The Basics of Permanent Residency in Canada

Basic Steps to Permanent Residency in Canada

The right of permanent residency in Canada is not provided to all individuals and Immigration Canada is very selective with who they approve for permanent residency. Once you gain permanent residency in Canada, there are many benefits and advantages compared to just having temporary authorization to stay in Canada. Similarly, a permanent resident also has specific conditions that they must abide by in order to maintain their residency. Therefore, in this article, I will address the basics of permanent residency in Canada, what permanent residency entails, and other important information you should know if you are a permanent resident of Canada.

What Permanent Residency in Canada Entails

Once you receive permanent residency in Canada, there is certain information that you must consider. First and foremost, in order to be an authorized permanent resident of Canada you must be issued a permanent residency by the Canadian government. Additionally, you will not only hold permanent residency in Canada but you will also still have citizenship from your country of origin. Once you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident, this does not mean that you have gained Canadian citizenship; there is a difference. Canadian citizenship is a separate matter and is applied to separately. Lastly, being a permanent resident in Canada allows that individual to reside in Canada and is not only staying in Canada due to work, school or visiting purposes.

As a permanent resident in Canada, there are certain rights and responsibilities that you must abide by in order to maintain your residency, as previously mentioned. Subsequently, as a permanent resident of Canada, you have the following rights:

• Health Care
• Social Benefits
• Live, study or work anywhere in Canada
• Protection under Federal law
• Rights and Freedoms granted by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Apply for citizenship after permanently residing in Canada for a designated time period

A permanent resident of Canada will also have certain responsibilities while residing in Canada, such as:

• To abide by all laws of Canada (municipal, provincial & federal)
• To face conviction should they commit any serious criminal offence – Please note, this may cause permanent residency to be revoked

Residency Obligation in Canada

In order to maintain your permanent residency status within Canada, you must successfully fulfill residency obligations. Specifically, you must accumulate a total of two years of living in Canada within a five year time period. Additionally, you must be physically present within Canada during these two years. Luckily, there are some circumstances that may count towards your two year period of time in Canada, while being outside of Canada. The circumstances include:

• Travelling with a spouse or common-law partner that is a Canadian citizen;
• A child that is travelling with their father or mother who is a Canadian citizen;
• An employee that is travelling outside of Canada for a Canadian business.

Therefore, you must abide by these residency obligations, if not, you may lose your permanent residency and may not be able to renew it.

How to Renew Permanent Residency in Canada

Fortunately, permanent residents of Canada need not renew their status as their status will be indefinite once received. The only exception to this is either if you have successfully applied for Canadian citizenship and have gained Canadian citizenship or if you have lost your permanent residency status due to failing to meet the residency obligation, etc.

Am I Required to Obtain a Permanent Residency Card

As a permanent resident of Canada, a permanent residency card is voluntarily acquired; however, it is very beneficial for travels outside of Canada. Furthermore, you would be required to obtain a permanent residency card should you not have any other valid form of travel document. In other words, permanent residents are not required to obtain a permanent residency card, but for certain circumstances, it would be extremely beneficial out of the sake of convenience.

Moreover, a permanent resident card is not a permanent resident status, as you can have permanent residency in Canada without having the permanent resident card. The permanent resident card is constructed out of plastic and has the permanent resident’s biometric data on the front.

Different Programs in Canada that Lead to Permanent Residency

There are several different programs and routes that individuals can take in order to gain permanent residency in Canada. For instance, you can choose any of the following programs in order to gain permanent residency in Canada:

• Family Class Sponsorship – which include sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, and other close family members
• Canadian Experience Class program – this program is intended for individuals with valid work or study experience in Canada
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Provincial Nominee Program – this program allows provinces to nominate prospect permanent residents
• Business & Investor Programs
• Refugee Sponsorship Programs

Therefore, if you would like to become a permanent resident of Canada but do not know which program to apply to or how to qualify, it is always important to seek professional advice and guidance before applying.

Contact Akrami & Associates

It is essential that you have taken all of the aforementioned factors and information into consideration before you attempt to apply for permanent residency in Canada. If you want to apply for permanent residency in Canada, it is extremely important to note that these are difficult applications to pursue on your own. It is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients gain permanent residency in Canada though different programs and they are now happily living within Canada. If you believe that you may be eligible for permanent residency, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!