How to Maintain Your Canadian Permanent Resident Status is a question people ask us about frequently.
Many immigrants (i.e. Permanent Residents) have concerns/questions about how to keep their Permanent Resident (“PR”) status, so in today’s blog, Helen Han, from MacLean Law Immigration would like to explain the PR obligation requirements and how to maintain your PR status.
How to Maintain Your Canadian Permanent Resident Status 1 877 602 9900
Definition of Permanent Residents in Canada:
A permanent resident is someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada, but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents of Canada are citizens of other countries.
Permanent Resident Card:
Permanent Resident Card (PR card) is an identification and travel document for permanent residents of Canada, which was distributed in 2002. You need to have a valid PR card for your travel as well as renewing your Medical Services Plan (MSP) and driver license.
PR cards are usually valid for 5 years. As a new permanent resident, you will receive your first PR card after you complete your landing procedure. You do not need to apply for your first PR card. If your PR card has been issued and you are not planning to apply for Canadian Citizenship, you will need to renew your PR card before it expires. Read more about your PR status.
How to Maintain Your Canadian Permanent Resident Status 1 877 602 9900
Residency obligations: Here is How to Maintain Your Canadian Permanent Resident Status. As a permanent resident, you need to physically live in Canada for at least 730 days during the last five years to keep your permanent resident status and to renew your PR card. You may count days outside of Canada in these situations:
- Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada
- Dependent child (under 22 years) accompanying a Canadian parent/s outside Canada
- Full-time employment outside Canada by a Canadian business or public service of Canada/Province or territory
- Accompanying a permanent resident outside Canada who is employed full-time by a Canadian business or public service of Canada/Province or territory
Eligibility to renew your PR card:
- Your PR card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months
- Fulfill the residency obligation
- Submit your application in Canada
- You are not under a removal order
Therefore, for those people who are outside Canada with the expired PR card and would like to renew their PR card, how would you file your PR card renewal application? You should find a qualified immigration consultant or lawyer who could help you with the matter.
Losing your permanent resident status:
You don’t automatically lose your permanent resident status when your PR card expires. You will lose your status if go through an official process as follows:
- An official from Immigration Canada or Canada Border Services Agency determines that you no longer fulfill the residency obligation after an inquiry or appeal hearing.
- Voluntarily renunciation of your permanent resident status.
- A removal order is made by an official.
Vancouver Immigration Lawyers
Certain immigrants have trouble fulfilling residency obligations due to personal reasons (such as operating a business overseas, caring for family, etc., and may be at risk of losing their permanent resident status when they apply to renew their PR card. So here comes the tricky part: assuming you are a permanent resident and your PR card has expired, and you have not fulfilled your residency obligation. Will you be able to return to Canada legally, and if so, will you lose your PR status? If you have already lost your PR status, is there any way that you can regain your PR status?
If you would like to know more about how to legally preserve your permanent residency status, please contact MacLean Law immigration team by calling 1 877 602 9900 for professional advice and suggestion. We hope this information helps you understand How to Maintain Your Canadian Permanent Resident Status.
