Recently, some Canadian and Chinese global customers have arrived in Canada and started a new overseas chapter. The Maple Leaf Card, like our country’s identity documents, has a validity period. While settling in Canada, you must pay attention to the remaining period of the card and go through the renewal procedures before expiration to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Maple Leaf Card extension applications are only available within Canada. In addition to applying for extensions by mail, Canadian permanent residents can now submit card replacement applications directly through the Internet.

The Canadian Maple Leaf Card (Permanent Resident PR Card) is valid for five years.

To renew your permanent residence status, you must apply once every five years and meet the requirements of actual residence for more than two years in five years to ensure that your qualifications can be extended.

When applying to renew a document, all information needs to be packaged together and submitted to the relevant department through postal channels. After the agency completes the review process, the updated identity document can be collected.

During this period, applicants must endure a long mailing cycle and bear the risk that documents may be lost.

Currently, the Canadian Immigration Department has opened the online application and card renewal channel for permanent residents!

Applicants only need to prepare electronic materials and submit them directly online!

01. Continue the Maple Leaf Card online application channel

Maple Leaf Card holders can now renew their cards through the Maple Leaf Card channel in PR:

Currently, the business scope of Maple Leaf Cards that PR can apply for is as follows:

1. Permanent residents applying for a Maple Leaf Card for the first time;

2. Update the validity period of Maple Leaf Card;

3. Replace a lost, stolen or damaged Maple Leaf Card;

4. Change the name, gender, and address of the Maple Leaf Card;

5. The Maple Leaf Card is not received within 180 days after handling the business.

Materials required for card renewal

The documents used to apply for the Maple Leaf Card are actually the same as those submitted on paper. Applicants only need to fill in the information according to the form provided by the system and submit other relevant documents together.

Maple Leaf Card holders can apply for an extension and go through the renewal procedures nine months in advance at the earliest.

Renewal materials

1. Maple Leaf Card renewal application form;

2. Current Maple Leaf Card;

3. Valid passport or travel document;

4. ID photo (50 mm x 70 mm);

5. Proof of residence in Canada;

6. If you are under 18 years old, you must also provide your birth certificate and proof of enrollment.

Renewal conditions

According to Canadian immigration regulations, people with Maple Leaf status are required to reside in the country for a cumulative two years, or 730 days, every five years. There is no requirement for continuity of residence.

Under the following special circumstances, time spent abroad can also be included in the time required for renewal:

Work outside of Canada, directly employed by a Canadian company or agency, or for the Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government.

Live with your significant other or cohabitant, and your significant other or cohabitant meets these requirements:

a. Identity is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

Professionals working in Canada can be local companies, institutions, or staff of federal, provincial or territorial government departments.

If a minor child lives abroad with his parents, one or more of his parents must meet these requirements:

a. Identity is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

Have an employment relationship in Canada, work for a Canadian company or institution, or serve the Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government.

Currently, the review time for Maple Leaf Card processing is 60 days.

02. The Canadian Immigration Department expands the scope of online applications

The online platform can handle Maple Leaf Card extension procedures, and the Canadian Immigration Agency recently announced that it will gradually expand the scope of electronic citizen registration services.

Currently, only single adult applicants can submit citizenship applications online.

The Immigration Bureau recently assured the public that this fall it will allow couples or several adults in a family to jointly apply for online citizenship, and relevant procedures will be implemented.

Next, the eligibility to apply for citizenship online will be extended to teenagers under the age of 18, and will also include cases where adults and teenagers form a family or group together.

The Immigration Bureau revealed that it will develop an additional authorized representative application project in the future to allow licensed immigration agents to legally complete all submission processes on behalf of applicants.

Naturalization application requirements

1. The applicant must be a permanent resident of Canada;

2. Must have actually lived in Canada for at least 1095 days in the 5 years before application;

3. File personal income taxes for at least 3 years within 5 years;

4. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must have appropriate English or French skills;

5. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must take the naturalization test;

6. You cannot be asked by Canada to leave the country under a deportation order;

7. Can be refused or banned due to criminal or security reasons.

The approval cycle for Canadian citizenship is two years and three months. If you need to go through relevant procedures, you must make time arrangements in advance.