Story: Once a 5 years
The Permanent Resident Card is an identification document and a travel document for permanent residents of Canada. – Wikipedia
I received a PR card in March 2016. It’s 2021 this year. I have to renew it. If I keep my nationality as Japanese, I have to renew it once in 5 years. I have to live in Canada for at least 730 days/1,825 days. I would like to write a blog about this process.
My renewal term will come in these years:
– 2016 (Received)
– 2021 (Received)
– 2026 (Applied)
– 2031
– 2036
– 2041
– 2046
– 2051
Apply for, renew or replace a PR card: About the process
No special information. Just I have to pay attention to the expiration date if I travel at the year which PR expires. Processing time shows 91 days for renewing. I don’t have a plan to travel, but I should apply earlier.
Notes:
– $50 processing fee for PR card applications.
– Your card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months.
– To keep your permanent resident status, you must have been in Canada for at least 730 days(/1,825 days) during the last five years.
Notes:
– Gov only sends a PR card to addresses within Canada.
This page is the most helpful. To be continued.
Application to get, renew or replace a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card)
One of the issues you may face is the PDF Reader version. I could not open the file the website attached online. However after I downloaded it, I could open it.
This application package includes:
– Instruction Guide [IMM 5445]
– Document Checklist (IMM 5644)
– Application for a Permanent Resident Card [IMM 5444]
– Photograph Specifications for Permanent Resident Cards
– Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
– Authority to release personal information to a designated individual
Complete the application
Application for a Permanent Resident Card [IMM 5444]
I confused about some questions.
UCI number
→ Where can I find my client ID/UCI?
Question 16: Place you become a permanent resident in Canada
→ Found back of PR card
As a general question, should I staple for IMM 5444?
Those 2 documents + below:
– Photocopy(Passport is safety)
– 2 Photos(name, date of birth, with studio stamp on the back)
* On February 3rd, 2021, it was $16.79 in tax. A little rip-off.
– Receipt of the paid fee
If you are applying to renew your present card, you should keep it until you get your new card and include a photocopy of it with your application.
I saw this sentence above, but the checklist does not mention it. I included it.
Regular mail:
Case Processing Centre — PR Card
P.O. Box 10020
SYDNEY, NS B1P 7C1
CANADA
What happens next
Hearing from IRCC
After you submit your application, you can expect to hear from us:
If your application is properly completed and you meet the requirements for a PR Card
– If you gave us a valid email address, we will send you an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AoR) of your application;
– you will get your card in the mail or a letter from us telling you when and where to pick up your card.
If your application is incomplete
– your application will be returned to you.
Pay your fees online
Conclusion: Address & travel history
The documentation is not difficult, but I did not remember the detail of the travel history. I will take notes each time at Apple Notes for the next time.
Renew PR is accepted 9 months before it expired. I should apply much earlier. Some people may use an immigration visa agency, but generally thinking, the application should not be complicated. Canada is quite a diversity. The government does not want to receive inquiries for it.
After all, I could apply for PR renew on February 5th, 2021. I am waiting for the response.
*Upadted: January 29, 2026
I used the online form to renew my PR in 2026. The process takes a few hours because you need to list where you have been for the past five years. If you’ve traveled a lot, it takes even more time.
The website has an auto-save feature, so you can log out and continue later. I also needed to prepare an ID photo. I wasn’t sure whether I really needed to go to a studio in 2026—cellphone cameras are excellent now, photos can be edited easily, and even AI can generate realistic images. However, I didn’t want to risk a rejection, so I went to a studio, which cost $40.
After everything was prepared, I tried to submit the form but couldn’t click the submit button (unclickable) for about an hour. I had no idea what was wrong. I cleared my cache and was finally able to submit it. You may encounter the same issue. There are discussions about this on Reddit, and some troubleshooting tips are shared below.
