Permanent resident
Statutory definition
permanent resident means a person who has acquired permanent resident status and has not subsequently lost that status under section 46.
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27, s 2(1)
Explanation
A permanent resident of Canada is a foreign national who has been granted the right to live and work in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents are not Canadian citizens — they remain citizens of their country of origin (or stateless persons) — but they hold most of the rights of citizens, including the right to work and study anywhere in Canada and access to most social benefits.
Permanent resident status is evidenced by a Permanent Resident (PR) Card, which is valid for five years and must be renewed. The underlying permanent resident status does not expire unless lost under s 46 of the IRPA.
How this term is used
Permanent resident status can be lost under IRPA s 46 in several circumstances: failure to meet the residency obligation (730 days in Canada in every five-year period); a final determination of inadmissibility on serious grounds; or renunciation of the status.
Primary pathways to permanent residency include Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program), Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship, and refugee and humanitarian pathways.