Leaving Canada and Understanding RO

[sg1234]

Hi all,

I landed in October last year as a new PR and I am planning to leave by April of next year, my PR card is valid till late March 2028. I had a few questions:

1. What will be the last date I can come back and try to meet the RO to not lose my PR status? I am assuming that I should come back before April 2027.
2. I filed taxes for 2022 and also received a refund. I will be filing taxes for 2023 also, do I need to file taxes for the years I am not present in Canada?
3. I am receiving payments from CRA like GST/HST credits, do I need to inform that I am leaving Canada and not receive these payments?
4. I will be closing my bank account, cancel my phone number, do I need to anything else before leaving?

 

[foodie69]

To retain your permanent resident status, you must have accumulated at least 730 days of residence in Canada within the past five years. These 730 days do not need to be continuous, and some of your time abroad may count towards your total.

 

[YVR123]

Can't tell the exact date.
Since you landed in Oct 2022 and will leave in Apr 2024. Using the worst case for numbers, let not count days in Oct and Apr.
If you haven't travelled at all, you have stayed in Canada for 17 months before you leave. You still need around 220 days before Oct 2027 to meet your RO.
So you will need to be back roughly before March 2027?
I didn't check my math. But make sure that you do not stay OUTSIDE of Canada more than 1095 days 5 years after you landed. (PR card expiry date do NOT impact RO)

 

[sg1234]

Can't tell the exact date.
Since you landed in Oct 2022 and will leave in Apr 2024. Using the worst case for numbers, let not count days in Oct and Apr.
If you haven't travelled at all, you have stayed in Canada for 17 months before you leave. You still need around 220 days before Oct 2027 to meet your RO.
So you will need to be back roughly before March 2027?
I didn't check my math. But make sure that you do not stay OUTSIDE of Canada more than 1095 days 5 years after you landed. (PR card expiry date do NOT impact RO)

I was outside of Canada for 2 months so based on your calculation, I should come back before January 2027? Shouldn't I just add 1095 days from the date I left and make sure to come back before this date which will be April 2027?

 

[Besram]

To calculate the latest date you can arrive in Canada to still meet RO in the first five years since you became a PR, do the following:

1. Determine the 5 year anniversary of your landing date
2. Determine the total amount of days you will have spent in Canada by the time you will leave
3. Calculate 730 days - (2). This is the amount of days you still have to be in Canada to meet RO
4. Calculate (1) - (3). This is the latest date you can arrive in Canada.

Note that it is highly advisable you include a few weeks as margin of error for your calculations (especially if your travel records aren't accurate to the day), so I personally wouldn't cut it too close to the date calculated in step (4).

Also, remember that from the 5 year anniversary of your landing date going forward, you must meet the 2 year / 730 day rule in Canada in the preceding 5 years on a continuous basis. This means you can't just come back, renew your PR card and then leave again.

 

[scylla]

Shouldn't I just add 1095 days from the date I left and make sure to come back before this date which will be April 2027?

Technically yes. But this is a very bad plan that consistently backfires on people. If you do this, it means you have to remain in Canada for 2 years straight without leaving once you return. That's unrealistic for the vast majority of people.

 

[sg1234]

To calculate the latest date you can arrive in Canada to still meet RO in the first five years since you became a PR, do the following:

1. Determine the 5 year anniversary of your landing date
2. Determine the total amount of days you will have spent in Canada by the time you will leave
3. Calculate 730 days - (2). This is the amount of days you still have to be in Canada to meet RO
4. Calculate (1) - (3). This is the latest date you can arrive in Canada.

Note that it is highly advisable you include a few weeks as margin of error for your calculations (especially if your travel records aren't accurate to the day), so I personally wouldn't cut it too close to the date calculated in step (4).

Also, remember that from the 5 year anniversary of your landing date going forward, you must meet the 2 year / 730 day rule in Canada in the preceding 5 years on a continuous basis. This means you can't just come back, renew your PR card and then leave again.

Technically yes. But this is a very bad plan that consistently backfires on people. If you do this, it means you have to remain in Canada for 2 years straight without leaving once you return. That's unrealistic for the vast majority of people.

What if I stayed for 730 days and then left, when can I come back then?

 

[scylla]

What if I stayed for 730 days and then left, when can I come back then?

The residency obligation is a rolling obligation which means that at any time, you have to be able to look back at the previous five years and have spent at least 730 days out of those 5 years in Canada. So if you stay 730 days and then leave, you can technically leave for up to 3 years. However if you stay out for the full 3 years, then once you return, you have to remain in Canada again for 2 years straight without leaving. But again, a very bad plan that ends in a mess for most who try it.

 

[canuck78]

Hi all,

I landed in October last year as a new PR and I am planning to leave by April of next year, my PR card is valid till late March 2028. I had a few questions:

1. What will be the last date I can come back and try to meet the RO to not lose my PR status? I am assuming that I should come back before April 2027.
2. I filed taxes for 2022 and also received a refund. I will be filing taxes for 2023 also, do I need to file taxes for the years I am not present in Canada?
3. I am receiving payments from CRA like GST/HST credits, do I need to inform that I am leaving Canada and not receive these payments?
4. I will be closing my bank account, cancel my phone number, do I need to anything else before leaving?

You need to contact CRAt to advise them that you are leaving Canada for an extended amount of time. You can ask them to determine if you remain a tax resident or not. Your ties to Canada will determine your tax residency status. In general you should not expect to receive any payments from Canada if you are not living in Canada for years. You must also advise your provincial health authority when you leave Canada and you will likely have to reapply when you return based on the plans that you are posting.

 

[foodie69]

Just make up your mind and commit to Canada or not. Much easier..

 

[canuck78]

Hi all,

I landed in October last year as a new PR and I am planning to leave by April of next year, my PR card is valid till late March 2028. I had a few questions:

1. What will be the last date I can come back and try to meet the RO to not lose my PR status? I am assuming that I should come back before April 2027.
2. I filed taxes for 2022 and also received a refund. I will be filing taxes for 2023 also, do I need to file taxes for the years I am not present in Canada?
3. I am receiving payments from CRA like GST/HST credits, do I need to inform that I am leaving Canada and not receive these payments?
4. I will be closing my bank account, cancel my phone number, do I need to anything else before leaving?

It looks like you are sponsoring a spouse? Are you planning on leaving as soon as they get PR? If this keeps happening IRCC is going to start asking for proof of living in Canada after sponsorship when spouse is in Canada not just abroad.

 

[sg1234]

You need to contact CRAt to advise them that you are leaving Canada for an extended amount of time. You can ask them to determine if you remain a tax resident or not. Your ties to Canada will determine your tax residency status. In general you should not expect to receive any payments from Canada if you are not living in Canada for years. You must also advise your provincial health authority when you leave Canada and you will likely have to reapply when you return based on the plans that you are posting.

What about my bank account? Should I leave my savings here and keep it active?

 

[canuck78]

What about my bank account? Should I leave my savings here and keep it active?

Can’t say whether various bank accounts will be significant tie to CRA. It is always up to CRA.

 

[sg1234]

It looks like you are sponsoring a spouse? Are you planning on leaving as soon as they get PR? If this keeps happening IRCC is going to start asking for proof of living in Canada after sponsorship when spouse is in Canada not just abroad.

I was thinking of doing this but now I am thinking of leaving soon and sponsor later when I come back to meet the RO.

 

[sg1234]

Can’t say whether various bank accounts will be significant tie to CRA. It is always up to CRA.

Should I call and ask them what do to? I am also awaiting a tax refund for 2023 when I file taxes next year which is not a small amount.