Confused about length of validity

[USCanFam]

Ok, what exactly is only valid for 1 year (length of validity of medicals)? I'm seeing that the PR visa cannot be extended beyond that, so you have to reapply. So confused....

Does this mean that after 1 year of being a permanent resident, you're no longer a permanent resident? Do you have to keep applying for permanent residency every year, or is this something different?

[CharlieD10]

The validity of the PR VISA cannot be extended beyond the validity of the medical, which is a year from the date when the medical exam was done.

Once a person becomes a PR, that VISA is cancelled, and is no longer needed as they now have PR STATUS.  So as long as the applicant lands before the VISA expires, they have PR STATUS, which is different. 

The status as a PR is maintained by meeting the residency requirement, 730 days physical presence in Canada out of each rolling five year period, or under one of the applicable exemptions (living abroad with citizen spouse, employed by Canadian gov etc). 

A PR gets a PR card, and must renew it every 5 years by showing that he has complied with the residency requirement. 

[USCanFam]

Ahhh! That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!