---
title: "Renew a PR card: application and document checklist"
description: "Renew a Canadian PR card through the Permanent Residence Portal, prepare the current checklist and keep your application copies separate from travel documents."
canonical: "https://dokus.app/en-ca/renew-pr-card/"
lang: "en-CA"
category: "Official documents"
reviewed: "2026-10-29"
app_store: "https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709"
translations:
  en-CA: "https://dokus.app/en-ca/renew-pr-card/"
---

# Renew a PR card: application and document checklist

To renew a PR card, check your eligibility and start the application in IRCC’s Permanent Residence Portal. IRCC accepts renewal when your card expires in less than nine months or has expired; complete the current document checklist, pay the fee separately and upload the receipt.

## Check whether renewal is the right route

The [PR card eligibility page](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/eligibility.html) requires you to have permanent resident status, be in Canada and meet the other listed conditions. IRCC does not mail PR cards outside Canada.

| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Card expired or expires in less than nine months | Choose renewal on the official PR card application page. |
| Card lost, stolen or damaged | Follow the replacement instructions for your location. |
| Outside Canada without a valid PR card | Check the permanent resident travel document, or PRTD, route. |

## Apply to renew the card

Use [IRCC’s renewal instructions](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html) to reach the current portal and forms.

1. Start the PR card application, IMM 5444, in the Permanent Residence Portal.
2. Complete the current Document Checklist, IMM 5644, and upload it with the supporting documents required for your situation.
3. Add any applicable forms or evidence for a representative or a change of personal information.
4. Pay through IRCC’s separate online payment service, then upload the receipt in the portal’s Fee Payment section.
5. Check every response and attachment. Complete the electronic signature as instructed, using your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, then submit.
6. Keep the submission record and follow IRCC’s application-status instructions.

Keep your personal application copies and receipt together in Dokus behind Face ID or Touch ID. 4.8 out of 5 stars [Free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709)

## Prepare documents from the current checklist

Read [Guide 5445](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5445-applying-permanent-resident-card-card-first-application-replacement-renewal-change-gender-identifier.html) alongside the checklist rather than copying another applicant’s dossier. The records you need depend on your circumstances. Use the current instructions for identity documents, your existing card, photographs and any residence or name-change evidence.

Make each requested copy legible and complete. Match the attachments to the checklist before submission. Keep official downloads unchanged, and use the document’s own electronic-signature instructions. A handwritten image added in another app does not replace the portal’s declaration.

If you need to digitise a paper record, see [scanning documents on iPhone](https://dokus.app/en-ca/scan-id-on-iphone/). Only [compress a PDF copy](https://dokus.app/en-ca/compress-id-scan/) when the portal permits the resulting format. The output contains image-based pages without selectable PDF text or preserved digital signatures; keep official originals unchanged. Never hide a field the checklist requires.

## Plan travel around the actual credential

A phone scan of a PR card does not replace the valid card or PRTD needed to board commercial transport to Canada. Check your documents before booking travel, especially if the existing card may become invalid while you are away.

Keep the application reference and payment receipt with your personal copies, but retain required originals separately. For organising those references, read [safe document storage in Canada](https://dokus.app/en-ca/safe-document-storage/).

## Questions about PR card renewal

### When can I renew my PR card?

IRCC’s renewal page says to renew if your card expires in less than nine months or has expired. Check the eligibility rules before applying.

### Are PR card renewal fees paid in the portal?

IRCC instructs applicants to pay through its separate online payment service and upload the receipt in the Permanent Residence Portal.

### Can I apply while outside Canada?

The PR card eligibility page requires you to be in Canada. If you are outside Canada without a valid PR card, check the official PRTD instructions for returning.

### Can a stored PDF replace my PR card for a flight?

No. A personal scan is a reference copy. Check IRCC’s requirements for a valid PR card or PRTD before travelling by commercial carrier to Canada.

## Sources

Reviewed on October 29, 2026

- [IRCC: Get, renew or replace a permanent resident card](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html)
- [IRCC: Who can apply for a PR card](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/eligibility.html)
- [IRCC: Guide 5445, applying for a permanent resident card](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5445-applying-permanent-resident-card-card-first-application-replacement-renewal-change-gender-identifier.html)