Rule guide
Canada PR residency obligation: track qualifying days
A Canadian permanent resident must comply with a residency obligation for each five-year period. Generally, at least 730 qualifying days are required. Days can include physical presence in Canada and specific categories abroad set by section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; the 730 days do not need to be continuous.
The assessment depends on PR age
For a person who has been a permanent resident for less than five years, the Act asks whether they can still meet the obligation in the five years after becoming a PR. After five years, the assessment looks at the five years immediately before examination.
Qualifying categories abroad are narrow
Section 28 lists circumstances that may count, including accompanying a Canadian-citizen spouse or common-law partner (or parent for a child), qualifying full-time employment by a Canadian business or public administration, and accompanying a PR spouse, partner or parent who has that qualifying employment.
- Do not count ordinary travel abroad as qualifying time.
- Keep evidence for the relationship or qualifying employment relied upon.
- Humanitarian and compassionate considerations are an officer’s determination, not an automatic day credit.
Fictional example
Example only: Avery records 690 days physically in Canada and 70 days abroad accompanying a Canadian-citizen spouse. Avery should verify that the relationship and dates fit section 28 and retain supporting evidence rather than simply adding every day abroad.
Official record and rule sources
Check the authority.
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