What must my sponsored family member do to keep their permanent resident status?

Once your family member becomes a Canadian permanent resident, they must meet ongoing federal residency obligations to keep their status. The core requirement is physical presence: permanent residents must spend at least 730 days (two years) in Canada within each rolling five-year period.

This 730-day count does not have to be continuous — it can be accumulated over the five-year window through multiple trips and stays. Days spent outside Canada may count in limited circumstances: days abroad accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or common-law partner, or days working outside Canada for a Canadian company, can sometimes count toward the obligation.

Failure to meet the residency obligation can result in loss of permanent resident status. This can be triggered at a port of re-entry, at a PR card renewal application, or when applying for citizenship. The consequences of losing PR status are serious — your family member would lose the right to live and work in Canada. PR card renewals require demonstrating compliance with residency obligations, so your family member should track their time in and out of Canada carefully from the date they land. An immigration lawyer can advise on counting international travel and protecting status.