PR Renewal & Citizenship

Residency Requirements and PR Renewal

A Permanent Resident of Canada is an individual who is a citizen of another country, however, this individual has legally declared their intention to settle and live in Canada permanently. In order to maintain Permanent Residence status, certain residency requirements must be met.

  • a Permanent Resident must live (be physically present) in Canada for 2 years (730 days) within the 5 year period
  • Physical presence may still be considered in some cases such as travelling abroad with a spouse or parent who is a Canadian Citizen or in cases of full time employment abroad by a Canadian employer (subject to some conditions)
  • In unique cases, renewals for individual who do not meet the minimum residency requirements can be made under Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds

Canadian Citizenship

Canadian Citizenship by Naturalization is a process where eligible Permanent Residents apply for grant of citizenship if they meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a Permanent Resident of Canada. One cannot bypass the permanent residence period and apply for citizenship directly
  • Must prove physical presence in Canada for at least 1,095 days out of the 5 years preceding the application (some time spent as student/worker may count)
  • Must prove proficiency in one of Canada's official languages
  • Must pass a knowledge test about Canada
  • Must have filed Income Taxes (if required) for at least 3 years during the 5 year eligibility period

Its a good idea to keep track of all travel outside Canada. Government of Canada has provided a downloadable Travel Journal to keep track of the information that will be required for PR Card Renewal and/or Canadian Citizenship application.

Download your copy now

International Adoption and Canadian Immigration

Many Canadian families complete their families through international adoption. If the adopted child is going to live in Canada immediately following the adoption, adoptive parents are faced with a choice which process to use to bring the child home to Canada. Adoptive parents can either apply for Permanent Residence or apply for a direct grant of Canadian citizenship (given that at least one of the adoptive parents is a Canadian citizen at the time of the adoption).

Infusion Immigration specialists are knowledgeable and experienced in both immigration and adoption process and can guide you and help you determine which process is best suited for your situation. Call or message to schedule your free consultation.