The identity document used by Canadian permanent residents is the so-called Maple Leaf Card, which is also used for entry and exit. Generally speaking, the validity period of the Canadian Permanent Resident Card is a span of five years from the date of issuance. In order to maintain the status of a Canadian permanent resident, one needs to have lived for two years within the past five years. This article is aimed at those who immigrated to Canada to answer the question of how to deal with the expiration of the Maple Leaf Card.

Many people will ask whether the expiration of the Maple Leaf Card means losing the status of a permanent resident. The answer is no. Whether a person loses the status of a permanent resident depends on whether a person has fulfilled the residency obligation, that is, living for two years within five years. It does not depend on whether the Maple Leaf Card has expired. Even if the Maple Leaf Card expires, as long as the permanent resident is in Canada, it will not affect his permanent resident status. He only needs to go to the Immigration Bureau to apply for a new Maple Leaf Card. However, if the Maple Leaf Card expires when returning to Canada from other countries, he will not be able to enter Canada smoothly. In this case, you need to apply for a Canadian permanent resident travel document at the local Canadian Visa Center to return to Canada.

Here are some ways to keep your Maple Leaf Card for your reference:

For permanent residents who have just logged in to Canada, it is a wise choice to start preparing residence plans and evidence for the next five years from the beginning. In this way, not only can the Maple Leaf Card be successfully retained when it expires, but also good conditions for naturalization can be created within the five-year period.

2. For those who are permanent residents and have lived in Canada for two to three years, they can consider applying for card replacement at this time. Since the Maple Leaf Card is still valid for more than two years, even if the past residence time is not sufficient, there is still plenty of time to meet the immigration bureau’s requirements for residence obligations.

When there are only six months left before the Maple Leaf Card expires, you should immediately start preparing to submit a replacement application. This includes preparing application materials, taking photos, paying application fees, filling out forms, and then submitting them to the Immigration Bureau. The entire process takes about six months. Most permanent residents use this method.

4. If your Maple Leaf Card is valid for less than three months, you can apply for expedited service. At this time, reasonable reasons must be provided, such as urgent visits to family members or friends who are seriously ill, and departure tickets must be provided. Urgent applications must be submitted by registered mail and must be marked on the envelope.

5. Permanent residents whose Maple Leaf Cards have expired can still retain their status. The key is whether they have fulfilled their residency obligations in the past five years. If they are in Canada, even if their Maple Leaf Cards expire, their status will not be affected. They only need to replace a new card before leaving. If they are abroad, they must declare a travel document at the local visa center to return to Canada, and then submit an application to replace their Maple Leaf Cards.

In short, retaining Maple Leaf Cards requires paying attention to many details and mastering many skills. If the information provided is incomplete or incorrect, or there are errors in filling out the form, it may lead to delays or even cancellation of status.