If the holding of Canadian maple leaf card expires, it will cause many adverse consequences. This card is a certificate of identity in the Canadian federal skilled immigration program, which is different from the visa nature. Once expired, the cardholder will lose the right to stay legally in Canada, be unable to apply to become a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and will not be able to enjoy public services such as government benefits and medical insurance in Canada.

Maple Leaf Cards usually have a five-year validity period. If you fail to successfully obtain legal residence qualifications within a five-year period, or fail to renew your card in time before the card expires, your residence qualifications will be revoked. In view of this, we recommend that you regularly verify the validity period of the maple leaf card and be sure to complete the relevant procedures for renewal in time before the card expires.

If your maple leaf card has expired but still wants to continue living in Canada, you can choose to apply for a certificate called Permanent Resident Travel License ( ), also known as the Return Card. This document is for permanent residents who are outside Canada, hold invalid maple leaf cards, and plan to return to Canada. However, it is necessary to note that the return card is only a temporary entry certificate and is only available for one-time use, with a validity period of about 6 to 12 months. Therefore, after you return to Canada, be sure to replace your maple leaf card in time. Doing so can ensure that your identity as a permanent resident is legal and valid.

In addition, even if you hold a valid maple leaf card, if you fail to meet the prescribed residence requirements in Canada (for example, if you have not lived in Canada for a total of 730 days in any five-year period), it may still lead to the loss of your permanent resident status. In view of this, while solving the expiration of maple leaf card in a timely manner, we must also pay attention to the performance of residence responsibilities in order to prevent illegal residence.

In order to prevent all kinds of troubles that may arise from the failure of the maple leaf card, we recommend that you pay attention to the validity period of the maple leaf card regularly, and complete the card renewal procedures in time or apply for a card returning to Canada before the card expires. In addition, you need to ensure that you meet the living conditions in Canada to ensure your permanent resident status. If you have more questions, it is recommended to consult the Canadian Immigration Agency or hire a professional immigration lawyer to obtain the most accurate information and guidance.