The Canadian PR card is a vital document for Canadian permanent residents. It is required to enter the country by flight, train, bus, or boat. It must be valid when you return from travel outside Canada. You are responsible for renewing your PR card upon expiration. This article is about the Canada PR processing time.
Processing Time for a New PR Card
The processing time for a new PR card is 97 days.
Processing time for renewing or replacing PR Card
The processing time for renewing or replacing a PR card is 64 days
What Can Permanent Residents Do?
A permanent resident has a right to do the following:
- Receive the majority of the social benefits that Canadian citizens do. This includes health care coverage.
- They can live, work or study anywhere in Canada
- They can apply for Canadian citizenship
- They are protected by Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- They must pay taxes and abide by all Canadian laws. This is at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
What Can’t Permanent Residents Do?
Permanent residents are not permitted to:
- vote or run for office,
- have some of the jobs that require a high-level security clearance.
Time Lived in Canada
In order to maintain your permanent resident status, you are required to have been in Canada for a minimum of 730 days throughout the last five years. The 730 days are not required to be in one stretch. A part of your time outside Canada might count towards the 730 days.
Losing your Permanent Resident status
PR card expiry does not make you lose your permanent resident status. You have to go through an official process in order to lose your status.
Permanent resident status can be lost if:
- An adjudicator decides that you are not a permanent resident anymore after an inquiry or PRTD appeal
- You choose to renounce your permanent resident status
- A removal order against you is taken into action
- You get Canadian citizenship
Renouncing Permanent Resident Status
If you do not wish to be a permanent resident of Canada anymore, you can choose to renounce your permanent resident status.
- If you are aware that you have not fulfilled all your residency obligations due to staying outside Canada for a long time
- If you want to visit Canada but do not want to wait for a formal assessment of your permanent resident status by a visa office
- If you want to keep away from delays due to processing at the Port of Entry
Entry into Canada may not be permitted until your permanent resident status is sorted out either by obtaining a permanent resident travel document or by choosing to give up your permanent resident status.
If You are Outside Canada
If you are outside Canada and do not have a valid PR card or your card is going to expire:
- You can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) in order to to return to Canada
If You Want to Leave Canada
- If you want to go out of Canada renew your PR card before you leave the country
If You Can’t get your PR Card in Time
- If you don’t receive card in time you can apply for a PRTD from outside Canada
To ask any questions related to the rights of NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs, you can download SBNRI App from the Google Play Store or App Store. You can also use the SBNRI app for investment in stock market/ mutual funds, NRI account opening, tax filing, etc. To ask any questions, click on the button below. Also, visit our blog and YouTube channel for more details.
FAQs
It is 97 days.
It is 64 days.
Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)
In order to maintain your permanent resident status, you are required to have been in Canada for a minimum of 730 days throughout the last five years. The 730 days are not required to be in one stretch. A part of your time outside Canada might count towards the 730 days.
