What is a Foreign National?

A foreign national is a person from a country other than Canada who is not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a protected person.

What is a Permanent Resident?

A Permanent Resident is a person who has been granted permission by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to settle in Canada permanently, and who may later apply to become a Canadian citizen. The previous term was "landed immigrant".

A Permanent Resident has many of the same rights and responsibilities as Canadian citizens, including:

•	Being able to live and work anywhere in Canada
•	Being protected by Canadian laws, and having to respect them
•	Receiving Canadian social benefits, including health care coverage
•	Having to pay taxes

What is a Canadian Citizen?

A Canadian Citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has been granted Canadian citizenship under the Citizenship Act.

How is a Permanent Resident different from Canadian Citizenship?

A Permanent Resident cannot:

•	Vote
•	Run for elected office
•	Work in a field where a high-level security clearance is required
•	Stay in Canada if convicted of a serious criminal offence and told to leave the country
•	Hold a Canadian passport

As a Permanent Resident, can you live outside of Canada and still retain your Permanent Resident Status?

To maintain your PR status, you must live in Canada for at least two out of five years. However, if you intend to leave Canada, you must get a Permanent Resident Card and use this card to be able to return to the country.

Can Permanent Resident sponsor family members?

Yes, like citizens, Permanent Residents can sponsor family members. However, there are restrictions on who can be included in a sponsorship application.
For further information, please contact us.

CRIMINAL RECORD AND IMMIGRATION

Does having a criminal record prevent you from being able to come to Canada?

Having committed or being convicted of a criminal offence may prevent you from being allowed to enter Canada, including visiting here. This includes being involved in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime. However, this likely does not apply if the conviction occurred before the age of 18.

A permanent resident who is convicted of a serious criminal offence may also lose their status in Canada and be required to return to their home country.
However, the law surrounding this area is very complex and particular to each individual case. If you are a permanent resident or a foreign national and are facing criminal charges, it is important that you consult an immigration lawyer prior to resolving your matter. For assistance regarding these issues, please contact us.

If I am deemed criminally inadmissible, is there any way I can still come to Canada?

Yes, you can come to Canada if you are deemed "criminally rehabilitated." There are two ways this can come about: deemed rehabilitation, individual rehabilitation.
If there is a pressing need to enter Canada, you may be able to get a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP).
Again, this is a complex issue and fact-specific. If you require assistance with this matter,  please contact us.