications.

To be eligible for a PR card, you need to:

• be a permanent resident, and
• submit your application in Canada.

If you are outside Canada, we apply for a permanent resident travel document to return to Canada. After you arrive, apply for a PR card.

Possible reasons to apply for a PR card if:

• you didn’t receive your PR card within 180 days of immigrating to Canada;
• your PR card is expired or will expire in less than nine months;
• your PR card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed; or
• you legally changed your name and need to update your PR card.

You are not eligible for a PR card if you were asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country. If you are a Canadian citizen, you can’t have (and don’t need) a PR card.

Before you apply

A PR card is usually issued for five years, but can sometimes be issued for one year instead. It is valid until the expiry date listed on the card.

CIC only sends PR cards to addresses within Canada. In some cases, you may have to pick up your card in person at one of CIC Canadian offices.

If you find a mistake on your PR card you can ask for it to be reissued. Sometimes CIC shorten a name on the card if it is too long to fit. This is not a mistake. Find out how to fix a mistake on your PR card.

Replace a lost, stolen or destroyed PR card

You need to tell CIC what happened before you apply.

If you are outside Canada, go to the nearest visa office. Then you need to apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada. When you are back in Canada, you can continue with your application.

If you are inside Canada, Apply within Canada office.