PR card renewal for minors: application steps, processing time & more

In 2022, the Canadian government issued more than 437,000 Permanent Residence (PR) Cards—that’s almost half a million new people moving to the Great White North. 

Despite the growing number of people receiving PR Cards, renewing them (especially for minors) can be confusing.

Luckily, you’ve scrolled to the right place to learn all there is to know about PR Card renewal for minors.

Need more information about renewing or applying for Canadian documents for your children? Check out these related articles:

• How to Renew Child’s Passport: Canada
• Do Both Parents Need to Sign and Be Present for a Child’s Passport?

Renew PR Card for a child—eligibility

If your child’s PR card:

• Has expired
• Is set to expire in less than 9 months

You can apply for a new Permanent Residence Card on their behalf. PR Card renewals are completed using form IMM 5444 (linked in the next section) and can only be submitted in Canada.

Does your child qualify for a PR Card renewal? Get the process started with a PR Card photo that’s guaranteed to be accepted by the authorities. Download our Passport Photo Booth app for iOS or Passport Photo Maker app for Android and follow the intuitive instructions to get your picture in minutes.

PR Card renewal application for a minor—step-by-step

PR Card renewal applications for minors follow a similar process to adult ones and only require a few additional documents to complete the process. 

To make everything as straightforward as possible, we’ve created a step-by-step guide to assist parents/guardians through the application process.

Step #1: Gather the necessary documents

The Government of Canada has created a document checklist that must be completed and submitted with all PR Card applications. This checklist is a great way to confirm your application package is complete and lists all the mandatory and supplemental forms that may pertain to individual cases.

For typical cases involving minors (defined as individuals under the age of 18), applicants must submit the following:

• Document Checklist form (IMM 5644)
• Copy of one identity document (e.g., the child’s passport)
• Copy of the current PR Card
• Fully completed and signed Application for Permanent Residence Card (IMM 5444)
• Proof of residency if the applicant spent more than 1,095 days (36 months) outside of Canada in the last five years
• A receipt showing payment of all necessary fees
• Two 50 mm wide x 70 mm high Canadian Permanent Residence Card photos (for paper applications) OR one digital passport-style photo uploaded to the PR Portal (front & back)
• One copy of the child’s birth certificate (clearly displaying name, date of birth, place of birth, and parent’s names), adoption order, or legal guardianship document (issued by a Canadian court) OR
• A photocopy of school records such as transcripts, report cards, or attendance records

All documents in languages other than English or French must be translated into either official language, and if a certified translator does not complete the translation, an affidavit (sworn in front of a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or commissioner of taking affidavits) must be provided by the person completing the translation. 

Additionally, all copies mentioned in the list above must be certified “true” copies that have had their authenticity checked against the original documents by one of the following individuals:

• Notary public
• Commissioner of oaths
• Commissioner of affidavits

Step #2: Fill out forms

Once all the documents have been gathered, translated, and certified (if applicable), it’s time to fill out the Application for a Permanent Resident Card (Form IMM 5444). The form must be downloaded and filled out electronically using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader—all other PDF editors will not work.

Detailed instructions on how to appropriately fill out each section of the form can be found by clicking on the button labeled “Show instructions” on Form IMM 5444’s download page.

As mentioned earlier, the Document Checklist (IMM 5644) must also be filled out and submitted along with the following supplemental forms (if applicable to the individual’s case):

• IMM 5476 (Use of a Representative)
• IMM 5475 (Authority to Release Personal Information to Designated Individual)
• IRM 0002 (Request for Change of Sex or Gender Identifier)
• IRM 0004 (Confirmation of Eligibility for a Reclaimed Name Change Gratis Replacement Document Under Call to Action 17)
• IRM 0005 (Statutory Declaration to Reclaim an Indigenous Name on Canadian Citizenship Certificates or Permanent Resident Cards)

When filling out form IMM 5444 for a minor, sections that do not apply to the individual cannot be left blank—“Not Applicable” or “NA” should be written instead.

Important! If the minor is over the age of 14 but under the age of 18, they must sign the “Applicant” section of the form in section 8, “CONSENT AND DECLARATION.” If the applicant is under 14, ONLY the parent or legal guardian signs both sections of the form.

Step #3: Pay fees

The application fee of $50 can only be paid online and requires the following:

• Valid email address
• Printer/copy machine access (to print the receipt)
• Credit card or Visa® / Mastercard® debit card

To pay the fee, visit the Canadian government payment info site and select the “Answer questions to get fees” button.

1. Select “Permanently live in Canada or get permanent resident documents.”
2. Next, choose the “I’m applying for a permanent resident document” option.
3. Tick the “permanent resident card (PR card)” option.
4. Enter the number of permanent resident cards you wish to apply for (e.g., 1).
5. If all goes well, you should end up at this payment screen:

Once payment is complete, select the option to print an official IIRC receipt with a barcode. Be sure to print 2 copies—one copy for your records and one for submission as part of the application package.

Step #4: Submit the application

Now it’s time to assemble the application package (i.e., all forms, certified copies, passport-style photos, and the payment receipt) and mail everything in a stamped envelope to:

Case Processing Centre — PR card
P.O. Box 10020
SYDNEY, NS
B1P 7C1
CANADA

Or by courier to:

Case Processing Centre — PR card
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, NS
B1P 5Z2

Important! You must include your name, address, and postal code in the top left corner of the envelope.

Step #5: Checking application status

If the application was completed correctly, applicants could expect to receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AoR) to the email address they provided on the application. Additionally, the new card should arrive in the mail; otherwise, the applicant will be contacted with further instructions.

It is also possible to check the status of an application by contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada directly or visiting the website and following the instructions.

Permanent Residence Card for minor—urgent processing

With standard PR Card renewal times currently set at approximately 64 days (accurate as of 2/19/2024), it is possible to qualify for urgent processing if the applicant can prove the necessity for travel within the next three months due to:

• One’s own serious illness
• Death or severe illness of a family member
• Work or work opportunity
• Finding oneself in a crisis or a vulnerable situation

All of the following documents must be included to qualify for urgent processing:

1. Copy of travel itinerary showing destination and travel times (e.g., plane tickets).
2. Proof of payment for the travel itinerary (copy of receipt).
3. Letter providing the reason for urgent travel (written by the applicant, parent, or guardian).
4. Document proving the necessity for urgent travel (e.g., a letter from employer, doctor’s note, death certificate, etc.).

Important! All foreign language documents must be translated into English or French using certified translators or individuals who have sworn affidavits before a notary public. 

Current urgent processing times are 3 weeks or more. Applicants wishing to apply for urgent processing must write “Urgent” on the front of the mailing envelope.

FAQ

PR Card renewal for minors—summary

Permanent Residence Card renewals for minors are very similar to adult renewals, with only a few additional documents required (i.e., academic/attendance records and documents proving parentage/legal guardianship). However, the application process for PR Cards is quite complex, so it’s good that you’ve found this trusty guide, prepared by Passport Photo Online, to get everything done correctly.

With every PR Card renewal application package requiring specific photos that meet stringent government regulations, Passport Photo Online’s 100% compliance guarantee lets you rest easy knowing your photos will pass even the strictest quality controls. Trust our application to get your photos done right, and you’ll have your new PR Card in no time.

Simon Wojtyczka

Simon Wojtyczka is a writer with experience living and working in 7 countries, each adding depth to his work. Holding a Master’s in Applied Linguistics, he has a profound grasp of language and its intricate ties to culture.