Concern About Meeting PR Residency Requirement While Studying Abroad

[SyedZainulabideen]

Hello,

I became a Canadian PR on 4 August 2024 and left Canada on 16 September 2024 to study medicine abroad. Since then, I haven’t lived continuously in Canada.

Here’s my situation so far:

• 2024: I spent 44 days in Canada before leaving.
• 2025: I returned to Canada in July 2025 and stayed for one month.
• 2026 & 2027: I plan to spend 3 months in Canada each summer (90 days per year).
• 2028–2029: After graduating in July 2028, I plan to live continuously in Canada for one year (July 2028 – August 2029).

Even with this plan, it seems I will still fall short of the required 730 days to maintain PR status.

My question is: What will happen if I don’t complete the 730 days in Canada? Are there any options or exceptions for students in my situation? How can I ensure I don’t lose my PR status?

Thank you for your advice.

 

[steaky]

Hello,

I became a Canadian PR on 4 August 2024 and left Canada on 16 September 2024 to study medicine abroad. Since then, I haven’t lived continuously in Canada.

Here’s my situation so far:

• 2024: I spent 44 days in Canada before leaving.
• 2025: I returned to Canada in July 2025 and stayed for one month.
• 2026 & 2027: I plan to spend 3 months in Canada each summer (90 days per year).
• 2028–2029: After graduating in July 2028, I plan to live continuously in Canada for one year (July 2028 – August 2029).

Even with this plan, it seems I will still fall short of the required 730 days to maintain PR status.

My question is: What will happen if I don’t complete the 730 days in Canada? Are there any options or exceptions for students in my situation? How can I ensure I don’t lose my PR status?

Thank you for your advice.

After graduating in July 2028, return to Canada and do not renew your PR card until you physical lived in Canada 730 days.

 

[SyedZainulabideen]

After graduating in July 2028, return to Canada and do not renew your PR card until you physical lived in Canada 730 days.

Thank you for your advice. I have a follow-up question:


Since my 5-year PR period will complete in August 2029, can I apply for the renewal of my PR card after 2029? How will the 5-year residency obligation work in this case if I complete the required 730 days after August 2029? Will IRCC accept it, or will it affect my PR status?

I want to understand how the timing of completing 730 days interacts with the PR card renewal and the 5-year residency requirement.

Thank you for your guidance.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you for your advice. I have a follow-up question:


Since my 5-year PR period will complete in August 2029, can I apply for the renewal of my PR card after 2029? How will the 5-year residency obligation work in this case if I complete the required 730 days after August 2029? Will IRCC accept it, or will it affect my PR status?

I want to understand how the timing of completing 730 days interacts with the PR card renewal and the 5-year residency requirement.

Thank you for your guidance.

You apply once you meet RO and the 730 days even if your PR card has expired. Once you return to Canada, you don't leave until you do.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/status.html

To keep your PR status, you must have been in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years. These 730 days don’t need to be continuous.

 

[armoured]

Thank you for your advice. I have a follow-up question:


Since my 5-year PR period will complete in August 2029, can I apply for the renewal of my PR card after 2029? How will the 5-year residency obligation work in this case if I complete the required 730 days after August 2029? Will IRCC accept it, or will it affect my PR status?

I want to understand how the timing of completing 730 days interacts with the PR card renewal and the 5-year residency requirement.

Thank you for your guidance.

To clarify one thing: the PR card is NOT your status. You are not required to have a valid PR card while you are in Canada. Being out of compliance with the residency obligation does not mean you are 'illegal' - just stay in Canada until you have the 730 days. You basically only need the PR card to travel (and to get some documents like driver's license/health card, which you should make sure to do before your current PR card expires, i.e. after you've returned for good in 2028).

BTW since you will have some days in Canada from previous years, you won't need to stay 730 days straight. The key thing is to have minimum 730 days in Canada (or better, max 1095 days outside Canada) in the last five years looking back from the day you apply. In other words in 2029 your days from 2024 will still count (only to the actual day), in 2030 days counting back to 2025, etc. So in first half 2030, your 3 months + 3 + 1 ('24-26) will still count, latter half of that year the 3 + 3 months ('25-26), etc.

Hopefully when you apply (with an extra, say, 15-30 days) you'll get the PR card renewal processed relatively quickly, so perhaps won't have to do without the PR card too long.

When does your current PR card expire?

