Becoming a Permanent Resident
Canadian Permanent Residence Entry
One of the main questions people wishing to immigrate to Canada ask immigration lawyers is how they can receive permanent residency in Canada. Achieving a status of permanent residency is one step closer to achieving Canadian citizenship. The Canadian government receives thousands of applications each year for people wishing to become permanent residents.
What Is a Canadian Permanent Resident?
A permanent resident is a citizen of another state given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada.
A person allowed in Canada temporarily, such as a student or a foreign worker, is not a permanent resident and does not have the same status as a permanent resident.
As a permanent resident, you will have the following rights:
- to receive the social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including health care,
- to live and work anywhere you wish in Canada,
- to apply for Canadian citizenship, and
- to be protected under Canadian law.
As a Canadian permanent resident, you must pay taxes and respect all Canadian laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
There are five main programs to obtain permanent residency:
- Express Entry—certain economic immigration programs that allow for foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada to fill jobs where there is a lack of available skilled Canadian workers.
- Business Immigration—allows foreign nationals to invest in Canada. Usually, business immigration is a path for those immigrants who have experience owning, managing, or investing in businesses.
- Family Sponsorship—a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada through several programs. If a family is separated when immigrating to Canada, family sponsorship helps reunite them.
- Canadian Experience Class—allows temporary foreign workers and foreign students to apply their work experience and education toward their applications for temporary residency.
- Provincial Nominee Program—allows workers who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute economically to a specific Canadian province or territory. Each province has its own stream and programs that target students, business people, skilled workers, and semiskilled workers.
Navigating the different programs toward permanent residency may be complex and difficult. Heath Law LLP would be pleased to help with your immigration needs.