In Canada Temporarily? Become a Canadian Permanent Resident

Another week, another announcement from North America: Canada might offer permanent residency pathways to temporary migrants who are already in Canada on student visas and temporary work visas.

In Canada Temporarily? Become a Canadian Permanent Resident

The fact that temporary migrants might have the opportunity to become Canadian permanent residents is an exciting prospect. Covid-19 left many of us (if not all of us) with many question marks about our future, especially temporary workers and students who can’t stay in Canada past their visa expiry date, but might not be able to return to their home countries due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Additionally, this is an excellent opportunity for people who have come accustomed to life in Canada to become a permanent part of Canada’s society; by becoming Canadian permanent residents, they will be moving to Canada officially.

Permanent Residents are citizens of other countries who by moving to Canada, have been granted permanent resident status. As a means of proving their immigration status to authorities, all Canadian permanent residents obtain a Canadian permanent resident Card, or ‘PR card,’ particularly after traveling outside Canada.

Canada permanent residency provides you with important benefits:

In any of the ten provinces or three territories within Canada, a Canadian permanent resident and his accompanying dependents can live, work and study.

Nothing can prevent you from moving to other provinces – your status is not linked to a particular employer or province in this case; Work permits are usually employer-specific, and you have to apply for another work permit all over again if you land a different job. You are free to live and work anywhere or with any employer once you become a permanent resident of Canada. Some immigration programs, such as the Provincial Nomination Program, may require you to live and work for a certain period of time, never longer than one year in the province that has nominated you to become a Canadian permanent resident.

Receive social benefits, such as free healthcare and subsidized education

Canada’s healthcare system is known for its quality and efficiency – and the good news is it’s free!

Canada provides outstanding healthcare services to both its citizens and permanent residents, which are publicly funded. Most necessary medical expenses are covered by the Canadian Universal Health Care Program. That includes visits to the family physicians, psychiatrists, emergency departments, immunizations, annual tests, among others.

This means that you won’t have to pay-out-of-pocket to get world-class healthcare; complete with state-of-the-art research and science.

In the Canadian public school system (ranked as one of the best education systems in the world), permanent residents are entitled to free education up to the age of 18 and after that, the Canadian government offers highly subsidized university education.

If you’re thinking about studying more yourself, or if you’re thinking about your children’s future and giving them a great start in life, school fees for permanent residents are dramatically reduced compared to international student rates – up to 75% lower.

The official languages of Canada are French and English. In Canada, schools teach French as a second language as well. In other words, children of permanent residents will have the opportunity to learn French and English relatively easily.

Think of how efficiently you could use the money you saved now to invest in your children: not only will they enjoy quality education, but you will be able to further invest in their futures by possibly investing in property or business opportunities. By moving to Canada, these advantages can give you and your family the boost you need to succeed in everything you wish for yourselves.

Canada also has a helpful and developed social help system:

• For the unemployed, they offer social security benefits and assistance in finding new employment (including courses which provide job-search techniques and strategies)

• There are also free courses and grants offered for those who have lost their job and want to change their field or update their profession.

• For Canada’s senior citizens, the Canadian government offers retirement and pension benefits, thus ensuring that you don’t have to worry about growing old in Canada; Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, and Canada Pension Plan – all three of these programs are designed to provide employees with financial support after reaching retirement age, currently 65 years of age.

• In Canada, when a new baby is born or adopted, working parents are given time off. Women can take maternity leave for up to 12 months and receive 50 to 65 percent of their normal income. For up to 35 weeks, partially paid parental leave is also available. All 35 weeks can be taken by one parent or both parents can split the time (to be considered eligible you must have worked in Canada for at least 600 hours).

• Permanent residents are entitled to workers’ compensation (in the event of a workplace accident, which makes them unfit for work).

• For each child in the family under the age of 18 years, you will be eligible for tax benefits and monthly payments.

• Newly arrived permanent residents can attend free intensive courses in English and/or French; the government provides financial assistance to those studying full time.

Sponsor Your Family to Become Canadian Permanent Residents

You can bring your immediate family members including spouse, parent, and dependent child to live with you in Canada through the process of sponsorship, as a permanent resident in Canada, to prevent you from getting homesick! If you are already a permanent resident and become romantically involved with someone who is not, you can also sponsor them once you can prove an established relationship.

Protection Under Canadian Law

According to Public Safety Canada which is the department of the federal government of Canada responsible for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a peaceful and safe society – legally incorporated as the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (PSEPC) – “The first priority of the Government of Canada is to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”

This ultimately is why the mid-2020 report of crime index ranked by country awarded Canada a low number – 78 out of 133 countries worldwide – bearing in mind that Canada is the second-largest country in the world!

You Will Have Almost Every Right as a Canadian citizen

Moving to Canada and becoming a permanent resident allows you to live, work, study, and have access to social benefits under Canadian legislation, including health care coverage and security. As Canadian nationals, Canadian permanent residents have exactly the same rights and obligations. Although, permanent residents are unable to vote or run for public office. 

You automatically become eligible to take a citizenship test after you have held permanent residency status in Canada for five years and resided in Canada for at least three out of those five, and if you pass, you will be granted citizenship in Canada.

As long as you meet the requirements and follow the laws of the country, Canadian permanent resident status cannot be revoked. You can therefore only lose your permanent residence in Canada if you commit a serious crime or if, within a period of 5 years, you do not remain in the country for at least 2 years.

Your permanent resident status will not be canceled even upon expiration: If you have complied with the rules, you are eligible for renewal of status.

As a permanent resident you can even open your own business;

The most important aspect of starting a business in Canada is having money for the initial investment, a good business plan, and your company’s registration. When running a business in Canada, some provinces will ask you to include a Canadian citizen as part of your venture. In the rest of the provinces, permanent residents can either start their own business in Canada or purchase a franchise.

In all types of industries, both the federal and provincial governments actually offer many programs to help fund and subsidize existing and new businesses, from guaranteed loans of up to $250,000 for business expansion to subsidizing employee salaries, aimed at motivating employers to hire new staff (up to 80 percent of the gross monthly salary during the first six months of the employment).

To read more about permanent residency please take a look at this article: ‘Canadian Permanent Residency – The Rules’

Why Did Canada Make This Announcement?

This announcement comes after the Canadian government realized that this will allow them to further address their short-term needs of battling the Coronavirus, and their long-term needs of countering the aging population and low birth rate. If Canada doesn’t meet these goals, more gaps will be created in the labor market as the older population retires.

The Canadian government will select immigrants already in Canada on a student visa or temporary work visa who have skills that align with in-demand occupations and services in Canada.

What About Immigrants Who Are Not in Canada?

Well, there is good news for other immigrants too! The Canadian government is still seeking skilled immigrants who have not yet made it to Canada. If you are thinking about relocating to Canada, now is your opportunity!

Whether you apply for a temporary work permit, a permanent work permit, or a student visa, you might have the opportunity to apply for Canada permanent residency.

Contact Great North Visa today to discover your options of immigrating to Canada via free visa assessment and professional consultation.