DeanN

Hi all,

I'm a Canadian permanent resident (obtained March 2017 through common law partner). Have enjoyed it thus far but I haven't found a job to my liking thus far, and my current contract ends at the end of this month.

My former UK employer has been in contact asking if I'd like to come back for maybe six months to a year; I'm considering saying yes.

In terms of maintaining PR I've been reading up on it and I had two questions:

- I understand what the residency requirements are for maintaining PR (two years in a five year period) and that those days don't need to be consecutive. Is this correct? I know the regulations have changed recently so just wanted to be sure on this point.

- Do I need to inform IRCC about the fact that I wouldn't be residing in Canada for a period of several months?

Vulcanoid

Any 730 days in Canada in a 5 year period count.

You only need to tell IRCC about the time outside if and when you apply to renew a PR card.

christmasoompa

Note the 730 days rule doesn't apply if you're living outside of Canada with your Canadian spouse - time spent with him/her counts as if time in Canada for your residency obligations.

So in other words, you can live outside of Canada for any amount of time, and as long you're living with your Canadian spouse, you'd still maintain your PR status indefinitely.

HTH.

DeanN

Thanks for the help, it's much appreciated.

oompa - thanks for letting me know about that Canadian spouse rule, although it wouldn't apply in my case: my partner's taken a short term contract in rural Ontario, and I'm not too keen on moving there. We've done the long distance thing before and it wasn't so bad.

glendem4

PR card is valid for 5 years. If I am living with my Canadian spouse in the UK for 4 years before physically moving to Canada then I still retain PR status? So as long as I reside with my spouse anywhere in the world I will never lose my Canadian PR status?

Shakyuk

I didn't know that! It's not relevant at all to me, but I found it interesting.

christmasoompa

Yep.

christmasoompa

Also applies if one is sent to work abroad for a Canadian company, that also counts as time 'in Canada' for PR purposes.

Just in case that ever applies to you!

Shakyuk

I would imagine that could apply to me if I'm lucky enough to land myself an engineering position when I get to Canada, so that's even better to know, cheers


If however I end up flipping burgers... .... ....