After You Get PR: Landing, PR Card, Residency Rules and Travel
Getting PR is the start of a new set of rules. You must land, get your PR card, spend 730 days in Canada in every 5-year period, and travel with the right document. This guide shows each step and links to our detailed articles.
since 1991
What happens after you get PR?
First you land in Canada and show your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). IRCC then mails your first PR card, and you keep your status by spending at least 730 days in Canada in any 5-year period (IRCC, checked October 2026).
Later you renew your PR card, travel with the right document and, when you are ready, apply for citizenship.
What can I do as a PR?
You can live, work or study anywhere in Canada and use most social benefits, including health care. You cannot vote, run for office or hold jobs that need a high security clearance.
Why the rules matter
- Status: you keep PR only if you meet the residency rule
- Card: renewal needs proof of your days in Canada
- Travel: a valid card or travel document gets you home
Where do you want to start?
Pick the step that matches your situation.
Start here if you
- Have your COPR and are about to land
- Need to renew or replace a PR card
- Want to travel and are not sure what you need
Go to the articles if you
- Need to prove your days for a PR card renewal
- Spent long periods outside Canada
- Worry about losing your PR status
See landing and COPR, PR card and travel as a PR.
Your PR journey, in four parts
Each part has its own guide. The residency rule has several detailed articles that thousands of readers use every month. Source: IRCC.
Landing and COPR
Show your COPR at the port of entry. Your first PR card follows by mail.
PR card
Renew, replace or update your card. The fee is $50 and the card lasts 5 years.
Residency obligation
Spend 730 days in Canada in any 5-year period to keep your PR status.
Travel as a PR
Use a valid PR card, or a PR travel document if you are abroad without one.
After enough days in Canada you may qualify to apply. Read our citizenship guide, see citizenship by naturalization and take the eligibility quiz.
Not sure where you stand?
We review your days in Canada and your documents, then tell you what to do next.
Rules every PR should know
730 days in 5 years
You must be in Canada for at least 730 days in any 5-year period. The days do not need to be in a row.
Some days abroad count
Time abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse, or working abroad for a Canadian employer, can count toward the 730 days.
Status stays until decided
If you miss the rule, you stay a PR until an officer makes a decision. Do not assume you lost your status.
The card is not your status
Your PR status does not end when your card expires. You still need a valid card or travel document to board a flight to Canada.
You cannot vote
PRs cannot vote or run for office. Citizenship removes these limits.
Check the page date
IRCC updated its PR status page on 9 April 2026. Check it for changes.
Related pages
These pages cover programs, points and the Express Entry process.
How to protect your PR status
Five habits keep your status safe.
Keep your COPR safe
It proves your status until your PR card arrives.
Track your days
Record every trip outside Canada with dates.
Renew in time
Apply for a new card before your old one expires.
Travel with a valid document
Carry a PR card, or get a travel document first.
Get advice early
If you spent long periods abroad, ask before you travel or renew.
Want your PR status reviewed?
We count your days, check your documents and tell you where you stand.
Your PR journey, step by step
Six steps from approval to citizenship.
Receive your COPR
IRCC sends your Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
Land in Canada
Show your COPR to the border officer.
Get your PR card
IRCC mails your first card after landing.
Meet the residency rule
Spend 730 days in Canada in every 5-year period.
Renew your card
Apply before the card expires and show proof of your days.
Plan for citizenship
Keep your records, because you will need them for citizenship.
Five mistakes that put PR status at risk
These mistakes cost time and, in some cases, status.
Not tracking your days
Without records you cannot prove your 730 days.
Assuming the card is your status
An expired card does not end PR status, but it blocks air travel.
Waiting to renew
Renewal takes time, so apply well before your card expires.
Long trips abroad
Long absences can leave you short of 730 days.
Ignoring the rules
Check the residency rule before you leave Canada for long.
Want a second set of eyes?
We review your days and your documents before you act.
PR facts at a glance
Key facts from IRCC, checked October 2026.
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PR life FAQs
What happens after I get PR in Canada?
You land in Canada and show your Confirmation of Permanent Residence at the port of entry. IRCC then mails your first PR card, and you must spend at least 730 days in Canada in any 5-year period to keep your status (IRCC, checked October 2026).
What is the PR residency obligation?
It is the rule that you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in any 5-year period. The days do not need to be consecutive, and some time abroad can count, for example with a Canadian citizen spouse or working abroad for a Canadian employer.
Do I lose PR status if my PR card expires?
No. Your status does not end when the card expires. You still need a valid card or a PR travel document to board a commercial flight to Canada.
How much does a PR card cost?
The fee is $50 each time you apply to renew or replace your card. See our PR fees page for the other federal fees.
What if I did not meet the residency obligation?
You stay a PR until an immigration officer decides on your status. Read our guide on what happens if you do not meet it and speak to us before you travel or renew.
How do I prove my days in Canada?
Keep your passport stamps, travel records, work and tax records and similar documents. Our guide on tracking and proving your days explains what to keep.
Can PRs vote in Canada?
No. PRs cannot vote or run for political office, and they cannot hold jobs that need a high security clearance. Citizenship removes these limits.
Can I lose PR status?
You can lose it after an officer decides you did not meet the residency rule, if you give it up, after a removal order, or when you become a citizen. See our guide on PR status revocation.
Can Amir Ismail review my PR status?
Yes. We count your days, check your documents and tell you what to do next. Book a Strategy Consultation to start.