At Kingwell Immigration Law, we help clients across Canada and around the world achieve and protect permanent residency — one of the most important milestones in any immigration journey.
Canadian PR status gives you the legal right to live, work, study, access healthcare, sponsor family members, and build a future in Canada on a long-term basis. But gaining that status is only part of the picture. Protecting it matters just as much.
Speak with a Toronto immigration lawyer about your permanent residency today.
Permanent residency gives a foreign national the legal right to live, work, and study in Canada on a long-term basis. As a permanent resident (PR), you hold most of the same rights as a Canadian citizen — with some key differences. You cannot vote in federal or provincial elections, and certain high-security government positions remain restricted to citizens.
To maintain your PR status, you must meet the residency obligation set out by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within every five-year period.
Falling short of this requirement can put your status — and everything that comes with it — at risk. If you are unsure whether you are meeting your obligations, we can review your situation and advise you before any issues arise.
💡 Additional reading: Canadian citizen vs permanent resident
Canadian PR status comes with a broad range of rights and protections that touch nearly every area of daily life. From the moment your status is confirmed, the following benefits become available to you.
As a permanent resident, you are free to live, work, and study in any province or territory across Canada without restrictions. You do not need an employer to sponsor you, and you do not need a work permit to take a job.
Whether you are drawn to Toronto’s financial district, British Columbia’s tech sector, or Alberta’s energy industry, your PR status gives you the freedom to pursue opportunity wherever it exists in this country.
Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system is one of the most well-regarded in the world. As a permanent resident, you will receive a provincial health card giving you access to medically necessary services — including doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic testing — at no direct cost. Coverage is administered provincially, so the services available to you will depend on where you live.
You can find links to each province and territory’s health insurance plan through the Government of Canada’s provincial and territorial health care resources page.
Permanent residents are eligible for a wide range of federal and provincial social programs. Once you receive your Social Insurance Number (SIN), you can access Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS). Families with children may also qualify for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), as well as GST/HST credits designed to support lower and middle-income households.
To find out which programs you may be eligible for, book a consultation with our team.
Canada is home to some of the top-ranked universities and colleges in the world. As a permanent resident, you and your children qualify for domestic tuition rates, which are significantly lower than international student rates.
Permanent residents may also access scholarships, bursaries, and grants that are not available to temporary residents or international students — a meaningful financial advantage over the course of a full degree program.
Canada’s restrictions on foreign property purchases do not apply to permanent residents. The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act limits most foreign nationals from buying residential real estate, but permanent residents are exempt. Whether you are looking to invest in property or purchase a family home, PR status gives you that right.
One of the most meaningful benefits of Canadian PR is the ability to bring loved ones to Canada. Permanent residents can sponsor certain family members for PR status of their own, including:
Each sponsorship category has its own eligibility criteria and processing requirements. If a sponsorship application is refused, appeal options are available — including to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD). We can help you prepare the strongest possible application from the outset, and represent you if a refusal needs to be challenged.
Permanent residents have the right to start, own, and operate a business in Canada without the restrictions that apply to many temporary residents. This includes the freedom to enter into commercial contracts, hire employees, and make investments — giving you full participation in Canada’s economy as an entrepreneur or business owner from the moment you receive your status.
As a permanent resident, you are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This includes the right to life, liberty, and security of the person; protection against unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to equal treatment under the law regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, or age.
These protections apply to everyone in Canada — not only citizens — and they carry real weight in immigration proceedings where fundamental rights are at stake.
If your rights as a permanent resident have been affected, arrange an appointment to discuss your options.
Permanent residents pay taxes in Canada and gain access to the full range of tax credits and benefits the system offers. Beyond the Canada Child Benefit and GST/HST credits, PRs can contribute to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) — a powerful tool for long-term financial planning and retirement security that is not available to most temporary residents.
Permanent residency is the final step before Canadian citizenship. Once you have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days within the five years before you apply — and you meet the language and tax filing requirements — you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. A Canadian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 180 countries worldwide, and citizenship removes the residency obligation entirely.
