What Canada Permanent Residents (PRs) Can and Cannot Do: Rights, Restrictions, and Obligations

A Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) is an individual who has the right to live in Canada permanently by immigrating, but who is not a Canadian citizen. 

A big picture of a Canadian permanent resident is that they get nearly all the same rights and responsibilities as Canadian citizens, with a few key exceptions related to politics and national security. Understanding what Canada PRs can and cannot do: rights, restrictions, and obligations is important in maintaining a status and planning for the future.

While a Canadian permanent resident has the legal right to enter Canada under section 27(1) of IRPA (provided their PR status has not been revoked) and does not technically need a PR card to enter Canada (especially at a land port of entry from the U.S.), policy changes require all PRs to hold a valid PR card to board a flight to Canada unless they hold a U.S. passport.

What Can Canada PR Residents DO?

As an individual abroad on a PR visa, you should be aware of your rights. Canadian permanent residents have multiple rights and benefits that allow them to settle in the country. Here are the pointers explaining what a Canada PR can do: 

• Live, Work, and Study Anywhere: With a Canada P.R., you have the right to live, work, and study in any province or territory without needing extra permits. You can also start a business.
• Eligible for Social and Health Benefits: You are eligible for most social benefits, such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and are covered by your province's universal healthcare system.
• Sponsor Your Family Members: You can sponsor relatives to become permanent residents, provided you meet certain eligibility criteria.
• Apply for Canadian Citizenship: You can apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting the residency requirement of living in Canada for a certain period.
• Enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces: From 2022, if you have a Canadian PR, then you are allowed to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Travel with Ease: You can travel outside of Canada and re-enter using your PR card and passport. 

Also Read: How to Get Canada PR With Low CRS Score in 2025?

What Canada PR Residents CANNOT Do? 

While Canadian Permanent Residents enjoy many rights, there are important restrictions that define their limits in political participation, employment, and residency obligations. Here are some of the things that any Canadian individual cannot do: 

• Cannot Vote or Hold Political Office: All Canadian PRs don’t have the liberty to participate in federal, provincial, or municipal elections or hold an elected position in government. 
• Restricted From Certain Jobs Requiring High-Level Security Clearance: For someone living in Canada with a PR status, it is impossible to hold certain positions, especially in the fields related to national security within the public or private sectors, which are reserved exclusively for Canadian citizens. 
• Limited Right to Enter and Remain in Canada: While PRs have the right to enter and live in Canada, their status can be revoked if they commit a serious crime or fail to meet their residency obligations. 
• Residency Obligations: If you want to keep your PR status, an individual must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (two years) within every five-year period. If any individual fails to meet this requirement, it can result in the loss of permanent resident status through an official process.
• No Automatic Citizenship for Children Born Outside Canada: If a PR gives birth outside of Canada, the child does not qualify to become a Canadian citizen (though children born in Canada to PR parents are automatically citizens). The PR parent can apply to sponsor the child as a dependent if they meet eligibility requirements. 

Also Read: Minimum IELTS Score for Canada PR in 2025

How to Get Permanent Residency in Canada?

Obtaining a Canadian Permanent Residency will enable you to work, live, and study in Canada, which is considerably among the most desirable cities. Here are the steps to get a Permanent Residency in Canada:

Step 1: Fill out the Application Form 

Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only after you receive an ITA. Start filling out the application form right away, so that you can get all the information and documents you need before your invitation expires. 

To fill out the application form:

• Sign in to your account.
• Go to “Continue my profile/application, not yet submitted”.
• On the right-hand side of the row with “application type” as “permanent residency,” choose the blue “Continue application” button.

Step 2: Upload your Documents

Gather all the required documents, including: 

• police certificates
• proof of funds
• birth certificate, if you’re declaring dependent children
• Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476], if you’ve hired a representative
• common-law union form [IMM 5409], if you’ve declared your marital status as “common-law”
• marriage certificate, if you’ve declared your marital status as “married”
• divorce certificate and legal separation agreement, if you’ve declared your marital status as “divorced”
• death certificate, if you’ve declared your marital status as “widowed”
• adoption certificate, when a dependent child is listed as “adopted” 
• And other essential documents like: proof of relationship to a relative in Canada, digital photos to confirm your identity, or any other documents that you feel are relevant to your application

Gather all the documents on your checklist and make electronic copies using a scanner or camera. Once you have gathered the required documents, upload them to your document checklist section. 

Step 3: Pay the Fees 

Pay the required fees, including CAD 850, and the RPRF is CAD 575, for a total of CAD 1,425 for the principal applicant. Other costs, such as biometrics (around CAD 85 per person), medical exams, language tests, and police certificates, are separate and must also be accounted for. 

Step 4. Submit Your Application

Finally, after completing all the steps of your application, submit it. But, before you submit your application, make sure you:

• Fill out all mandatory fields on the form
• Pay your processing fee and biometrics fee
• Include clear scans of all documents listed in your checklist

Are you ready to start your journey toward Canadian Permanent Residency? 

The process may seem complex, but with the right guidance, it can be smooth and rewarding. The immigration experts at GetGIS are here to assist you with all your Canada PR-related queries and applications. Join the thousands who have realized their dreams of living in Canada. Book your free consultation today and take your first step towards a new life in Canada.

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