PR card and citizenship

Permanent residents must hold a valid permanent resident card, or a permanent resident travel document, to return to Canada by plane, train, bus or boat. An expired card does not make you lose your status - it only prevents you from coming back.

Maintaining your status

You must have spent at least 730 days in Canada over the past five years. Some of the time spent abroad may count toward that total, depending on the situation: accompanying a spouse who is a citizen, full-time employment with a Canadian business. If in doubt, have your calculation checked before you file.

Becoming a citizen

Most applicants must be permanent residents, have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days over the past five years, have filed their income tax returns, pass the citizenship test and prove their proficiency in French or English.

There are also cases where a person is a citizen without knowing it, through descent, and others where a person wrongly believes they are one. A proof of citizenship settles the question.

How we help

We calculate your actual physical presence, we prepare the renewal or the travel document when you are stuck abroad, and we prepare the citizenship application as well as the test.