How many days must a Canadian permanent resident be in Canada?

In general, a permanent resident must be in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years. Some time outside Canada may count in specific situations.

Do the 730 days need to be continuous?

No. The days do not need to be continuous, but the applicable five-year period and any qualifying time outside Canada must be evaluated correctly.

Is CanResidency affiliated with IRCC?

No. CanResidency is an independent planning and record-keeping app and does not provide legal advice.

PR Card 730-Day Rule Explained | CanResidency | CanResidency / 枫叶卡管家

Last reviewed: July 31, 2026Primary source: IRCC / Canada.caIndependent planning guide

How does the Canada PR 730-day rule work?

To meet the residency obligation, a permanent resident generally needs at least 730 days in Canada during the relevant five-year period. The days need not be continuous, and limited categories of time outside Canada may count; verify those categories in current IRCC guidance.

Why the five-year window causes mistakes

The answer is not determined by the expiry date printed on a PR card. The relevant period depends on how long you have held PR status and the date on which compliance is assessed. After the first five years, the calculation looks back over the immediately preceding five-year period. This is why a static spreadsheet total can become misleading as time passes.

Build a travel record you can audit

Record the date you became a permanent resident.
Record every departure from and return to Canada.
Keep supporting records such as passports, tickets, itineraries, and border-history documents.
Document any time outside Canada that you believe may qualify under an exception.
Recalculate using the date you plan to travel, renew a PR card, or otherwise need to demonstrate compliance.

Check a future trip before booking

A useful tracker should answer more than “How many days do I have today?” CanResidency lets you add a planned absence and compare the resulting timeline before you commit to travel. This is a planning signal, not a legal determination.

Independent tool: CanResidency is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada. It does not replace the official calculation or professional legal advice.

Official source: IRCC: Understand permanent resident status.

Review your rolling 730-day timeline · PR-card renewal checklist · Future-trip planning