Applying for citizenship with an expired PR card

[justmeinyyc]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking for a few weeks and am hoping someone can help me with my question!

After living in our great country for 31 years I've applied for citizenship and am currently "in process."

My PR card and UK passport expired 2 years ago which was the shove I needed to get the citizenship ball rolling. I have no plans to travel anywhere and am prepared to stay put until my citizenship goes thru. Will not having a current PR card hinder the citizenship process in anyway?
I'd rather not pay for something that I don't currently need and I've seen nothing on the govt website that indicates I have to have a current PR card before citizenship is granted but I wanted to check.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[White Bear]

Having a valid PR is not a condition for citizenship grant.

However, one person reported on a different forum that his son went for the citizenship exam and in the interview, he got an RQ. His passport and PR were expired. Members argued both ways.

Long story short, pay the $50 and renew ur PR and best of luck in ur application.

 

[justmeinyyc]

Thanks for the reply, $50 is a small price to pay for avoiding a RQ, which in my case would be a complete waste of time.
I think I've left the country less than 10 times in 30 years.

 

[coolbreeze30]

I dought u will need to to have a current PR card to apply but just to be sure if I were you I would call the CIC call center line an find out from them if it is a requirement that u have to have current PR before you apply.

 

[justmeinyyc]

I called CIC this morning to confirm and they stated that I do NOT need to have a current PR card or passport to complete the citizenship process. As a FYI, your original record of landing is required....

I hope their advice proves true, after reading all of the posts here in the last few weeks I have little faith in this whole process! :

 

[SuperDude]

I saw someone posted in another thread that one needs to be a PR at the time of taking oath....I wonder how CIC would know that your are a legal PR with an expired PR card? just a question. Thanks,

 

[roxy2001]

I saw someone posted in another thread that one needs to be a PR at the time of taking oath....I wonder how CIC would know that your are a legal PR with an expired PR card? just a question. Thanks,

Hi SuperDude, the PR card is a travel document, i.e. allows re-admittance to Canada as a permanent resident, but does not in and of itself prove that you are continuing to fulfill the requirements for being a legal permanent resident (residency conditions may not be met even with a valid PR card, if one is absent from Canada for more than the allowed timeframe). If you don't travel and haven't renewed your expired PR card at the time of your oath does not mean that you're not a legal permanent resident anymore. CIC requires proof of residency, not proof of renewal of a travel document.