What are my rights as a permanent resident (PR)?

As a permanent resident, you can:

• Receive most of the benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including public healthcare and financial assistance for university or college through OSAP.
• Attend any high school, college or university.
• Live and work anywhere in Canada.
• Apply for Canadian citizenship.
• Receive protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

You must pay taxes and respect all federal, provincial, and municipal Canadian laws.

As a permanent resident, you cannot:

• Vote or run for political office.
• Hold certain jobs that have a high-level security clearance requirement.
• Remain in Canada if you are convicted of a serious criminal offence and have been told to leave the country.

Your permanent resident status allows you to live in Canada, but there is also a time limit on how long you can live outside the country. To keep your status as a permanent resident, you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period.

You can lose your permanent resident status if:

• You do not meet the residency obligation, for example, if you have been outside Canada for more than three years within a five-year period.
• You are convicted of a serious crime. In addition to losing your status, you also risk being deported from Canada.

You also lose your permanent resident status when you become a Canadian citizen.

The permanent resident card

This wallet-sized permanent resident card is the official proof of your status as a permanent resident of Canada. It is important to carry this card with you if you want to travel. 

To learn more about the PR card, read our article: “What is a Permanent Resident (PR) Card, and why is it important?”.