[Immigration Guide] PR Card Expired? Here Is How to Retain Your Canadian Status

According to Canadian immigration law, a Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) card is valid for 5 years and must be renewed every 5 years. If you have not been residing in Canada and your PR card has expired, what should you do? Is your permanent resident status still valid? Will it be revoked? In fact, there is a simple way to resolve this dilemma and retain your Canadian status: the Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

According to the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a Permanent Resident Travel Document is a one-time travel document issued by the Canadian government to permanent residents who are outside of Canada, do not have a valid PR card, and need to return to Canada.

The term "do not have a valid PR card" includes situations where the PR card has expired, been damaged, or been lost.

This travel document is for one-time use only and can only be used by Canadian permanent residents to enter Canada. The immigration department's official website also stipulates that after returning to Canada, the holder is obligated to renew their PR card immediately.

According to statistics from Canadian immigration agencies, between 2015 and 2016, more than 5,000 ethnic Chinese immigrants remained in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan after their PR cards had expired. They wisely chose to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document, successfully returned to Canada, and retained their permanent resident status.

It should be noted that not all applications for a Permanent Resident Travel Document are approved. If you cannot meet the residency obligation of living in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period, the immigration officer may reject your application or even revoke your immigration status.

Worldway Immigration experts point out: Immigrating to Canada allows you to enjoy many of the same benefits as Canadian citizens. Immigrants holding a Canadian PR card who meet certain residency requirements in Canada can also successfully apply for citizenship, obtain a Canadian passport, and travel freely to 183 countries and regions around the world.

Worldway Immigration Group offers high-quality programs such as the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, and Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program, helping investors immigrate to Canada and successfully obtain a PR card. In addition, Worldway's three major customer service centers also provide services such as assisting with travel visas for various countries, providing convenience for your overseas travel.

Currently, Worldway Immigration's 11th Anniversary Celebration Month is in full swing. Clients who sign up for the Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Prince Edward Island investment immigration programs in May 2017 can enjoy significant discounts. For questions regarding immigrating to Canada, expired PR cards, or more event details, please call: 400-138-2929