Yes, you can stay in Canada while waiting for Permanent Residence (PR), but you must maintain legal status by extending your current temporary status (like a visitor, worker, or student permit) before it expires, which grants you "implied status" until a decision is made on your PR application, or by applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if eligible for work. Leaving Canada during processing is risky and requires a valid PR card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to re-enter, and it can lead to application abandonment, so staying put is generally recommended.
Nope. If you're in Canada on a visitor Visa you must return home to your country and from there start the application process to immigrate. It's simply not possible for you to have a tourist visa that will allow you to stay in Canada long enough to complete the immigration application process even if it was allowed.
To keep your permanent resident status, you must have been in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years. These 730 days don't need to be continuous.
A bridging open work permit (BOWP) lets you keep working while you wait for the results of your permanent residence application.
It is a common misconception that once you file an inland sponsorship application for permanent residence in Canada, that the person being sponsored cannot leave Canada. This is not the case. Applicants are allowed to enter and leave Canada even while their inland application is in process.
Countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom use this rule. If you spend 183 days or more there in a year, you are a tax resident. Each country has its own way of applying the 183-day rule. Some use a calendar year, while others use a fiscal year.
However, you must wait for your PR card to arrive by mail before traveling internationally. If you leave Canada before receiving it, you'll need to apply for a PRTD to return — a process that can take time.
*Processing times for base streams may differ based on when an applicant submits their immigration application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The service standard for enhanced PNP applications is six months, while base PNP applications have a service standard of 11 months.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. If you're allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If that's the case, they'll put the date you need to leave by in your passport.
Your best options are:
Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are often considered the easiest provinces to get PR in Canada due to flexible eligibility requirements and labor market needs.
Yes, you can lose your permanent resident (PR) status. If you haven't been in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years, you may lose your PR status.
According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 7 months to 33 months to process. The time range fluctuates depending on the office location, basis for the filing, and other factors.
Canada will know when and where someone enters the country, and when and where they leave the country by land and air. The Government of Canada will achieve this by working closely with its U.S. counterparts and exchanging biographic entry information on all travellers (including Canadian citizens) at the land border.
While you wait for a decision, your family member may be able to join you in Canada. While you wait for a decision on your spouse, partner or dependent child's permanent residence (PR) application, they can apply for a visitor visa.
If you have not moved to Canada by December 31, 2028, you will not meet the PR residency requirement within the five-year period after you became a permanent resident. If you move to Canada by December 31, 2028, you cannot leave Canada for 730 days; otherwise, you will not be able to meet the residency obligation.
Travelling While Waiting for PR Card
Yes, you can still travel back to Canada without a PR card, but there are additional steps you must follow to re-enter Canada. If your new PR card isn't ready before you leave, you need a PRTD to return to Canada by commercial vehicle.
What is the 90% Rule? In a nutshell, the 90% rule is simple: if 90% or more of your worldwide income is from Canadian sources in the tax year, you're eligible for non-refundable tax credits reserved for residents.
2. Inadmissibility: Overstaying can lead to a determination of inadmissibility, if you do not rectify or change your status after 30 days in Canada, your departure order becomes a removal order, and you could be deported from Canada. If you are deported, it can be quite difficult to return to Canada. 3.
Express Entry continues to lead as the fastest and most efficient PR pathway in Canada. In 2025, IRCC aims to clear 100% of its application inventory, covering the three major programs — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
In most cases, it will take about 90 days for your card to be processed. To streamline this process, submit a complete application package and make sure that you've fulfilled the residency requirement. Sometimes the processing can be delayed. This usually happens when the IRCC has too many applications to work on.
Key Differences Between Canadian Permanent Residency and Citizenship. Status: PR is a status granted to live and work in Canada indefinitely, while Citizenship is full membership in the Canadian community. Rights: Citizenship offers additional rights such as voting and protection from deportation.
Typically, getting PR in Canada takes around six months to a year, depending on the program you're applying through.
If a person is out of status in Canada, they are expected to leave the country. If they want to remain in Canada, they will be given a chance to apply for a restoration of their legal status, and they must do so within 90 days after the expiry date of their immigration documents.
Visa-Free Travel: Where Can Canadian PR Holders Go?