Permanent residence in Canada grants individuals the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the country while accessing healthcare and social benefits. The path to PR status involves complex application processes, strict documentation requirements, and constantly evolving immigration policies. Without proper legal guidance, applicants risk delays, refusals, or inadmissibility issues. At Kingwell Immigration Law, we help Scarborough clients navigate the Canadian immigration system with strategic legal support tailored to each person’s unique circumstances.
Contact our Scarborough immigration lawyer about your permanent residency application.
What Is Permanent Residence in Canada?
Permanent residence grants foreign nationals the legal right to live in Canada indefinitely while maintaining their citizenship from their home country. PR holders enjoy most of the same rights as Canadian citizens, including:
- The ability to live, work, or study anywhere in Canada
- Access to provincial and territorial health insurance plans
- Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Eligibility to apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
- The right to sponsor eligible family members for immigration to Canada
Important distinctions exist between PR status and citizenship. Permanent residents cannot vote in federal elections, run for political office, or hold certain jobs requiring high-level security clearance. PR holders must maintain their status by meeting residency obligations—730 days of physical presence in Canada within every five-year period. To better understand these differences, review our guide on Canadian citizen vs permanent resident.
How Our Scarborough Permanent Residence Lawyers Can Help
Immigration law offers multiple pathways to permanent residence, each with specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and processing procedures. Our firm provides comprehensive legal support at every stage.
PR Application Assistance
We guide clients through various permanent residence pathways:
- Express Entry programmes: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class applications based on a points system assessing age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): Province-specific immigration streams allowing Scarborough residents to apply through Ontario’s programmes designed to address regional labour market needs.
- Family class sponsorship: Applications for spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents seeking to reunite with family members in Canada.
- Refugee and protected person pathways: PR applications for individuals granted refugee protection in Canada who meet the requirements for transitioning to permanent residence.
Incomplete documentation, inaccurate travel histories, or missing evidence can cause significant delays or refusals. We ensure your application is complete, accurate, and properly supported with the evidence IRCC requires.
Permanent Residency Appeals and Refusals
If IRCC has refused your PR application, you may have options for reconsideration or appeal depending on the programme and grounds for refusal. We represent clients facing:
- Procedural fairness concerns: When IRCC identifies potential issues, they may issue a procedural fairness letter giving you an opportunity to respond. We prepare detailed responses addressing the officer’s concerns with supporting documentation and legal arguments.
- Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) hearings: For family sponsorship refusals, the IAD provides an avenue to appeal on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. We present evidence and legal arguments demonstrating why the refusal should be overturned.
- Federal Court judicial reviews: When administrative remedies are exhausted, Federal Court provides oversight of IRCC decisions. Our litigation experience positions us to challenge unreasonable decisions and procedural errors.
PR Card Renewal and Maintenance
Your permanent resident card proves your PR status when travelling outside Canada. PR cards are valid for five years and must be renewed. We assist with:
- PR card renewal applications for expired or expiring cards
- Urgent processing requests for immediate travel needs
- Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) applications for those outside Canada without a valid card
- Residency obligation assessments confirming you meet the 730-day requirement
Learn more about how to maintain PR status in Canada to protect your right to remain in the country.
Sponsorship Representation
Family reunification stands as one of Canada’s core immigration priorities. We represent sponsors and applicants throughout the family class sponsorship process:
- Spousal and common-law partner sponsorships, both inland and outland
- Dependent child sponsorships for biological and adopted children
- Parent and grandparent sponsorships through the annual intake programme
- Other eligible family member sponsorships in specific circumstances
Sponsorship applications require proof of genuine relationships, financial capacity, and admissibility assessments. We prepare comprehensive applications demonstrating eligibility and minimizing processing delays.
Our immigration attorneys in Scarborough will guide you through your PR application with personalized legal strategies. Contact us today.
Why Hire a Permanent Residence Lawyer in Scarborough?
Managing Canadian Immigration Law
Immigration policies and processing procedures change regularly through new legislation, policy updates, and ministerial instructions affecting application requirements and processing times. A single mistake—incomplete documentation, inconsistent information, or failure to meet requirements—can result in months of delays or refusals that jeopardize your future in Canada.
Working with an immigration lawyer in Scarborough provides current knowledge of IRCC policies, processing trends, and successful application strategies. We stay informed about programme changes and officer expectations to position your application for approval.
Personalized Legal Strategy
No two immigration cases are identical. Your education, work history, family situation, travel patterns, and goals all influence which PR pathway offers the best chance of success.
We develop strategies tailored to your situation, which might involve:
- Assessing multiple PR pathways to identify the option with the highest success probability
- Timing your application to coincide with programme openings or policy changes
- Gathering documentation that strengthens your case beyond the minimum requirements
- Addressing potential concerns proactively before IRCC raises them
- Coordinating with other legal matters like work permits or visitor extensions during processing
Full-service immigration law firms address the complete range of immigration issues that may arise during your PR journey.
