Permanent resident (Canada)
Encyclopedia
A Permanent Resident in Canada
is someone who is not a Canadian citizen
but who has been granted permission to live and work in Canada without any time limit on his or her stay. A permanent resident must live in Canada for two years out of every five or risk losing that status.
A Permanent Resident holds many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, among others the right to work for any enterprise as well as for the federal or provincial government (under restriction of access rights to certain regulated professions). The main differences are that residents cannot:
Permanent residents also risk deportation for serious crimes committed while resident in Canada. Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after three years in Canada, however this is not mandatory.
(originally billed as the Maple Leaf Card) to all new Canadian permanent residents. All existing permanent residents were given the option of applying for a Permanent Resident Card at a cost of $50, though possessing a card is not mandatory except in the case of international travel.
In effect from December 31, 2003, every permanent resident must be able to present his or her Permanent Resident Card upon boarding a commercial carrier (aircraft, train or bus) in order to travel to Canada. It looks like a bank card
and it proves one's status meant to facilitate entry back to Canada. It incorporates several state-of-the-art security features among which is an electronic chip containing the necessary data.
As the Permanent Resident Card may only be issued in Canada, a single-use travel document is needed (for a fee) and can be obtained from Canadian embassies abroad for those permanent residents wishing to return to Canada and who do not possess it.
The Permanent Resident Card expires every five years, and then may be renewed by making application and proving that the applicant has been physically present in Canada for the requisite time period, or has otherwise satisfied the residency requirements. Although an individual may meet the residency requirements by living outside of Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse, or working outside Canada for a Canadian business, the Permanent Resident Card cannot be renewed without being present in Canada and having a Canadian address.
citizen
permanent resident. The current official classification for such a person is simply "permanent resident". Nevertheless, the term "Landed immigrant" has been in use for so long that it is still part of the Canadian vocabulary and even still appears in some government publications and forms.
To become a landed immigrant from outside Canada, one has to legally enter Canada, or land, at one of the designated ports of entry. If granted a permanent residency visa while living in Canada as a temporary resident
(for example on a study or work permit or holding a visitor record), the applicant must still officially land and achieve the landed immigrant status. Previously many have left the country through the USA/Canada border, either entering the USA or receiving a refusal notice, and then re-entered Canada through customs, but since late 2008 some, but not most, may now "land" at a Citizenship and Immigration Canada
office in Canada.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is someone who is not a Canadian citizen
Canadian nationality law
Canadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
but who has been granted permission to live and work in Canada without any time limit on his or her stay. A permanent resident must live in Canada for two years out of every five or risk losing that status.
A Permanent Resident holds many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, among others the right to work for any enterprise as well as for the federal or provincial government (under restriction of access rights to certain regulated professions). The main differences are that residents cannot:
- vote in elections in CanadaElections in CanadaCanada holds elections for several levels of government: nationally , provincially and territorially, and municipally. Elections are also held for self governing First Nations and for many other public and private organizations including corporations and trade unions...
- run for elected office,
- hold Canadian passports, nor
- join Canada's armed forcesArmed forcesThe armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
Permanent residents also risk deportation for serious crimes committed while resident in Canada. Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after three years in Canada, however this is not mandatory.
Permanent Resident Card
In 2002, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration started issuing the Permanent Resident CardCanada Permanent Resident Card
The Permanent Resident Card was introduced on 28 June 2002 upon the implementation of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act...
(originally billed as the Maple Leaf Card) to all new Canadian permanent residents. All existing permanent residents were given the option of applying for a Permanent Resident Card at a cost of $50, though possessing a card is not mandatory except in the case of international travel.
In effect from December 31, 2003, every permanent resident must be able to present his or her Permanent Resident Card upon boarding a commercial carrier (aircraft, train or bus) in order to travel to Canada. It looks like a bank card
Bank card
A bank card is a plastic card issued by a bank to its clients that may perform one or more of the following services:* ATM card, card used for transactions at automatic teller machines* Debit card, card linked to a bank account and used for making purchases...
and it proves one's status meant to facilitate entry back to Canada. It incorporates several state-of-the-art security features among which is an electronic chip containing the necessary data.
As the Permanent Resident Card may only be issued in Canada, a single-use travel document is needed (for a fee) and can be obtained from Canadian embassies abroad for those permanent residents wishing to return to Canada and who do not possess it.
The Permanent Resident Card expires every five years, and then may be renewed by making application and proving that the applicant has been physically present in Canada for the requisite time period, or has otherwise satisfied the residency requirements. Although an individual may meet the residency requirements by living outside of Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse, or working outside Canada for a Canadian business, the Permanent Resident Card cannot be renewed without being present in Canada and having a Canadian address.
History - Landed immigrant
The term "Landed immigrant" ("Immigrant reçu" in French) is an old classification for a person who has been admitted to Canada as a non-CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
citizen
Canadian nationality law
Canadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
permanent resident. The current official classification for such a person is simply "permanent resident". Nevertheless, the term "Landed immigrant" has been in use for so long that it is still part of the Canadian vocabulary and even still appears in some government publications and forms.
To become a landed immigrant from outside Canada, one has to legally enter Canada, or land, at one of the designated ports of entry. If granted a permanent residency visa while living in Canada as a temporary resident
Temporary resident (Canada)
A temporary resident in Canada is someone who is not a Canadian citizen but is legally in Canada for a temporary purpose, including international students, foreign workers and tourists.Some foreign nationals require a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada...
(for example on a study or work permit or holding a visitor record), the applicant must still officially land and achieve the landed immigrant status. Previously many have left the country through the USA/Canada border, either entering the USA or receiving a refusal notice, and then re-entered Canada through customs, but since late 2008 some, but not most, may now "land" at a Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for issues dealing with immigration and citizenship...
office in Canada.
See also
- Immigration to CanadaImmigration to CanadaImmigration to Canada is the process by which people migrate to Canada to reside permanently in the country. The majority of these individuals become Canadian citizens. After 1947, domestic immigration law and policy went through major changes, most notably with the Immigration Act, 1976, and the...
- Canadian nationality lawCanadian nationality lawCanadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
- Citizenship and Immigration CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for issues dealing with immigration and citizenship...
- Canada Permanent Resident CardCanada Permanent Resident CardThe Permanent Resident Card was introduced on 28 June 2002 upon the implementation of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act...
- temporary resident (Canada)Temporary resident (Canada)A temporary resident in Canada is someone who is not a Canadian citizen but is legally in Canada for a temporary purpose, including international students, foreign workers and tourists.Some foreign nationals require a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada...