Canadian PR card renewal: when to start
Checked against official pages on 24 Sep 2026.
Your PR card is what gets you back into Canada after a trip, so don’t leave the renewal late.
- Start about 8 months before it expires.
- You can apply up to 9 months before it expires.
- Renewing usually takes about 5 weeks.
Find your start date
What to know
- You can apply once the card has less than 9 months left, or after it has expired.
- An expired card doesn’t end your PR status, but you can’t use it as a travel document.
- To fly back to Canada you need a valid PR card or a PR travel document, so renew before any trip abroad.
- IRCC posted about 38 days for renewals in September 2026; this changes often, and even urgent cases take at least 3 weeks.
If it has already expired
You stay a permanent resident, but an expired card can’t be used to travel back to Canada.
Where to apply
Travelling soon? See the checklist for flying to India.
Sources
- Get, renew or replace a permanent resident card (IRCC) (checked 24 Sep 2026)
- What happens if my permanent resident card expires while I am outside Canada? (IRCC Help Centre) (checked 24 Sep 2026)
- IRCC processing times data for applications made in Canada (updated September 22, 2026) (checked 24 Sep 2026)
- Find out about electronic travel authorization (eTA) (IRCC) (checked 24 Sep 2026)
This is guidance only and isn’t guaranteed to be accurate. Deadlines and rules change from time to time, so check the official website for this document (use the link if there is one, or search for it on Google or ask an AI assistant) and your local municipality or ministry before you act.