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PR card renewal: processing time, fee and application

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

Renew or replace your permanent resident card online through IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal. Renew when your card expires in less than 9 months or has expired. The fee is $50, cards are mailed only to Canadian addresses, and you must be in Canada to apply. Your first card is free if you send your photo and address within 180 days.

Who handles it

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Handles it everywhere in Canada.

Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who can apply

  • To get a PR card you must have permanent resident status, be in Canada, and not have lost your status, for example through a removal order or by not meeting the residency rules.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • A PR card is usually valid for 5 years, sometimes only 1 year. Renew it when it will expire in less than 9 months, or once it has expired.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Steps

  1. Start a renewal, replacement or name update in the Permanent Residence Portal by filling out the application for a PR card (IMM 5444) and the document checklist (IMM 5644).

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  2. Fees are not paid in the portal. Pay IRCC online first, then upload your receipt to the portal before you submit.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Cost

  • A permanent resident card costs $50.

    Source: ircc.canada.cachecked #

  • Your first PR card is free and sent automatically if you give IRCC your Canadian mailing address and photo within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • Urgent processing is possible in some cases, but it still takes at least 3 weeks and is not guaranteed.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Where to go

  • Approved cards are usually mailed, and only to Canadian addresses. IRCC may instead ask you to pick up the card at an office, and destroys cards not picked up within 180 days.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Good to know

  • To keep PR status you must have been in Canada at least 730 days in the last five years. The days do not need to be in a row.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Questions people ask

When should I renew my PR card?

Apply when your card will expire in less than 9 months, or after it has expired. The new card has a new expiry date.

Source: canada.cachecked #

How much does it cost to renew a PR card?

The fee for a permanent resident card is $50. Pay it online and upload the receipt with your application.

Source: ircc.canada.cachecked #

Can I renew my PR card from outside Canada?

No. PR cards are only mailed inside Canada. If you are abroad without a valid PR card, apply for a permanent resident travel document to come back.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Do I lose my PR status if my card expires?

No. You do not lose PR status when your card expires. Your status depends on meeting the residency rule of 730 days in Canada in the last five years.

Source: canada.cachecked #

What if I never received my PR card?

Cards can take up to 6 weeks beyond normal processing time. After that and before 180 days, complete a solemn declaration and IRCC reissues the card. After 180 days, apply for a new card and pay the fee.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "PR card renewal: processing time, fee and application", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/pr-card