Steps on How to Renew Your Permanent Resident Card

If you are a permanent resident of Canada, you are more than likely very happy and delighted to have finally obtained this status. The process of obtaining permanent residence in Canada can be quite lengthy and complicated for individuals who are unfamiliar with how the immigration process works. Furthermore, once you have your permanent residence, you must have a permanent resident (PR) card, and once it expires, you must renew it. This process is very important as your permanent resident card shows your status in Canada and allows your entry into Canada. Therefore, in this article, I will address how to renew your permanent resident card as well as other important information to consider if you need to renew your PR card.

Why Should I Renew My PR Card

Before renewing your permanent resident card, it is very important to ensure whether or not you need to renew it. It is highly recommended to check the expiry date on the PR card constantly. Permanent Residents cards are, most if not all of the time, issued for a period of five years. Therefore, PR cards are valid until the expiry date that is indicated on the card. You should apply to renew your PR card at least nine months before the expiry date on the card. Most importantly, before applying to renew your PR card, you must make sure that you are still eligible for permanent residency in Canada. If you are not eligible, then there is no reason to renew your PR card.

Eligibility Requirements for PR Card Renewal

To be eligible for a PR card, you must be a permanent resident of Canada and:

• Must be physically residing in Canada;
• Meet the residency requirement – You must be physically present within Canada for a minimum of 2 years within the 5 years of being a permanent resident of Canada.
• Must not be under a removal order from Canada,
• Must not be a Canadian citizen, and;
• Must not be convicted of an offence related to the misuse of a permanent resident card

The most important part of renewing your permanent resident card is making sure that you meet the residency requirements. The residency requirements are intended to make sure permanent residents of Canada are, in fact, residing in Canada and have Canada as their permanent residence. If an individual does not meet the residency requirements, then, unfortunately, they may lose their permanent residency status in Canada. It is essential that you provide enough supporting documentation can demonstrate that you have been residing in Canada for the minimum requirement of two years out of the five years of having permanent residency in Canada. The types of supporting documents that you can provide are documents such as a lease agreement, bill payments, banking statements, etc.

How to Apply to Renew Your Permanent Resident Card

There are specific instructions on the Canadian government’s website that you must follow in order to renew your permanent resident card successfully. The instructions include an instruction guide; the document checklist; the application forms; as well as the photograph specifications. Therefore, if you need assistance with this process and are unsure of how to proceed further, it is highly recommended to seek the assistance of an Immigration professional, such as Akrami & Associates. We would be able to help you throughout the entire immigration application process from the beginning to the end. It is important to note that the process of renewing your permanent resident card is extremely similar to the process of applying for permanent resident status in Canada. As such, because permanent residents have already gone through this process once before, they should understand what the process entails.

Travelling With your PR Card

Whenever you want to travel outside of Canada, it is vital for you to have your permanent resident card with you at all times. The reason for this is that the PR card will show your status in Canada as a permanent resident and will allow you to enter Canada once you have completed your travels. If you do not have your PR card on you when attempting to re-enter Canada, the Immigration officer will not allow you to enter Canada and will deny your entry.

If you are travelling outside of Canada and your PR card expires while outside of Canada, then this can be a longer process in order to enter Canada. You must then apply for a Travel Document in order to obtain entry back into Canada. Only until you obtain the Travel Document and re-enter Canada will you be able to renew your PR card. Please note that you cannot renew your PR card while outside of Canada. Please keep in mind that the decision on whether you will successfully receive a new PR card is ultimately determined by the immigration officer that is assessing the application.

Processing Times for PR Card Renewals

The processing times for permanent resident card renewals are essentially dependent on how many applications they are currently processing. For further clarification on the specific amount of days that Immigration is taking to process these applications, it is highly recommended that you check the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website under “Check Application Processing Times.” On this website, they will indicate what applications they are currently working on as well. We highly encourage you to check this regularly once you have submitted your permanent resident card renewal application.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you are unsure about how to proceed with renewing your permanent resident card and would like further assistance and guidance on this matter, it is highly recommended to seek the help of an Immigration professional. Seeking the help of an Immigration professional will ultimately aid you in going through the application process. Feel free to contact Akrami & Associates for further information or if you would like to book a consultation for more advice. Be assured that if you decide to choose Akrami & Associates to help you with this process, we will make a strong application for you in order for you to have a higher chance of success and acceptance for your PR card renewal. We have experience in dealing with a variety of different immigration matters which gives us a unique perspective on handling your case.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!