PERMANENT RESIDENT and CITIZENSHIP

PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD RENEWAL

The Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) Card is issued to every person who is a Permanent Resident of Canada.

Canadian permanent residents planning to re-enter Canada on commercial carriers will be required to show their PR cards to confirm their permanent residence status before boarding.

Canadian Permanent Residents not in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, or whose Permanent Resident Card has expired, must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) from the nearest Canadian Migration Office in order to travel to Canada on a commercial carrier.

PR Card is valid for 5 years and has to be renewed provided the resident has met the residency requirement of physically residing in Canada for at least 2 years within a 5-year period.

CITIZENSHIP

There are numerous advantages to holding Canadian citizenship. Becoming a Canadian citizen comes with benefits that are not available to permanent residents, such as: access to restricted jobs; the right to vote and run for political office; and the ability to travel visa-free to 176 countries in the world.

Eligibility:

● Applicant is a Canadian permanent resident

● Has lived in Canada for at least three years out of the past five years before applying

● Able to speak either one or both of Canada’s two official languages (English or French) well enough to communicate in Canadian society. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 54 must submit proof of language proficiency

● No criminal history

● Pass the Canadian Citizenship Test