About PR Status & Card
Citizens from other countries who have been given a permanent residence by virtue of their immigration are known as Permanent Residents. Students and Foreign workers who are in Canada temporarily are not Permanent Residents. As long as the Permanent Residents maintain their status, they are allowed to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada and the status is renewed every five years on a rolling basis. The status can be renewed if they:
- Have been a permanent resident.
- Must meet the residency obligation, currently requires physical presence in Canada for at least two years in a five-year period. There are certain exceptions to meet residency obligation; Permanent residents can count the days outside Canada:
- If they have accompanied a Canadian citizen who is their spouse, common-law partner, or parent (if PRs are under 22 years of age).
- If they have accompanied a permanent resident of Canada who is their spouse, common-law partner or parent (if PRs are under 22 years of age) and that person is employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province or territory during the time PRs accompanied them.
- If they are employed by a Canadian business or the public service of Canada or a province or a territory and are assigned a full-time position outside Canada or to a client or an affiliate of the Canadian business or the public service outside Canada, but they need to be working with the employer in Canada after the assignment.
- submit their renewal application in Canada.
Usually, the status is valid for another five years upon renewal and the holders of the Permanent Residence can eventually apply for the Citizenship of Canada once they have become eligible.
The Permanent Residents receive most of the social benefits that are enjoyed by Canadian citizens, including perks such as health care coverage. They are protected by the same laws under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as Canadian citizens and must pay the taxes as well. The PR holders must also respect all the laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. However, the PR holders cannot run for political offices or hold jobs that require a high-level security clearance.
PR Card
PR card can be used to show the permanent resident status in Canada. If permanent residents travel outside Canada, they will need to show their card and passport when they come back on a commercial vehicle, like an airplane, boat, train, or bus.
PRs traveling outside Canada who do not have a valid PR card, or who are not carrying it, need to apply for a permanent resident travel document before returning to Canada by a commercial vehicle.
PR card can be renewed if expired or nine months before the date of expiring. A replacement card can be requested in the application if the current PR card was lost, stolen, or damaged.
