Citizenship Application Checklist
The fixed checklist for an adult grant of citizenship in Canada, taken in order from IRCC's Document Checklist, CIT 0007: every item, the form number behind it, and the cases where extra documents apply.
How to Start Renewing or Replacing Your Permanent Resident Card in Canada
Renewing or replacing a permanent resident card in Canada: the 730-day residency obligation, when to renew, the Permanent Residence Portal application with form IMM 5444, the $50 fee, urgent processing, and the travel document for return without a valid card.
Applies in: CA
Card, status, and the residency count are three different things
A permanent resident card shows that its holder is a permanent resident of Canada, and it is needed to return to Canada after travelling. It is a document, not the status itself. Status does not expire when the card expires. And the residency obligation, the count of days in Canada that keeps status in good standing, is measured separately from either date on the card.
Keeping those three ideas apart prevents the two most common errors in this process: assuming an expired card means lost status, and assuming a valid card means the residency obligation is satisfied. Renewal is the moment when the day count is most likely to be examined, so count the days before starting the form, not after submitting it.
Step 1: Count the residency obligation before touching the form
To keep permanent resident status, a person must have been in Canada for at least 730 days during the last 5 years. The 730 days do not need to be continuous. Some time abroad may count towards the 730 days, and the help centre page directs readers to the separate answer on counting time abroad. This guide does not list the categories of time abroad that can count, because the applicant-facing pages state the general rule without enumerating the exceptions, and the program delivery instructions state the detailed calculation rules for officers. Read the counting answer and, where time abroad is material, the program delivery instructions on permanent resident status determination before relying on any day spent outside Canada.
The 5-year window is the period immediately before the application is received, for a person who has held status for 5 years or more. For a newer permanent resident, the first 5 years after arrival form the period, and qualification is possible where the 730 days can still be accumulated within that first period. A travel journal helps track the count. Record every absence, with dates, and keep the travel history consistent with passports, tickets, and border records, because the application asks for the absence history and the count is made from it. Where the count is close to 730, or where substantial time was spent abroad, consider getting advice before filing, because a renewal application that shows a shortfall can lead to further examination of status.
Step 2: Decide whether this is a renewal, a replacement, a first card, or a correction
Renewal applies where the card will expire in less than 9 months or has already expired. A card is usually valid for 5 years, and in some cases for only 1 year. The renewal produces a new card with a new expiry date.
Replacement applies where the card is lost, stolen, or damaged and the holder is in Canada. The replacement process is the same portal application, with the additional steps for damaged and lost cards set out in the frequently asked questions above. Reporting a lost or stolen card without seeking a new card is a separate solemn declaration step.
A first card is usually automatic. Where the Canadian mailing address and photo are given within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident, IRCC sends the first card without an application. Where that window was missed, an application for a first card is needed through the portal. An address change before the first card arrives should be reported where the move is within 3 weeks or has already happened, through the address-change step on the first-card pages.
A correction applies where IRCC made a mistake on the card. Within 60 days of receiving the card, a reissue request at no cost is the route, by mail, with the documents the reissue pages list, including a photo of the card, a copy of the Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, a copy of the passport identity page, and 2 photos where the photo is the error. After 60 days, a new card application is required. Name and gender identifier updates, including a legal name change, a name change after marriage or divorce, reclaiming an Indigenous name, and other name changes, are handled through the new-card application with the documents for the situation. A name shortened to fit the card's 28-letter fields is not an error and will not be updated on that ground alone.
Step 3: Complete the portal application and the checklist
Start the application in the Permanent Residence Portal with form IMM 5444, the application for a permanent resident card. Complete the document checklist, form IMM 5644, and upload it to the portal. Depending on circumstances, other forms or supporting documents may be needed. The instruction guide IMM 5445 explains preparation in detail, and alternate formats and technical help are available through the help steps on the application pages.
Where a paid or unpaid representative helps with the application, complete form IMM 5476, use of a representative. Where someone who is not a representative is to be allowed access to application information, complete form IMM 5475, authority to release personal information to a designated individual. Where the gender identifier is being updated, the request form IRM 0002 applies. Where the name on the card is changing, follow the document requirements for the reason for the change, as the application pages direct.
Answer every question on the form. The form asks for the travel and absence history that supports the residency count, and gaps or inconsistencies in that history are the most likely source of delay or referral. Upload readable copies of every supporting document the checklist requires, and keep the originals available.
Step 4: Pay the fee outside the portal, sign, and submit
Fees are not paid through the Permanent Residence Portal. Pay the fee online to IRCC, then upload the receipt to the Fee Payment section in the portal. The fee shown on the permanent resident card page is $50. Refunds are not possible while the application is in progress. A first card costs nothing where the photo and address are provided within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident.
