Renouncing your Permanent Resident Status

Giving up Your Permanent Resident Status

You have put a lot of effort in applying for a Permanent Residence in Canada, and you eventually get one. However, there may be various circumstances in which you are unable to maintain your permanent residency. As a result, you want to renounce your permanent resident status. Indeed, you may do so by following certain steps, just like any other immigration applications. Nevertheless, it is important for you to figure out your eligibility and specific processes for this type of application. In this blog, you will learn relevant information about renouncing your permanent resident status.

Why Would I Renounce My Permanent Resident Status

After all the effort that has been put in your Permanent Resident Status application, we understand it can be a difficult decision to make when you are about to give up your permanent resident status. However, you may need to renounce your permanent resident status when you encounter one of the following situations:

• You need to accept a diplomatic or official position with a foreign government
• You want to obtain citizenship or permanent resident status in another country and that country requires you to forfeit permanent resident status in Canada
• You know you have not met the residency obligations because you have been outside of Canada for a long period of time. You simply want to be a visitor.
• You no longer want to live in Canada permanently.

Please note, in order to become a Canadian Citizen, you do not need to renounce your permanent resident status.

What happens if I renounce My Permanent Resident Status

After you renounce your permanent resident status, you will permanently change your status in Canada as of the day your application is approved by an officer. This means that on the date your application is approved, you will no longer be a permanent resident of Canada. This will automatically eliminate your eligibility to apply for Canadian citizenship. Any application for Canadian citizenship that is still in process will be refused as well. In addition, you will lose access to social and health services provided to permanent residents by the Government of Canada, your province, or your territory of residence.

If you are inside Canada when your application is approved, you will be a temporary resident (visitor) in Canada. That being said, you authorized stay in Canada will be six months. If you wish to extend your stay, you will need to apply for the extension of your stay. You will no longer be allowed to work or study without authorization from the Canadian government.

If you are outside Canada when your application is approved, you are allowed to come back to Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), depending on your country of origin. Also, you will need a proof of purpose of your visit and a valid travel document. Please note, when you are applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, you submit your visa application separately from your application to renounce your permanent resident status. When you are applying for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you will be provided with detailed instructions on how to renounce. This means you may renounce your permanent resident status as part of your eTA application.

Will my Family be Affected after I Renounce My Permanent Resident Status

Your family will not be affected after you renounce your permanent resident status; their status remains the same. However, after your application for renouncing permanent resident status is approved, any family class sponsorship applications from you will be suspended. The applications for permanent residence of any family you have sponsored that are still in process will also be refused. Please note, the government fee will not be refunded.

What Else is Important to Know

First and foremost, you need to know how much government fee you will be paying for this type of application. Fortunately, the application to renounce your permanent resident status does not require you to pay a fee. It is important to for you to know if you are applying for a Temporary Resident Visa or an eTA along with the application to voluntarily renounce your permanent resident status, you must pay the application processing fee for the respective document(s).

The processing time for this type of application is another common question that most applicants have. It takes approximately six months to get a decision from the Canadian government. However, some applications take about three to four months as well.

Can I still Receive Benefits and Services that are Given to Permanent Residents

Renouncing your Permanent Resident Status means you are no longer a permanent resident of Canada. That being said, you will lose access to social and health services provided to permanent residents by the Canadian government or your province or territory of residence.

If you still wish to have access to social and health services from the Canadian government or from your province or territory of residence, you can contact appropriate authorities to see if you are still eligible to receive them.

Contact Akrami and Associates

Filling out forms for renouncing your permanent resident status may require legal assistance in order to obtain the necessary information and allow for the application process to go as smooth as possible. If this sounds like a headache, don’t worry! Here at Akrami & Associates, we are experienced in providing legal aid for individuals who are applying to renounce their permanent resident status and can be your legal assistance for anything required from these forms. If you have further questions or concerns, you can contact us at our office number: (416) 447-2545. We can provide legal assistance or consultation with immigration professionals in order to assist you to the best of our ability!

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!