If you travel outside Canada, the permanent resident (PR) card is your proof that you are a permanent resident of Canada. If you leave Canada, you will need this card to re-enter the country on a commercial vehicle, like an airplane, boat, train or bus.
Canadian permanent residents need to show their permanent resident card when traveling to Canada in order to prove their permanent resident status. Permanent residents who do not have a PR card, or who are not carrying their PR card when traveling outside the country, will need to obtain a permanent resident travel document before returning to Canada by air mode in order to comply with eTA requirements.
If your PR card expires, it does not mean you have lost permanent resident status. The initial PR card is valid for a period of 5 years in most cases. Since a PR can apply for citizenship after 3 years of residence in Canada, most PR cards are not renewed. However, some people do not apply for Canadian citizenship and may need to renew their PR cards upon expiry.
