prcard.ca is independent software. It is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada and does not provide legal advice.

Skip to content
prcard.caFrançais
Renewal guide › Step 7

PR card processing time

IRCC publishes one number and updates it about once a week. Here is today's figure, what it measures, and what happens between submitting and holding the card.

Renewal right now: 38 daysTaken from IRCC's own feed, not from forums

IRCC's figures today1

Renewal or replacement
38 daysExisting permanent residents applying in the PR Portal.
First card
37 daysNew permanent residents after landing (the card is issued automatically; no application needed unless it never arrived).
IRCC last updated
Sep 9, 2026IRCC refreshes this figure roughly weekly.
Minimum, even when urgent
3 weeks

We check IRCC's published figure and update this page; last verified Sep 11, 2026. A live history chart is coming.

What the number means

IRCC's processing time is how long it recently took to process most complete applications, counted from the day the application is received to the day a decision is made. It is a look backwards, not a promise for yours. Incomplete applications are returned and do not count; urgent requests are handled separately.

Private sites quote anything from one month to seven for the same application because they quote different dates. The only figure that matters is IRCC's on the day you check, which is the one above.1

While you wait

Your application shows as Submitted in the PR Portal, and you can track it in IRCC's application status tool. The card is mailed to the residential address in your application; IRCC sends cards only to Canadian addresses.2

  • Moving? If you move within 3 weeks of applying, or have already moved, tell IRCC through its change-of-address tool before the card ships.
  • Pickup in person. IRCC may ask you to collect the card at an office with your passport and originals. A card not collected within 180 days is destroyed, and you apply and pay again.
  • Card not received? After the processing time has passed and 6 weeks have gone by, and before 180 days: complete IRCC's solemn declaration for a card never received. After 180 days: a new application with a new fee.
  • Travelling in the meantime. An expired card does not end your status, but you need a valid card (or a PR travel document from abroad) to board a flight back to Canada.

Can it go faster?

Only through an urgent request, which needs proof: a job opportunity or work travel, your own serious illness, the serious illness or death of a family member, or a crisis or vulnerable situation. Even then the minimum is 3 weeks and IRCC does not guarantee the date. Leaving in under 3 weeks means a PR travel document from outside Canada instead.3

An urgent request without proof is processed at the normal speed. Missing documents in any application put it at the back of the line, returned.

Common questions

How long does a PR card renewal take right now?
IRCC's published figure is 38 days for existing permanent residents, updated Sep 9, 2026. It changes weekly; the figure at the top of this page is the current one.
Does the processing time include mailing?
No. It runs to the decision. Add mailing time, typically one to two weeks within Canada, before you expect the card.
Can I check the status of my PR card application?
Yes, in the PR Portal and in IRCC's online application status tool with your application number.
Is the processing time longer for paper applications?
IRCC publishes one figure per card type; the portal is the route IRCC recommends.

Sources

  1. 1.IRCC processing timescanada.ca
  2. 2.canada.ca, after you applycanada.ca
  3. 3.canada.ca, urgent processingcanada.ca

* IRCC processing times — IRCC updated Sep 9, 2026 · we verified Sep 11, 2026