Q.  My PR Card is expiring.  How can I renew it if I do not have the required residency in Canada?

A. As a Canadian Permanent Resident you will be issued Permanent Residence Card or PR Card. PR Cards are valid for 5 years from the date of issue. You must meet the “residency requirements” in order to be able to renew your card and maintain your Permanent Resident status.

The general requirement for maintaining permanent residence in Canada is that the resident must be physically present in Canada for at least two years (730 days) in the previous five years.

For example, if your PR Card was issued in January 2004 and it valid until  January 2009, then to keep your status in Canada, you must reside in Canada for  at least 730 days from January 2009 and January 2009. Conversly therefore, you can be  outside of Canada for any three years within that five year time frame.

There are certain exceptions to the residency requirement mentioned above for those travelling with a Canadian family or business in certain cases. The exceptions are:

• If the Canadian permanent resident resides abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse, partner or parent, this time abroad will count toward their Canadian residency.
• if the Canadian permanent resident was employed abroad by a Canadian business, or in the public service of Canada, or of a Canadian province, then this will also count toward their residency.
• if the Canadian resident has been residing abroad with a permanent resident spouse, partner or parent employed by a Canadian business or in public service of Canada or a Canadian province, than the permanent resident can also calculate this period as part of their residence.

So depending on how many days you have resided in Canada and whether you qualify under one of the exemptions mentioned above, you can renew your PR Card. And if none of the above applies, then there is always the possibility of making a case for renewal of your PR Card on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds.