My Canada PR expires on say 31st December 2024. So in order to meet the residency requirement, I must enter Canada on or before 1st Jan 2023 and stay in Canada for 2 years straight. This is clear.
Actually this isn't correct either - if you became a PR in the last five years, the relevant date is not the expiry of your PR card, but the five-year anniversary of your first date of landing. Typically that might be 30-90 days (for example) before the date of expiry of PR card - assuming a PR who landed and got the PR card by mail a month or so later. But again, the key is the first date of landing, NOT the PR card.
For anyone who has been a PR for longer than five years, the PR card expiry (assuming renewed) is irrelevant for the residency obligation - the 730 days in five years applies on ANY day, looking back five years from the date of 'examination.'
Now, let's say I defer my visit by one year to 1st Jan 2024, can someone help answer the following:
I'm going to make two important changes to your scenario - first, by some magic, the PR card expiry and five-year anniversary of first landing are the same date, 31Dec24. Second, I'm going to speak about ANY day after Jan 3, 2023 (for a PR who landed and left immediately - or more generally, for ANY PR who has spent > 1095 days out of Canada, because if >1095 days, mathematically cannot get to 730 days in the remaining time). [To underline again - this scenario is fanciful in that NO PR will have a PR card issued on the day of landing.]
1. I can still go in and out of Canada in 2024, correct?
PR can always leave Canada. PR can always enter Canada if arriving at port of entry. The question is whether the PR will be reported for non-compliance with the RO or not. This can happen any day the RO is out of compliance, whether in 2023 or 2024.
2. After 31st December 2024, since my PR card has expired, I need to stay in Canada to meet the 730 days requirement for another year and then apply for renewal of the PR card. Is this correct?
Basically yes, PR will need to stay in Canada until 730 days in five years to be compliant. There is a
small amount of discussion/disagreement about how problematic it is to apply for new PR card when not-yet-in-compliance (but close). Simple answer: much less likely to have delays or problems if PR applies to renew when already in compliance (and perhaps with a buffer of 30 days or so just in case).
3. Is it allowed to stay in Canada even if the PR card has expired? I understand that I can re-enter using an expired PR card.
Yes. PR card, PR status and residency obligation compliance are all separate things. A PR who is in Canada (and not issued removal orders etc) without a valid card can remain. Even one who is not in compliance can remain and work and do almost everything else.
A PR whose card has expired but is in compliance can eg travel back and forth at land borders without issues (although questions at border about why one hasn't renewed one's card may get tedious) - but generally will not be allowed to board a plane without a PR card. (There are some PRs who reside in Canada and never travel who don't bother or forget to renew their PR cards).
A PR whose card is expired and who is not in compliance with the RO must be admitted (assuming they can prove who they are) but can be reported. Again, PR with the expired card likely can't board a plane to Canada.
Worth perhaps noting: the valid PR card is separate from RO compliance (and indeed even PR status) - but of course there may be a lot of contexts where the valid PR card at least gets you the benefit of the doubt.
4. If the answer to question 3 is yes, then what services may not be accessible to me during the time I have an expired PR card? Public healthcare, school, bank services, or anything else?
A PR who is not in compliance with the RO (with valid PR card or not) cannot sponsor a family member; and more generally, should avoid interactions with IRCC, which will have a risk of getting reported for non-compliance. Mostly this means travelling as little as possible. Again, this is not tied to validity of the PR card.
As for most other services, it
mostly depends on provincial government requirements for eg healthcare, getting driver's licenses, etc. Different provinces have different requirements.
The easiest way to generalize here: the situation is VERY different for a PR already in Canada and who already has healthcare, DL, SIN, etc. For the most part, those documents do not 'expire' in a way linked to PR card, and in many cases, may not ask for updated PR document when renewing. Most private sector entities won't ask to check PR status in future. (In some cases, a PR who moves provinces
might have an issue).
The situation can be quite different for a PR who
arrives out-of-compliance and without a valid or recent PR card and doesn't have or hasn't used some of these essential documents and accounts. Again, will depend on the specific province, agency, context, or private-sector company involved. To give any meaningful detail would get way into the weeds. Best to not get in such a situation.
[Note: I'm sure this already-long response leaves out some scenarios or cases - notably eg those who get PRTDs or admission under H&C considerations - let's just leave as separate issues.]
