The rule
From IRCC’s page on permanent resident status and its help-centre answer on the residency obligation.
You must be physically in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) in every five-year period. The days do not have to be in a row.
Time abroad can count if you are working full-time for a Canadian business or the Canadian public service, or travelling with a spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen, or a PR working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or the public service. A dependent child abroad with a qualifying parent can count too.
You keep your PR status unless an officer decides, after a review, that you have not met the obligation. Being under 730 days does not remove status by itself.
What this calculator leaves out
- The exact day-counting convention for PR status. We assumed IRCC’s citizenship convention, which IRCC has not confirmed for PR status.
- Whether your time abroad qualifies to count. You choose which trips count, and an officer decides whether you are right.
- Humanitarian and compassionate considerations, which an officer can weigh if you are under 730 days.
- Special cases such as time as a protected person, or the first five years after landing for people who have not yet completed them. For these, read IRCC’s guidance.
- Your PR card or travel document. Returning by commercial carrier needs a valid PR card or a PR travel document, which is a separate matter from this count.
Frequently asked questions
How many days must a permanent resident spend in Canada?
At least 730 days (2 years) in every five-year period. The days do not have to be consecutive.
Do I lose PR status the moment I fall below 730 days?
No. You keep your status until an official decision says otherwise. An officer can review your case, and can consider humanitarian and compassionate reasons.
What if I have been a PR for less than five years?
The five-year period runs from your landing date, so you can still reach 730 days before the end of your first five years. The calculator shows how many days you have left to do so.
Can time outside Canada count?
It can if you were working full-time for a Canadian business or the Canadian public service, or accompanying a spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen, or a PR who was working full-time abroad for a Canadian business or the public service. A dependent child accompanying such a parent can count too. Tick the box on those trips.
Is the number the same as for citizenship?
No. Citizenship needs 1,095 days in the last five years. PR status needs 730 days in any five-year period. For citizenship, use the citizenship day counter.
Can I rely on this to travel?
No. It is a planning estimate. Day counting for PR status is not spelled out in the same detail as for citizenship, so keep passports, stamps and other proof of your time in Canada.
Last updated
Related tools
Sources
How we check it
IRCC publishes the 730-day rule but no worked day-by-day examples for PR status, so our automated tests use values derived by hand from the rule and the calendar (a five-year window, a boundary at 730 days, trips that count, a PR under five years). They are not compared with an IRCC tool.
Limits: the day-counting convention is borrowed from the citizenship bulletin and is not confirmed for PR status. Your dates are processed in your browser and are not sent anywhere.