IRCC Form IMM 5444: Fillable PDF
Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Apply for, renew or replace a PR card, or apply for a permanent resident travel document.
Reviewed July 2026
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How it works
- 1
Download the form. Save the official PDF to your device.
- 2
Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader and fill in each field. Browsers show a placeholder page for this form type.
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Save and submit the completed form following the official instructions.
Form IMM 5444, Application for a Permanent Resident Card or Permanent Resident Travel Document, is what permanent residents of Canada use to get a first PR card, renew an expiring card, replace one that is lost, stolen, or damaged, or apply for a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada when they are abroad without a valid card.
IMM 5444 is a dynamic XFA form that only opens in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer. Download the official PDF from this page, save it to your device, and open the saved file in Acrobat Reader; opening it in a browser shows a placeholder page. IRCC updates the form periodically and retires old versions, so confirm the current one on canada.ca before submitting.
What is Form IMM 5444 used for
The PR card is the official proof of permanent resident status and is required to board commercial transport back to Canada. The same application form now serves PR card matters handled inside Canada and PRTD requests made from outside Canada when a permanent resident needs a one-time document to travel home.
The application also functions as a residency check. It asks where you have lived and how many days you have been physically present in Canada, because permanent residents must generally meet a residency obligation of at least 730 days in Canada within the previous five years, with some exceptions such as time abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse or for certain employment.
Who uses IMM 5444
Only permanent residents use this form. Canadian citizens do not have PR cards, and foreign nationals without PR status cannot apply.
- Permanent residents renewing a card that is expiring or has expired.
- Permanent residents replacing a lost, stolen, damaged, or never-received card.
- Permanent residents applying for their first card in limited situations where one was not issued automatically.
- Permanent residents outside Canada without a valid PR card who need a PRTD to return.
How to fill out IMM 5444
Open the saved PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader and answer every section, then validate the form so the barcode pages generate for printing. The travel and address history questions deserve the most care, since they determine whether you appear to meet the residency obligation.
- Calculate your days in Canada over the past five years precisely; entry and exit records, passport stamps, and travel bookings help.
- Report all absences from Canada in the period the form covers, including short trips to the United States.
- Include photos that meet the specifications in the instruction guide, and copies of the identity and status documents the checklist requires.
- Sign and date the printed form, and check the current fee on the IRCC fee list before paying.
Residency obligation and risks
Applying for a PR card or PRTD when you are short of the residency obligation can put your status itself in question, since an officer who finds you noncompliant can issue a report or refuse the PRTD, which may lead to loss of permanent residence subject to appeal rights.
If your day count is close, or you plan to rely on an exception such as accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse abroad, get advice from a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
The form is a dynamic XFA PDF, and browsers display a placeholder because they cannot render it. Download the PDF and open the saved copy in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer to complete it.
PR card applications are generally made from within Canada, and new cards are delivered to Canadian addresses. If you are abroad without a valid card, the usual route home is a permanent resident travel document, applied for on this same form.
Generally at least 730 days of physical presence in the five years preceding the application, though some time abroad counts, such as accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or certain work for a Canadian business. The instruction guide explains the exceptions.
Your status does not expire with the card; you remain a permanent resident. But you need a valid card to board commercial transport to Canada, so renew before travelling abroad or expect to need a PRTD to return.
Fees are set by IRCC and change periodically. Check the current fee on the IRCC fee list before you pay, and keep the receipt with your application.
You can leave Canada, but returning by air or other commercial carrier requires a valid PR card or a PRTD. Many permanent residents time their renewal to avoid travelling while without a valid card.
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