I became a permanent resident on April 8, 2021, so the five-year period ends on April 8, 2026. However, my PR card shows an expiry date of June 1, 2026.
I have met the 730-day residency requirement.
When applying for renewal, does the 9-month window start based on the five-year period ending April 8, 2026, or based on the PR card expiry date of June 1, 2026—meaning it would begin on September 1, 2025?
The five year period for calculating compliance with the PR Residency Obligation does NOT end . . .
. . . as
@scylla noted in responding to your query in April:
I would like to clarify the residency requirement related to the PR renewal process. My understanding is that a permanent resident must have been physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) within the last 5 years in order to be eligible for a PR card renewal.
The residency obligation is a rolling obligation.
As
@scylla further noted (other than during the first five year period based on date of landing, that is based on the date you became a PR): "
This means that at any given time, you must be able to look at the previous five year period and have spent at least 730 days of that five year period in Canada."
Thus, if as you say you became a Canadian PR as of April 8, 2021 . . .
. . . then until April 7, 2026 the five year period is April 8, 2021 to April 7, 2026; this is the first five year period; so if the RO is calculated when entering Canada at a Port-of-Entry (PoE) up to April 8, 2026 such as September 6, 2025, or December 11, 2025, or February 9, 2026, the relevant five year period is April 8, 2021 to April 7, 2026
. . . as of April 9, 2026 the five year period is April 9, 2021 to April 8, 2026
. . . as of April 23, 2026 the five year period is April 23, 2021 to April 22, 2026
. . . as of November 27, 2026 the five year period is November 27, 2021 to November 26, 2026
. . . as of March 6, 2028 the five year period is March 6, 2023 to March 5, 2028
Note, the renewal of a PR card has NO impact on calculating RO compliance. Indeed, whether or not the PR card has been renewed is NOT relevant in calculating RO compliance.
For example: if you are issued a brand new PR card June 6, 2026, valid until June 6, 2031, then when returning to Canada from a trip abroad, say December 15, 2026, if you are questioned about RO compliance at the PoE the five year period is December 16, 2021 to December 15, 2026, that is the five year period preceding the day you are questioned at the PoE.
When To Apply For PR Card:
Your question about a "
window" for applying to renew a PR card is at best odd and seems to indicate some misunderstanding about how things work, which in conjunction with your characterization of when the five year period (for calculating RO compliance) "
ends," suggests you might want to read the IRCC information about PR status and the guide for PR card applications
again and more carefully.
You ask: "
When applying for renewal, does the 9-month window start based on the five-year period ending April 8, 2026, or based on the PR card expiry date of June 1, 2026—meaning it would begin on September 1, 2025?"
It appears this query is asking when is the soonest you can apply to renew your PR card, and thus is about the caution in the
PR card application guide under an "
Important information" heading, which states:
Important information: If your PR card is still valid for more than nine (9) months (270 days), do not apply for a renewal, unless your legal name or gender has changed. Otherwise, your application will be returned.
Not clear how or why this caused you some confusion. Not sure how it can be stated any more clearly than it is in the guide.
Moreover, that is only about how soon to make an application to renew the PR card. There is no "
window" as such because there is no time limit within which an application must be made. A PR does not even need to apply to renew their PR card to keep PR status. The application can be made up to nine months before a currently valid card expires, or months or years later, long AFTER the PR card has expired. (PR status itself does not expire.)
