How the 730-day residency obligation works (IRPA section 28)
Section 28(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) requires a permanent resident to comply with a residency obligation with respect to every 5-year period. Under section 28(2)(b), the 5-year window depends on how long you have been a permanent resident:
- Permanent resident for less than 5 years: you must show that you will be able to meet the 730-day obligation during the 5-year period immediately after you became a permanent resident.
- Permanent resident for 5 years or more: you must have met the 730-day obligation in the 5-year period immediately before the application or examination.
The 730 days do not need to be continuous, and any part of a day spent physically in Canada counts as a full day toward the residency obligation. To compare this rule with the 1,095-day physical presence requirement for citizenship, see the Canadian citizenship application guide.
Source: IRPA section 28; IRCC: Understand permanent resident status, checked 2026-10-19.
Three situations where days outside Canada count toward the 730 days
Under IRPA section 28(2)(a), in addition to physical presence in Canada, days outside Canada count toward the 730 days in three specific situations:
- Accompanying a Canadian citizen abroad: you are outside Canada accompanying a spouse or common-law partner, or in the case of a child, a parent, who is a Canadian citizen.
- Employed full-time abroad by a Canadian business or public service: you are outside Canada employed on a full-time basis by a qualifying Canadian business or in the federal public administration or the public service of a province.
- Accompanying a permanent resident employed full-time abroad: you are outside Canada accompanying a permanent resident spouse, common-law partner, or parent (in the case of a child) who is employed full-time by a qualifying Canadian business or in the federal or provincial public service.
Claims for time outside Canada require supporting evidence such as the citizen spouse's Canadian passport or citizenship certificate, proof of cohabitation abroad, or full-time Canadian employment contracts and tax records.
Source: IRPA section 28; IRCC: Guide 5445, Appendix A (Residency obligation), checked 2026-10-19.
Renewing on form IMM 5444 and urgent processing
When your PR card will expire within 9 months (270 days) or has expired, and you are physically in Canada, you can submit your renewal online through the Permanent Residence Portal (form IMM 5444):
- Core documents: completed form IMM 5444, a copy of your current PR card, a copy of your valid passport or travel document, digital photos taken within the last 12 months meeting IRCC specifications (with studio name, date taken, and your name and date of birth), and the C$50 fee receipt.
- Five-year history: list all addresses, employment and educational activities, and every absence from Canada over the past 5 years, reconciled against passport stamps and CBSA travel history records.
- Urgent processing: available if you must travel within the next 3 months due to your own serious illness, the serious illness or death of a family member, or work/employment requirements, supported by proof of travel and payment receipts.
Check current processing times on the IRCC processing times tracker, or see our PR card renewal service page.
Source: IRCC: Apply for, renew or replace a PR card; IRCC: Urgent PR card processing, checked 2026-10-19.
Outside Canada without a valid PR card: the Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)
IRCC does not mail PR cards to addresses outside Canada. If you are outside Canada without a valid PR card and plan to return by commercial air, bus, train or boat, you must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD, form IMM 5524, fee C$50) from outside Canada:
- A PRTD is normally issued for a single entry so you can board a commercial carrier to return to Canada and then apply for your PR card from inside Canada.
- If you have fewer than 730 days, an officer may consider whether humanitarian and compassionate factors (taking into account the best interests of a child directly affected) justify retaining permanent resident status under IRPA section 28(2)(c).
Source: IRCC: Permanent resident travel document; IRPA section 28(2)(c), checked 2026-10-19.