Q: When I try to calculate my absences, I get different numbers than the physical presence calculator. How does the physical presence calculator determine the number of days for each absence?
A: The calculator uses the following rules to determine the number of days absent for each absence declared:
When calculating an absence, neither the day you leave Canada nor the day you return is considered an absence. Both are counted as days of physical presence. For example, an absence between July 1, 2013 and July 15, 2013 equals 13 days of absence. As another example, if you leave Canada on July 1, 2013 and return on July 2, 2013, this equals 0 days of absence. You must still declare this as an absence.
An absence on February 29 (leap day) is counted as an absence or is credited as a presence.
The total number of days absent includes all absences from Canada within the six-year period immediately preceding the date of your application, or since you became a permanent resident, whichever is most recent.