💡 Additional reading: Benefits of Canadian citizenship
| Benefit | Permanent Residents | Canadian Citizens Only |
|---|---|---|
| Live and work anywhere in Canada | ✔ | ✔ |
| Universal healthcare (provincial health card) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and GST/HST credits | ✔ | ✔ |
| RRSP contributions | ✔ | ✔ |
| Purchase residential property | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sponsor eligible family members | ✔ | ✔ |
| Start and operate a business | ✔ | ✔ |
| Charter of Rights and Freedoms protections | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vote in federal or provincial elections | ✗ | ✔ |
| Canadian passport | ✗ | ✔ |
| Certain high-security government roles | ✗ | ✔ |
| No residency obligation | ✗ | ✔ |
The benefits of permanent residency can only be enjoyed as long as your status itself is secure. Many permanent residents are unaware of the situations that can put their status in jeopardy — and the consequences can be severe.
Residency obligation breaches are one of the most common issues. Life circumstances — extended family obligations abroad, international work assignments, or health-related stays outside Canada — can cause a PR to fall below the 730-day threshold.
If IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) determines that you have not met your residency obligation, a removal order can follow. Under Section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the residency obligation applies throughout the life of your status — until you become a citizen.
Inadmissibility is another serious risk. A criminal conviction — whether in Canada or abroad — can trigger inadmissibility proceedings that threaten your PR status, even after years of lawful residence. The same applies to misrepresentation findings, certain medical grounds, or non-compliance with immigration conditions.
If your status is under threat, we can assess your options and act quickly to protect what you have built — whether that means preparing an appeal, addressing an inadmissibility finding, or representing you in a Federal Court judicial review.
When PR status is revoked or abandoned, all of the associated benefits stop immediately. There is no gradual wind-down — healthcare coverage, the right to work, the ability to sponsor family members, and access to social programs all cease. For families who have built their lives in Canada over years or even decades, this can be devastating.
The legal avenues available to challenge a removal order or inadmissibility finding are time-sensitive. Missing an appeal deadline at the Immigration Appeal Division — or failing to seek judicial review at the Federal Court within the prescribed period — can foreclose options that might otherwise have preserved your status. The sooner we are involved, the more we can do.
At Kingwell Immigration Law, we work with permanent residents at every stage: those working toward citizenship, and those whose status has come under threat.
Whether you are facing a removal order, a residency obligation breach, an inadmissibility finding, or a refusal at a port of entry, we will assess your situation and build a strategy designed to protect what you have worked to build.
Founded by Daniel Kingwell and backed by more than 20 years of experience in Canadian immigration law, our Toronto-based firm has a proven record of representing clients at the Immigration Appeal Division, the Federal Court, and beyond.
We take the time to get to know you and your circumstances, so we can develop a plan that reflects your goals — because every case is unique, and every outcome matters.
Your permanent resident status is too important to leave to chance. Whether you are working toward citizenship or facing a risk to your status, call 416.988.8853 or book a consultation so we can help you protect what you have built.
No, a removal order does not automatically end your permanent resident status. You generally have the right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, and your status is maintained while that appeal is active. Deadlines are strict — typically 30 days from notification inside Canada — so Kingwell Immigration Law advises acting immediately to preserve your options.
Yes, a foreign criminal conviction can trigger inadmissibility proceedings in Canada, potentially leading to a removal order even after years of lawful PR status. The outcome depends on the nature of the offence and how it maps to Canadian law. Kingwell Immigration Law recommends a legal assessment before you travel internationally or apply to renew your PR card.
A citizenship refusal does not automatically affect your PR status — you remain a permanent resident with full associated rights unless IRCC initiates a separate action. However, if the refusal involved misrepresentation or residency concerns, your underlying PR status could come under review. Kingwell Immigration Law can assess the decision and advise on any further risk.
An expired PR card does not mean you have lost your status, but you cannot board a commercial carrier back to Canada without one. You must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) before travelling. If IRCC raises residency compliance concerns during that process, Kingwell Immigration Law can help you prepare a strong response.
Children with their own confirmed PR status are not automatically affected by changes to a parent’s status. However, if dependants were included on a parent’s original application and their status has not been separately confirmed, the situation can be more complex. Kingwell Immigration Law takes a whole-family approach — assessing and protecting every family member’s status, not only the primary applicant’s.