Before submitting, check that all questions are answered, the application and all forms are signed electronically by typing the full name exactly as shown on the passport, the fee receipt is included, and all supporting documents are uploaded. After submission, track the application status through the tracking step on the application pages. Keep the fee receipt, the submitted forms, and the travel history used for the count, because any later request for further information will refer back to them.
Step 5: Urgent processing, delivery, and travel without a valid card
Urgent processing is available in some circumstances. The application pages state the minimum processing time as 3 weeks even where urgent processing applies, and that IRCC cannot guarantee the card will arrive on time. Apply for urgent processing through the step on the application pages, with the evidence the urgent-processing instructions require, and do not book non-refundable travel on the assumption that urgent processing guarantees a date.
The permanent resident card hub page lists processing times of 37 days for a new card and 38 days for a renewal, with variation by application type, completeness, volume, verification ease, and response time. Those figures are hub-page figures, not a promise for an individual file. Check the IRCC processing-time tool for the current figure before planning travel around a renewal.
A person who does not have a valid card and is outside Canada must apply for a permanent resident travel document to return to Canada, and can apply for a card after returning. A person inside Canada waiting for a renewal should not assume the card can be collected or used from abroad. If travel is unavoidable while a renewal is pending, check the travel document and urgent-processing pages before leaving, and take advice where the residency count is in any doubt.
Figures this guide does not state
This guide states no processing time for a replacement card, because the hub page shows new-card and renewal times only. It states no urgent-processing eligibility list, because the application pages state that urgent processing is available in some circumstances without enumerating them on the pages. It states no delivery method or pickup rule beyond the portal process, because no delivery or pickup rule could be verified on an official page. It states no list of time-abroad exceptions to the residency obligation, because the applicant-facing help centre page states the general rule and points to a separate counting answer, and the detailed rules sit in program delivery instructions. Where a figure is not stated, the guide names the IRCC page or tool that owns it.
Related guides:
- How to Start Tracking Your Residency Days and Proving Your Language Level for Canadian Citizenship — tracking residency days for citizenship, a different count from the permanent resident obligation, with its own language proof.
- How to Start Applying for Canadian Citizenship in Canada — the citizenship grant process for permanent residents, after the residency and language requirements are met.
- How to Apply for Express Entry from Outside Canada — the route by which many people first become permanent residents, before the card process begins.
- How to Start Getting Your Foreign Credentials Recognized in Canada — credential recognition for regulated work, separate from immigration status documents.
- How to Start Applying for a Visitor Visa to Canada — visitor entry, which does not confer permanent resident status or a permanent resident card.
From counting residency days to a new card, in five moves
- Count 730 days in the last 5 yearsPermanent resident status requires at least 730 days in Canada during the last 5 years. The days need not be continuous, and some time abroad may count.
- Check the renewal windowRenew if the card will expire in less than 9 months or has expired. A card is usually valid for 5 years, and in some cases for only 1 year.
- Start form IMM 5444 in the Permanent Residence PortalComplete the application and the document checklist IMM 5644, and upload supporting documents in the portal.
- Pay the $50 fee outside the portal and upload the receiptFees are not paid through the Permanent Residence Portal. Pay IRCC online, then upload the receipt to the portal.
- Submit, sign electronically, and track the applicationSign with the full name exactly as shown on the passport. Urgent processing, where available, still takes a minimum of 3 weeks.
Questions people ask
Does my permanent resident status expire when my card expires?
No. The card and the status are different things. The permanent resident card is the document that shows permanent resident status and is needed to return to Canada after travelling. Status itself does not expire on the card's expiry date. A person can still be a permanent resident with an expired card, but will need a valid card, or a permanent resident travel document where outside Canada without one, to prove status for travel. The residency obligation continues regardless of the card date, and a renewal application can bring the obligation under examination. Do not treat an expired card as lost status, and do not treat a valid card as proof that the residency obligation is met, because the obligation is counted in days, not read from the card.
How many days must I spend in Canada to keep permanent resident status?
At least 730 days in Canada during the last 5 years. The 730 days do not need to be continuous. Some time abroad may count towards the 730 days, and the help centre page points to a separate answer on whether time abroad can count. For a person who has been a permanent resident for 5 years or more, the 5-year period considered is the one immediately before the application is received. For a person who became a permanent resident less than 5 years before the application, the test allows qualification where the person can meet the 730-day criterion during the first 5-year period after arrival, including where up to 3 years have been spent outside Canada but compliance within the first 5 years remains possible. Use a travel journal to track time in Canada, and list absences accurately on the application, because the count is made from the travel history provided.
When should I renew my permanent resident card?
