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A permanent resident is someone who can live in Canada permanently but is not yet a Canadian citizen.

To keep permanent residency status, you must live in Canada permanently. You must have spent at least 730 days in Canada over the past 5 years.

Permanent residents can participate in many aspects of Canadian society. They can:

  • access many social benefits, such as public healthcare,
  • seek protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and
  • work, study, or settle anywhere in Canada.

However, there are some limitations on a permanent resident. For example, permanent residents do not have the right to vote or run for political office.

Permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship if they wish to live in Canada indefinitely.

Note: students and foreign workers who are in Canada to study or work are not permanent residents.

Applying for Permanent Residency

Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCA) allows foreign nationals to become permanent residents of Canada through several different programs. These programs ensure that permanent residents can contribute to Canada economically, socially, and culturally without being a risk to the health, safety, and security of Canadians.

Programs to apply for permanent residency can be broadly divided into two classes:

  • Economic class, and
  • Non-economic class.

Economic class

Under economic class programs, people are selected to become permanent residents based on their ability to contribute to Canada economically.

Economic class programs include:

  • the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class (all three can be applied for using the Express Entry system),
  • the Quebec-selected skilled workers program,
  • Provincial Nominee Programs (learn more),
  • Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs,
  • the Self-Employed Persons Program for investors, start-up business owners, and entrepreneurs (learn more),
  • the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program,
  • the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program, and
  • Caregiver programs, including the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot Program and the Home Support Worker Pilot Program (learn more)

Non-economic class

Under non-economic class programs, people are selected to become permanent residents primarily so that they can reunite with their families. Sometimes permanent residence is granted on humanitarian and social grounds.

Non-economic class programs include:

  • Family sponsorship (learn more),
  • humanitarian and compassionate consideration (learn more),
  • Protected Persons or refugee programs (learn more),
  • the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway,
  • the health-care workers permanent residence pathway: COVID-19 program delivery, and
  • permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents.

Getting a Permanent Resident Card

If you are a permanent resident and wish to travel outside of Canada, you must get a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card). You need this card to prove you are a permanent resident when you return to Canada.

You can apply for a new Permanent Resident Card through the Government of Canada.

You can also renew your PR Card if it has expired. You still have your permanent resident status even if your PR Card expired. You can also apply for a replacement of a lost or damaged PR Card or change the gender identifier in your PR Card.

Losing Permanent Residency status

You will lose your permanent residency status if:

  • the Government of Canada makes an inquiry and determines that you no longer meet the criteria,
  • you have not lived in Canada for 730 days over the past 5 years, or
  • there is a removal order made against you.

You can also voluntarily give up your permanent residency status if you do not want to keep it or know that you no longer meet the criteria but would still like to visit Canada.