Immigration · IRCC
Physical presence calculator.
Work out whether you meet IRCC’s physical presence requirement for Canadian citizenship or for the permanent resident residency obligation (PR renewal), using their own day-counting and pre-PR credit rules.
Citizenship needs 1,095 days (3 years) physically present during the 5 years immediately before you sign your application, of which at least 730 days must be as a permanent resident. Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a PR counts at half a day per day, capped at 365 days of credit.
PR renewal (the residency obligation) needs 730 days physically present in Canada during the 5 years immediately before the date being checked — the days do not need to be continuous.
Inputs
Result
Fill in your dates and press Calculate.
How the day-counting works
For citizenship, IRCC counts physical presence during the 5 years immediately before the date you sign your application. You need 1,095 days total, and at least 730 of those days must be while you held permanent resident status. Days spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person — before you became a PR — still count, but only at half credit (each day counts as 0.5 days), and only up to a maximum of 365 days of credit (i.e. at most 730 such calendar days). Days spent physically outside Canada do not count, whatever your status, with narrow exceptions for Crown servants posted abroad and their family members, who get full credit for each day.
For a PR card renewal or any other check of the residency obligation, the rule is simpler: 730 days physically present in Canada during the 5 years immediately before the date being examined, and the days do not need to be consecutive. Certain time outside Canada can still count — accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse, common-law partner or parent, or working abroad full-time for a Canadian business or the Canadian public service — but this calculator does not apply those exceptions; use it only for a baseline day count.
Sources, last verified 24 September 2026: IRCC — eligibility to apply for Canadian citizenship, IRCC — understand permanent resident status (residency obligation).
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to apply for Canadian citizenship?
At least 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada during the 5 years immediately before the date you sign your application, with at least 730 of those days held as a permanent resident. IRCC recommends applying with more than the minimum in case of a counting problem.
Does time in Canada before I became a permanent resident count toward citizenship?
Yes, but only at half credit, and only for time spent as a temporary resident (visitor, worker, student) or a protected person, and only within the 5-year window. Each day counts as 0.5 days, up to a maximum credit of 365 days — equivalent to 730 calendar days at half credit.
How many days do I need to renew my PR card?
730 days of physical presence in Canada during the 5 years immediately before the renewal is assessed. The days do not need to be continuous, and some time outside Canada in qualifying circumstances (such as accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse) can also count.
What happens if I fall short of the residency obligation?
Falling short can put your permanent resident status at risk on your next application, card renewal, or return to Canada. This tool gives a baseline day count only; if you are close to either threshold, use IRCC's own online physical presence calculator (which lets you enter every trip) or speak with an immigration professional before you travel further or apply.
Estimate only — not immigration advice
This tool gives a baseline day count from the dates and absence totals you enter. It does not apply every exception IRCC recognizes (Crown servants abroad, accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or parent, working abroad for a Canadian business), does not verify your dates against travel history, and is not a substitute for IRCC's own physical presence calculator or professional advice. Confirm your actual eligibility with IRCC before applying or relying on this result.