Permanent Resident Card (Maple Leaf Card)

PR card is a travel document issued to permanent residents of Canada. It is used by persons returning back to Canada and is the only document accepted at border crossings. Before leaving Canada, Canadian permanent residents (landed immigrants) must ensure that they possess a permanent resident (maple leaf) card to re-enter to Canada by commercial airplane, train, bus, and rental car. Returning residents must ensure that they can demonstrate that they have spent a cumulative period of 730 days in Canada.

Permanent resident (maple leaf) cards can be indefinitely renewed every five years.

In order to renew the PR card one has to meet residency Obligation:

A Canadian permanent resident (landed immigrant) needs to satisfy the residency obligation by being physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (cumulative) out of the five-year period or:

• demonstrate that he/she has been outside of Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen who is their spouse or common-law partner or is a child accompanying a parent;
• demonstrate that he/she has been outside of Canada employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province;
• demonstrate that he/she has been accompanying spouse, common-law partner or child of a permanent resident who is outside of Canada and is employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province.

Permanent resident Card related problems:

You can be denied entry at a border crossing if you are short of the required 730 days.

As a permanent resident of Canada, while enquiring or applying for an re-entry into Canada at an outside Canadian Embassy / High Commission / Consulate, an immigration officer may deny your entry into Canada and retain the PR card. In such an eventuality, they should give you an opportunity to appeal this decision.

Depending on individual circumstances, we can help you re-establish yourself in Canada by:

Filing an appeal at the Immigration Refugee Board (IRB). We might be able to demonstrate that

a) There is reasonable evidence to demonstrate that you have not abandoned Canada and that

(b) on the basis of Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) considerations (by demonstrating that the hardship which resulted in not meeting the residency obligation is unusual and undeserved or disproportionate.) breach of the residency obligation should be be overcome . 

Normally PR cards are processed within 6 months and it is issued in Canada and must be received physically. They are not sent out by post nor can they be collected by proxy. In emergency situations, PR card can be processed in 6 weeks.

As a member of CSIC, we can represent your case to IRB. If you have a PR related problem - please contact us.