Health Canada MMAR cards are valid for one year, and need to be renewed BEFORE their expiration date to avoid losing access to your supply of medicine. It typically takes Health Canada 2-3 months to process an application and approve a license. We therefore recommend that you apply for renewal of your authorization 2-3 months before the expiration date of your card.

You can still submit a renewal (Form R) even if your card has already expired (or will expire very soon) as long as you have been authorized before and nothing about your medical situation, physician information, or residential address has changed since your last authorization.

If there have been changes to your medical situation, physician information, or residential address since your last authorization, then you will need to submit the complete application package again whether your card has expired already or not.