A Canadian permanent resident is someone who has obtained permanent residence status in Canada through immigration.
A permanent resident has many of the same rights as a Canadian citizen.
However, unlike citizens, they must keep their status by fulfilling certain requirements, such as the residency requirement.
For immigrants, gaining permanent residency in Canada is a two-step process that begins with obtaining a work permit. After obtaining this, you can apply for permanent residence. You must also meet certain requirements. Continue reading to find out more.
Get your Canadian Permanent Residence Card
The Canadian government issues Permanent Residence Cards to immigrants who meet specific requirements. These conditions include being a Canadian citizen or lawful permanent resident, working, and doing businesses with financial institutions. Residents must also pay taxes dependents on tax returns.
When the application is approved, the permanent residency card is shipped to the applicant’s Canadian home address.
Legal citizens can also apply for a Social Security Card. If you plan to travel abroad, make sure to bring a valid passport from another country, as this might be necessary for job purposes.
Immigrants with a permanent residency permit can stay in Canada indefinitely. This card is also referred to as a “green card.” However, because there are a limited amount of green cards available each fiscal year, the waiting lists can stretch many years.
When applying for a permanent residence card, immigrants should check their existing immigration records to see whether their information is accurate. If there are any mistakes in their records, they can use a Request to Amend Immigration Record to get the corrections made.
This document must contain the applicant’s full name and date of birth, photo, and signature. It’s important to note that an application will be returned if it doesn’t contain all of the required documents.
Permanent residents must have a mailing address in Canada in addition to the PR card. They must also submit a photo within 180 days of arriving in Canada. Those who do not wish to wait so long should apply for their first PR card as soon as possible. If there is an error, they have 60 days to request a reissue..
Permanent residence card renewal
Although sometimes PR cards are only good for one year, the majority of permanent resident cards have a five-year validity period. The Canadian government advises permanent residents to be aware of their card’s expiration date and to seek for a renewal within six months of that date.
Canadian permanent residency requirements
A person must fulfill a residency obligation in order to keep their permanent resident status in Canada. The residency requirement relates to a person’s physical presence in Canada for a specified period of time. For permanent residents, Canada’s residency duty requires them to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within a five-year period, unless they qualify for one of many exceptions.
Benefits of Canadian PR (permanent residency) status
Here are five of the most significant advantages of becoming a permanent resident of Canada:
1 – The ability to live and work in any location in Canada.
Permanent residents of Canada have the legal right to live and work anywhere in the country. If a new public relations professional begins in Montreal but finds a better position in Toronto, they have every right to relocate. Permanent residents are not bound to any particular employer or province.
Furthermore, Canadian permanent residents can leave and enter Canada using their Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident travel credentials (PRTD).
2 – Universal access to healthcare and social services
Healthcare in Canada is universal, which implies that everyone has access to free medical treatment. Individuals who become permanent residents have access to Canada’s healthcare and social services.
3 – Sponsorship by a family
Permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, and dependant children to come to Canada. However, if you apply for immigration through Express Entry, you can include your family on your original application and avoid having to sponsor them afterwards.
4 – Children’s education is free.
Children of Canadian permanent residents are entitled to free education till the end of secondary school. Following graduation, post-secondary education is also significantly less expensive for permanent residents than for international students.
5 – Can apply for Canadian citizenship
The first step toward becoming a Canadian citizen is to become a permanent resident. PRs can become citizens after living in Canada for three of the last five years. Once a PR has obtained Canadian citizenship, they are eligible to vote, apply for a Canadian passport, and are no longer required to renew their status in the nation.
6 – Rights that are defended
Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee the rights of permanent residents in Canada.