 

[SyedZainulabideen]

To clarify one thing: the PR card is NOT your status. You are not required to have a valid PR card while you are in Canada. Being out of compliance with the residency obligation does not mean you are 'illegal' - just stay in Canada until you have the 730 days. You basically only need the PR card to travel (and to get some documents like driver's license/health card, which you should make sure to do before your current PR card expires, i.e. after you've returned for good in 2028).

BTW since you will have some days in Canada from previous years, you won't need to stay 730 days straight. The key thing is to have minimum 730 days in Canada (or better, max 1095 days outside Canada) in the last five years looking back from the day you apply. In other words in 2029 your days from 2024 will still count (only to the actual day), in 2030 days counting back to 2025, etc. So in first half 2030, your 3 months + 3 + 1 ('24-26) will still count, latter half of that year the 3 + 3 months ('25-26), etc.

Hopefully when you apply (with an extra, say, 15-30 days) you'll get the PR card renewal processed relatively quickly, so perhaps won't have to do without the PR card too long.

When does your current PR card expire?

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. This really helped clarify things for me.


To answer your question, my PR card expires on 16 August 2029, and on the back of the card it states PR since 2 August 2024.

 

[armoured]

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. This really helped clarify things for me.


To answer your question, my PR card expires on 16 August 2029, and on the back of the card it states PR since 2 August 2024.

That's more or less what I expected (i.e. when your card expires). That means that after you return to Canada in summer 2028 (based on your current plans) you'll have a year to deal with things in Canada. Your biggest inconvenience will be the need to restrict travel or not travel at all after your card expires (you could transit through USA if you have a US visa).

Note that I think I screwed up the years mentioned for your three month stays - ignore mine, only you can do the calcs.

Two important things:
-after approximately Jan 2028, you'll be out of compliance with the RO. In that time, there is a risk - albeit small - that CBSA would interview you more carefully and identify the non-compliance. If that non-compliance is small, chances are you'd get not much more than a verbal warning eg 'be careful about your residency obligation.' If so, you should assume that means there is a note to your file and you should travel less. (The more you interact at border with CBSA, the higher the chance they decide to escalate.) In other words: plan to travel less/not at all after you return to Canada to remain (in summer 2028).

Most importantly:
-you said you are studying medicine. If your plan is to somehow get accepted into whatever programs are needed to become a doctor (or similar) in Canada, places are VERY limited. It's not my area of expertise - but you MUST take into account that if that's your plan, it is highly contingent on something quite difficult.

Or to be very blunt: your plan to complete your studies and return to Canada to retain your PR status is probably feasible without much difficulty, if you stick to what is outlined here. If, after you complete your studies in 2028, you find that you must remain abroad to eg get residency placements and the like - that may NOT be compatible with retaining your PR status. And getting your foreign credentials in medicine recognized in Canada is a whole separate topic.

I believe we have seen the situation here - by the way - that programs in Canada or the USA might require currently valid PR cards and/or PR cards that show status extending / covering the course of study. You should take that into account or check wherever possible - you basically cannot rely on IRCC, CBSA or others to provide you docs more quickly or under some exceptional basis, or otherwise work to facilitate your career plans in medicine. Likewise getting accreditation in Canada or even enrolled in programs to get accreditation - if they require current PR/citizenship docs, that's on you.

 

[SyedZainulabideen]

That's more or less what I expected (i.e. when your card expires). That means that after you return to Canada in summer 2028 (based on your current plans) you'll have a year to deal with things in Canada. Your biggest inconvenience will be the need to restrict travel or not travel at all after your card expires (you could transit through USA if you have a US visa).

Note that I think I screwed up the years mentioned for your three month stays - ignore mine, only you can do the calcs.

Two important things:
-after approximately Jan 2028, you'll be out of compliance with the RO. In that time, there is a risk - albeit small - that CBSA would interview you more carefully and identify the non-compliance. If that non-compliance is small, chances are you'd get not much more than a verbal warning eg 'be careful about your residency obligation.' If so, you should assume that means there is a note to your file and you should travel less. (The more you interact at border with CBSA, the higher the chance they decide to escalate.) In other words: plan to travel less/not at all after you return to Canada to remain (in summer 2028).

Most importantly:
-you said you are studying medicine. If your plan is to somehow get accepted into whatever programs are needed to become a doctor (or similar) in Canada, places are VERY limited. It's not my area of expertise - but you MUST take into account that if that's your plan, it is highly contingent on something quite difficult.