Renew if the card will expire in less than 9 months or if it has expired. Do not apply earlier than that window on timing grounds alone, unless the application is for a name change, a gender identifier change, or another update the application pages describe. A card is usually valid for 5 years, and in some cases is valid for only 1 year, and the new card will carry a new expiry date. A first card is a different case: most people do not need to apply for a first card, because IRCC sends it automatically where the Canadian mailing address and photo are provided within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. Only where the photo and address were not provided within 180 days is an application for a first card needed, using the same portal process.
How do I apply to renew or replace a card, and what does it cost?
Start the application in the Permanent Residence Portal by completing the application for a permanent resident card, form [IMM 5444](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5444.html), and complete the document checklist, form [IMM 5644](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5644.html), uploading it and any other required forms or supporting documents to the portal. The instruction guide is [IMM 5445](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5444.html). Pay the fee online to IRCC, outside the portal, and upload the receipt to the Fee Payment section in the portal. The fee shown on the permanent resident card page is $50, and a first card costs nothing where the photo and address are provided within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. Refunds are not possible while an application is in progress. Before submitting, answer all questions, sign electronically by typing the full name exactly as shown on the passport, include the fee receipt, and upload all supporting documents. Where a representative helps, form [IMM 5476](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5476.html) applies, and form [IMM 5475](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5475.html) applies where another person is authorized to access application information.
What if my card is lost, stolen, or damaged, or IRCC made a mistake on it?
A lost, stolen, or damaged card in Canada can be replaced by applying for a new card through the same portal process. For a damaged card, destroy it immediately and upload a photo of the destroyed card as proof. For a lost card, include a copy of a police report or incident number with the application, where one is available. Where no new card is needed and the person only wants to report a lost or stolen card, a solemn declaration can be submitted instead. Where IRCC made a mistake on a card received in the last 60 days, the card can be reissued at no cost by submitting a request to reissue, form [IMM 5531](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5531.html), within 60 days of receiving the card, by mail to the processing centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Where the card was received more than 60 days ago, or where the applicant made a mistake or personal information has changed, a new card application through the portal is required. A shortened name is not a mistake: the card has space for 28 letters or fewer for first and last names, and IRCC will not update a card only because a name had to be shortened to fit.
How long does renewal take, and what if I need to travel urgently or I am outside Canada?
The permanent resident card page shows processing times of 37 days for a new card and 38 days for a renewal, with a warning that times vary with the type of application, completeness, volume already received, ease of verification, response time to requests, and other factors. Re-check the current processing times on the IRCC processing-time tool on the day of application, because the figures on a hub page age quickly and no replacement-card time is shown separately there. Urgent processing is available in some circumstances, but the minimum processing time is 3 weeks even where urgent processing applies, and IRCC states it cannot guarantee the card will arrive on time. A person outside Canada without a valid card must apply for a permanent resident travel document to return to Canada, and can apply for a card after returning. Do not travel on the assumption that a renewal submitted from inside Canada will be mailed abroad, because the application pages describe the card process for applicants in Canada.
Sources
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Get a permanent resident card" — the $50 fee, the 180-day first-card rule, the 37-day new card and 38-day renewal processing times, and the renewal, replacement, and travel document entry points.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Get a permanent resident card — Get, renew or replace a permanent resident card" — the portal steps, forms IMM 5444, IMM 5644, IMM 5476, and IMM 5475, the 9-month renewal window, 5-year and 1-year validity, urgent processing minimum of 3 weeks, reissue within 60 days, replacement steps, and the permanent resident travel document.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status?" — the 730-day rule, non-continuous days, time abroad that may count, and the travel journal.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Permanent resident status determination" — the 5-year period calculation for holders of 5 years or more and for newer permanent residents, and the 730-day requirement in each 5-year period.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Travel to Canada — you may still be a permanent resident of Canada and not know it" — permanent resident status not expiring on its own, proving status for entry, and the travel document and renunciation options.
- [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Application for a Permanent Resident Card (PR card) or Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) [IMM 5444]"](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5444.html) — the application form and the step-by-step instructions for a PR card or a travel document. The former standalone instruction guide IMM 5445 is now published on this page; the .../imm5445.html address returns 404.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Document Checklist: Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (IMM 5644)" — the document checklist for a PR card or travel document application.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Use of a Representative Form (IMM 5476)" — the form to appoint, update, or cancel a representative.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475)" — the form to authorize release of application information to a designated individual.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Request to Reissue a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5531)" — the form to request reissue of a PR card where IRCC made a mistake.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002)" — the form to request a change of sex or gender identifier.
Figures that could not be verified on an official page are not stated in this guide: the replacement-card processing time, urgent-processing eligibility criteria, delivery and pickup rules, and the detailed list of time-abroad exceptions to the residency obligation. Check the IRCC processing-time tool, the application pages, and the residency counting answer for current figures before applying, paying, or travelling.