Canada is considered to be one of the most comfortable countries in the world to live in. It is not surprising that many people would like to have Canadian citizenship. However, the procedure of obtaining Canadian citizenship is a rather long and not simple process. However, in order to live in Canada, it is quite enough to have the status of a permanent resident of this country. In this article we will tell you what this status is, what opportunities it opens and how it can be obtained or lost.

What is the status of permanent resident of Canada

Permanent residency in Canada is the right of a non-citizen to stay in Canada permanently, with the ability to work and enjoy almost all the rights of a Canadian citizen.

A permanent resident (Résident permanent in Quebec) does not have a Canadian passport.

Consequently, his or her rights are limited in some cases. In particular, a permanent resident cannot:

• Elect and be elected to Canada's federal representative bodies
• Serve in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Navy
• Perform duties related to access to highly classified information.

On the other hand, people with permanent resident status may well work for the Canadian police or fire departments. They enjoy full social security and health insurance benefits. They are covered by most of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And, of course, they are members of the Canada Pension Plan and can expect to receive a pension when they finish working. However, a permanent resident of Canada cannot enter countries with which Canada has a visa-free regime without a visa. Unless, of course, the permanent resident also holds a passport from a country that has a visa-free regime with those countries.

Canada Permanent Resident Card

The main document that confirms this status is the Canada Permanent Resident Card. This card has been issued since 2002. Unofficially it was called "Maple Leaf Card" (Maple Leaf Card). However, it can be obtained only in Canada.

Some people get this card because they have already lived legally in Canada for a certain period of time. However, new immigrants get it on the basis of a Permanent Resident Visa, which is issued at Canadian embassies or consulates. However, having a visa is not a guarantee that you will receive the card and become a permanent resident of Canada. If such a visa is overstayed, then the whole procedure of immigration to Canada will have to start again. It is worth noting that a permanent resident of Canada must be on its territory for at least 730 days out of every 5 years. However, there are a number of cases when this period can be counted as a stay abroad in Canada. In each case, the decision to extend the status is made by an officer of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Canada Permanent Resident Card is valid for 5 years. After that the card becomes invalid. However, the expiration of the card does not cancel the permanent resident status. If a person lives in Canada with an expired card, he or she does not lose the status of permanent resident, because he or she fulfills all the conditions of such status: lives in the country, does not violate its laws, etc. If the permanent resident overstays the card abroad, he/she must go to a Canadian diplomatic mission and ask for a special single-use Travel Document to enter Canada. It is at this point that the IRCC officer will decide the fate of the permanent resident status. If the decision is negative, it can be appealed within 60 days of the decision. If the decision is made within Canada, the appeal period is 30 days.

Why you can be revoked as a Canadian permanent resident

One of the major differences between being a Canada Permanent resident and a Canadian citizen is that permanent resident status can be revoked for a number of reasons:

Failure to comply with the rule that you must have lived in Canada for at least 730 days for every 5 years you have been a Canadian citizen. There are a number of exceptions to this rule. For example, time spent abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse or a Canadian citizen child may be counted towards the period of stay in Canada. In addition, time spent working for Canadian companies abroad or for Canadian government organizations outside of Canada may be counted:

• Committing a serious crime. A serious crime is an offense for which a person is imprisoned in a Canadian jail for more than 6 months. In this case, the person will lose his or her permanent resident status after serving the sentence. If a permanent resident, while abroad, commits an offense for which he or she faces more than 10 years imprisonment under Canadian law, he or she will also lose permanent resident status and be denied entry. The procedure for determining whether a particular offense complies with Canadian criminal law is called a Legal Opinion.

• Obtaining Canadian citizenship. In order to obtain Canadian citizenship you must either stay in Canada for 1095 days with Permanent Resident status, or stay in Canada for 1095 days during the last 5 years with legal status. In addition, you must pass a Canadian history test and swear allegiance to the Queen of Canada. Once citizenship is obtained, Permanent Resident status is automatically lost. At the same time, the number of rights and opportunities increases significantly.

• Voluntary relinquishment of permanent resident status in Canada. Every person has the right to voluntarily give up the status of permanent resident of Canada, informing the IRCC. In this case, such a person is transferred to the category of temporary residents of the country (Temporary Resident), and must leave the country within 6 months.

Thus, the status of permanent resident of Canada gives the opportunity to live and work in this country, enjoying almost all the rights of its citizens, except for participation in elections and the ability to work in structures related to the security of the country. On the other hand, permanent resident status can be lost if you fail to fulfill any of the conditions of its possession. In addition, a permanent resident card does not allow visa-free entry to countries with which Canada has a visa-free regime. For these reasons, it may make sense to become a full-fledged Canadian citizen over time.