Can I still get a PR travel document if I fall short of the residency obligation for humanitarian reasons?

Yes, it is possible, even where a permanent resident falls short of the residency obligation, which requires physical presence in Canada for 730 days within each rolling five-year period. Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) factors can still justify issuing a PR travel document, or otherwise preserving status, taking into account things like the reasons for the extended absence, the person's ties and establishment in Canada, and any hardship that would result from losing permanent resident status.

This is a discretionary exception, not a routine option available simply by asking. The shortfall itself still needs to be explained clearly and honestly, and H&C relief in this context generally requires a genuinely compelling set of circumstances, not simply a preference to have spent time abroad. Weak or generic explanations for the absence are unlikely to succeed on their own.

Anyone applying for a PR travel document while falling short of the residency obligation should prepare the H&C case carefully from the outset, with clear documentation of both the reasons for the absence and their ongoing connection to Canada, rather than treating it as a minor add-on to the application.