Who Can Apply for Permanent Residency?
Canadian immigration law provides multiple pathways to permanent residence:
Family sponsorship applicants: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and in limited circumstances, other relatives.
Skilled workers under Express Entry: The Express Entry system manages applications for three federal economic immigration programmes, selecting candidates based on human capital factors and issuing invitations to the highest-ranked individuals.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants: Each province and territory operates immigration programmes targeting occupations in demand locally and providing pathways for international students and temporary workers already living in the region.
Refugees and protected persons: Individuals granted refugee protection in Canada become eligible to apply for permanent residence once their claim is accepted or after receiving a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) decision.
Live-in caregivers: Foreign workers who provide care for children, elderly persons, or persons with disabilities in private households may qualify after meeting work experience requirements.
Business immigrants: Entrepreneurs, investors, and self-employed individuals may qualify through federal or provincial business immigration programmes, though these pathways have more limited availability.
Common Challenges with PR Applications
Even straightforward permanent residence applications can encounter obstacles that delay processing or result in refusals:
- Missing documents: IRCC requires extensive documentation to verify identity, work history, education credentials, language ability, and admissibility. Missing police certificates, medical examinations, employment letters, or proof of funds can halt processing.
- Incomplete travel history: Applicants must account for all international travel for the past ten years. Gaps or inconsistencies raise credibility concerns and can trigger additional verification steps.
- Criminal inadmissibility: Convictions for offences inside or outside Canada can make individuals inadmissible. Depending on the severity and timing, you may need criminal rehabilitation or a Temporary Resident Permit before proceeding with PR.
- Medical exam issues: Health conditions that might cause excessive demand on Canadian health services or pose public health risks can result in medical inadmissibility findings requiring detailed medical evidence and legal submissions to overcome.
- Inconsistencies in personal history: Discrepancies between application forms, supporting documents, and information in IRCC’s systems raise red flags. Officers may request additional documentation or interviews to resolve concerns.
We identify potential issues before they derail your application and work to resolve problems efficiently.
Ready to Apply for Permanent Residency? Contact Our Immigration Lawyers in Scarborough Today
Making Canada your permanent home requires more than completing application forms. It demands strategic planning, thorough documentation, and proper legal representation to navigate a complex system with constantly evolving requirements. Whether you’re applying through Express Entry, family sponsorship, or provincial nomination—or facing a PR refusal or residency obligation concerns—we provide the legal support you need.
Let us help you build your future in Canada with legal strategies tailored to your circumstances.
Contact Kingwell Immigration Law:
📞 Phone: 416.988.8853
📍 Office: Toronto, Ontario (serving clients throughout Scarborough)
🔗 Complete our online contact form
Whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a PR denial, our Scarborough immigration lawyers are positioned to help you achieve permanent residence in Canada.
FAQs About Permanent Residence in Canada
How long does it take to get PR in Canada from Scarborough?
Processing times vary significantly by immigration programme. Express Entry applications typically process within six to eight months from when IRCC receives the complete application. Family sponsorship processing times vary: inland spousal sponsorships currently take approximately 12 months, while outland applications range from 10 to 12 months depending on the country. Provincial nominee applications involve two stages—provincial nomination then federal processing—which together may take 18 to 24 months. Current processing times are available on the IRCC website, though individual cases may experience longer delays based on complexity.
Can a permanent resident apply for Canadian citizenship?
Yes, permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting specific requirements. You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) during the five years immediately before your application. You must also file income taxes for at least three years during the five-year period, demonstrate knowledge of English or French, and pass a citizenship test on Canadian history, values, institutions, and symbols.
What happens if my PR card expires?
An expired PR card doesn’t mean you’ve lost your permanent resident status—your status remains valid as long as you meet residency obligations. However, you need a valid PR card to board flights or commercial vehicles returning to Canada. If your card expires while you’re in Canada, apply for renewal before any planned travel. If you’re outside Canada with an expired card, you’ll need to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document from a Canadian visa office abroad.
Can I work while waiting for my PR application to be approved?
Your ability to work depends on your current immigration status. If you’re in Canada with a valid work permit, you can continue working under that permit while your PR application is processed. Inland spousal sponsorship applicants may be eligible for an open work permit allowing them to work for any employer while waiting for their PR decision. If you’re outside Canada or in Canada without work authorization, you cannot legally work until you receive permanent residence or obtain a separate work permit.
What are the residency obligations for PR holders in Canada?
Permanent residents must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (two years) during every five-year period to maintain PR status. IRCC assesses your residency obligation when you apply for PR card renewal or when you enter Canada. Days spent outside Canada may count toward your obligation in limited circumstances, such as accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or working for a Canadian business abroad. Failing to meet residency obligations can result in loss of PR status.