Or to be very blunt: your plan to complete your studies and return to Canada to retain your PR status is probably feasible without much difficulty, if you stick to what is outlined here. If, after you complete your studies in 2028, you find that you must remain abroad to eg get residency placements and the like - that may NOT be compatible with retaining your PR status. And getting your foreign credentials in medicine recognized in Canada is a whole separate topic.

I believe we have seen the situation here - by the way - that programs in Canada or the USA might require currently valid PR cards and/or PR cards that show status extending / covering the course of study. You should take that into account or check wherever possible - you basically cannot rely on IRCC, CBSA or others to provide you docs more quickly or under some exceptional basis, or otherwise work to facilitate your career plans in medicine. Likewise getting accreditation in Canada or even enrolled in programs to get accreditation - if they require current PR/citizenship docs, that's on you.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I understand the risks and practical limitations you mentioned.

To clarify my plan: I will graduate with an MD in 2028 and intend to return to Canada in summer 2028 and remain in Canada continuously. I am not planning to leave Canada again. My goal is to pursue the Canadian licensing pathway (MCCQE/LMCC) and apply for residency positions within Canada, fully aware of how competitive and limited these spots are.

From an immigration perspective, my priority is to maintain PR status by staying physically in Canada, even if that means travel restrictions or delays. I understand that my PR card may expire in 2029, but as long as I remain in Canada and later meet the 730-day residency obligation within the rolling 5-year period, I can apply for renewal after that point.

Thanks again for sharing your experience — it’s been very helpful.

 

[armoured]

From an immigration perspective, my priority is to maintain PR status by staying physically in Canada, even if that means travel restrictions or delays. I understand that my PR card may expire in 2029, but as long as I remain in Canada and later meet the 730-day residency obligation within the rolling 5-year period, I can apply for renewal after that point.

Yep, that part we can confirm.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I understand the risks and practical limitations you mentioned.

To clarify my plan: I will graduate with an MD in 2028 and intend to return to Canada in summer 2028 and remain in Canada continuously. I am not planning to leave Canada again. My goal is to pursue the Canadian licensing pathway (MCCQE/LMCC) and apply for residency positions within Canada, fully aware of how competitive and limited these spots are.

From an immigration perspective, my priority is to maintain PR status by staying physically in Canada, even if that means travel restrictions or delays. I understand that my PR card may expire in 2029, but as long as I remain in Canada and later meet the 730-day residency obligation within the rolling 5-year period, I can apply for renewal after that point.

Thanks again for sharing your experience — it’s been very helpful.

Your plan is much more difficult than you think although somewhat less difficult if you are fluent in French. There will also be a period where you won’t have a valid PR card which will likely be an issue when it comes to applying for residencies and the match. Did you do 2 years of high school in Ontario? If not it has become much more difficult to secure a residency in Ontario for any IMG. Unless you are fluent in French your best option would be to return and live in one of the smaller provinces and in a smaller communities that typically have leftover residency positions. Assume you want to become a GP because the odds of securing a specialist residency outside Quebec/French speakers is incredibly low and essentially impossible for many specialities. Leftover residency spots tend to be primarily in certain specialties like pathology, public health and GP and then some random single residencies in certain specialties that are likely a result of a poor match ranking by both the hospital and the med student. If fluent in French you have more options partially because most IMGs aren’t fluent in French and many Quebec med students don’t want to practice in Quebec. Would add that when applying for a residency after finishing med school a long period between completing med school and starting residency is not looked at favourably by most residency programs so if you didn’t secure a residency in Canada the first year most would be applying to US and Canadian residencies the 2nd year and would accept the US residency if they didn’t secure a Canadian residency. There are obviously some very valid reasons for needing break but those are still pretty rare. If undergoing intense cancer treatment your example then that would be a valid reason for taking a year or two off but most would try to come back as soon as possible even against medical advice. Very common do go back to a residency a few weeks after having a baby or in Canada you may take 3-6 months off depending on the speciality although legally you are entitled to a full year of maternity leave. None of the MDs I know have taken the full year of mat leave during residency. Most MDs also don’t have children during residency. If working after residency/fellowship most take much less time because they don’t get paid mat leave as self-employed, can’t find and often have to pay for their own locums, etc. In the case of IMGs that have to redo their residencies after already completing training in their home countries and who have been working as MDs that is viewed differently.