Are credit card transactions and airline tickets enough to prove physical presence?

[taxpayer2000]

Hello

I used to be a student in Canada as a PR, I renewed my PR once years ago. I've been living in the US full time for the past few years.

I understand that I would need to spend 730 days out of the last 5 years in Canada to be eligible for PR renewal. The problem is that most of the evidence they have listed proves residency and not physical presence. From my understating if I enter Canada it gets recorded by the system and when I enter the US, an exit is registered on the Canadian side.

I'm considering spending about 5 months a year in Canada to fulfill my physical presence, the problem I have is proving it, would airline tickets and US credit card statements that show transactions in Canada work? What about statements from friends that they have seen me on specific days? Any recommendations?

 

[Ponga]

Hello

I used to be a student in Canada as a PR, I renewed my PR once years ago. I've been living in the US full time for the past few years.

I understand that I would need to spend 730 days out of the last 5 years in Canada to be eligible for PR renewal. The problem is that most of the evidence they have listed proves residency and not physical presence. From my understating if I enter Canada it gets recorded by the system and when I enter the US, an exit is registered on the Canadian side.

I'm considering spending about 5 months a year in Canada to fulfill my physical presence, the problem I have is proving it, would airline tickets and US credit card statements that show transactions in Canada work? What about statements from friends that they have seen me on specific days? Any recommendations?

I,personally, believe that CBSA Entry/Exit data is the most important evidence.

Banking/credit card activity that shows transactions `in-person' and in Canada by YOU, not anyone else that has authority on your account to do so (i.e. a joint account), would also be good evidence.

Here's one, of many, helpful posts from a very knowledgeable member:

D

Post in thread 'Documents to prove permanent residency obligations?'

Aug 16, 2025

Unfortunately the bank statements have not much activity ( this is a dependent who does not work either , so no pay slips)
That's why was looking at alternatives like Health Card records.

For a PR who meets the RO based on days present here in Canada, who has been living here for awhile and is currently living here, they should be OK marking the "proof" item in the checklist if they include with the application, for example (one among many):

-- a bank statement that shows the PR's address here in Canada and at least one transaction in Canada​

-- a copy of the...​

• dpenabill

 

[canuck78]

Hello

I used to be a student in Canada as a PR, I renewed my PR once years ago. I've been living in the US full time for the past few years.

I understand that I would need to spend 730 days out of the last 5 years in Canada to be eligible for PR renewal. The problem is that most of the evidence they have listed proves residency and not physical presence. From my understating if I enter Canada it gets recorded by the system and when I enter the US, an exit is registered on the Canadian side.

I'm considering spending about 5 months a year in Canada to fulfill my physical presence, the problem I have is proving it, would airline tickets and US credit card statements that show transactions in Canada work? What about statements from friends that they have seen me on specific days? Any recommendations?

This plan has a number of complications if you have been out of Canada for 1-2 years depending on how much time you spent living in Canada with regards to healthcare, tax residency, potential issues if your plan is to try to keep working for your US employer from Canada, etc.

 

[wilson]

"I used to be a student in Canada as a PR, I renewed my PR once years ago. I've been living in the US full time for the past few years".

Every entry and exit from Canada is recorded by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). When submitting your PR renewal application using form IMM5444E, you are required to provide your (1) Personal History for the past five years, detailing the time spent both inside and outside Canada, (2) Work and Educational History.
Additionally, you must provide a detailed account of your (3) Residency Obligation, which also focuses on the time spent inside the country. These details are crucial and sufficient for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to determine whether you meet the residency requirement.
Documents such as bank statements, credit card bills, utility bills, and similar records serve only as supporting evidence of your physical presence in Canada. If IRCC is not fully satisfied with your residency obligation details, they may still approve your PR card renewal—provided you meet the required criteria—but you could be asked to collect the renewed PR card in person from a local IRCC office.