{"id":2290,"date":"2026-11-11T20:44:01","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T20:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/pr-card-renewal-residency-obligation-appendix-a\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T20:44:01","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T20:44:01","slug":"pr-card-renewal-residency-obligation-appendix-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/pr-card-renewal-residency-obligation-appendix-a\/","title":{"rendered":"PR card renewal when you have been outside Canada: the 730-day rule, Appendix A, and what happens if you are short"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 11, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 11, 2026: section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, IRCC’s PR card guide (Guide 5445, modified October 16, 2026), IRCC’s PR card renewal instructions and the IRCC fee list checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The rule:<\/strong> to renew a PR card you must meet the residency obligation: at least 730 days in Canada (or an accepted equivalent) in the last five years (IRPA s. 28<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The risk:<\/strong> if your absences put you under 730 days, the renewal goes to a local IRCC office to look at the residency obligation, and you can end up facing a removal order.<\/p>\n

What to do:<\/strong> count your days before you apply. If you are short, get advice first, and prepare humanitarian reasons with the application.<\/p>\n

How to count the days<\/a> \u00b7 Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The lawyers who handle these files<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
\n

Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

A PR card expires, but your permanent resident status doesn’t expire with it. What matters is the residency obligation. To keep your status, you must have at least 730 days in Canada, or days that count as Canada, in every five-year period. When you renew your card, IRCC asks you to list every absence from Canada in the last five years, and that list is how it checks the 730 days. If you clearly meet the rule, renewal is routine. If you might not, the renewal can become the start of a process that ends your status, so the application needs to be prepared with that in mind.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, advises permanent residents on the residency obligation and takes residency appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

How do I count the 730 days?<\/h2>\n

Count every day in the five years before you apply (or since you became a permanent resident, if that is less than five years) that falls into one of the categories in section 28(2)(a). The days don’t have to be in a row. Days physically in Canada are the usual way, but some days outside Canada count too.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Days that count toward the 730<\/caption>\n
Situation<\/th>\nCounts?<\/th>\nSource<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Physically present in Canada<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nIRPA s. 28(2)(a)(i)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outside Canada accompanying your spouse or common-law partner (or, for a child, a parent) who is a Canadian citizen<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\ns. 28(2)(a)(ii)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outside Canada, employed full time by a Canadian business or in the federal or a provincial public service<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\ns. 28(2)(a)(iii)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outside Canada accompanying a permanent resident spouse, partner or parent who is employed that way<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\ns. 28(2)(a)(iv)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outside Canada for any other reason<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\ns. 28(2)(a)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

If you became a permanent resident less than five years ago, you only need to show you can still reach 730 days within your first five years (s. 28(2)(b)(i)). If it’s been five years or more, the five years immediately before the examination are counted (s. 28(2)(b)(ii)).<\/p>\n

What does Appendix A ask?<\/h2>\n

The renewal form (IMM 5444) asks you to list all your absences from Canada in the past five years, and to send proof that you lived here. IRCC’s guide says, “You must provide all your absences from Canada in the past 5 years,” and asks for copies of two pieces of evidence of residence in Canada, such as pay stubs, bank statements, Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment or a rental agreement.<\/p>\n

\nChecklist: getting the absences right<\/summary>\n