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jeffmoonchop

Full Member
Jan 16, 2017
21
3
Hi I was wondering what the rules were regarding when I have to enter Canada after my PR visa is issued. For example once my wife was approved to come to the UK she had about 3 months to enter.

Also do I have to live in Canada for a certain amount of time with the PR visa for example do I have to be in Canada 3 out of the next 5 years or something?

cheers
 
You need to arrive in Canada before the "valid to" date in the application details section on your Confirmation of Permanent Residence document.

PR cards are valid for 5 years at a time. To renew it you have to prove you were in Canada for 730 days of the previous five years
 
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Your COPR (landing document) will expire one year from the date you had your medical exam. The only exception is if your passport expires prior to that date, your COPR will expire the day your passport expires.
 
PR cards are valid for 5 years at a time. To renew it you have to prove you were in Canada for 730 days of the previous five years

Note that this is not just to renew a PR card (which is not a mandatory document, nor something that proves PR status). A PR must live for at least two years out of every five in Canada, this is called the Residency Obligation (or be living outside Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse, or on assignment from a Canadian company/the Canadian military/Government). If they do not, and they have any dealings with either IRCC, or CBSA (basically, crossing the border, of trying to bring anyone across the border, or get documents for themselves to cross the border), they are liable to losing their PR status.
 
So what if it takes longer than a year from the medical to be approved to enter?

You may be requested to take a 2nd medical exam.

Or the visa officer can extend the validity date of your original medical.

Which option they choose in the event of a long processing time, is entirely at their discretion.