Permanent residency is a person's legal resident status in a country or territory of which such person is not a citizen but where they have the right to reside on a permanent basis. This is usually for a permanent period; a person with such legal status is known as a permanent resident.
Permanent residency itself is distinct from right of abode, which waives immigration control for such persons. Persons having permanent residency still require immigration control if they do not have right of abode. However, a right of abode automatically grants people permanent residency. This status also gives work permit in most cases. In many Western countries, the status of permanent resident confers a right of abode upon the holder despite not being a citizen of the particular country.
Nations with permanent residency systems
Not every nation allows permanent residency. Rights and application may vary widely.
All European Union countries have a facility for someone to become a permanent resident, as EU legislation allows an EU national who moves to another EU country to attain permanent resident status after residing there for five years. The European Union also sets out permanent residency rights for long-term resident third country nationals under directive (2003/109/EC). A novel approach was the granting of rights across the national borders of states adhering to the directive. Permanent residents of European Union states who are citizens of another EU state enjoy extra rights; they can vote in European Parliament (and, in some cases, municipal and regional) elections in their country of residence. As an example, a Romanian citizen who emigrated to France would be able to vote in local and European Parliament elections in France (but not Romania).
As for Hong Kong and Macau, both special administrative regions of China, they do not have their own citizenship laws, the term "permanent residents" refer to persons with the right of abode in these territories. Most permanent residents of Chinese descent are Chinese citizens according to Chinese nationality law.
Other countries have varying forms of such residency and relationships with other countries with regards to permanent residency. Such as Canada which conducts CRS draws through its Express Entry system to invite its temporary resident for permanent residency.
These countries and territories have some type of permanent resident status:
: called residente permanente
Australia
: called Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório (CRNM) : called : permanent residents, previously known as landed immigrants
: called yǒngjiǔ-jūliúquán, programme started from 2004For details, see the Unofficial translation of the "Administrative Measures for Treatment of Foreigners Residing Permanently in China" , 2012-12-18
: called
: called Settlement of Austria : B or C permit for non-EEA citizens Belgian Immigration Office: Right of permanent residence : called : called Cyprus permanent residency Andreas Demetriades & Co LLCCyprus permanent residency GEORGE K. KONSTANTINOU LAW FIRM : called Permanent Residence: Czech Ministry of the Interior : called New to Denmark: You want to apply for a permanent residence permit Estonia: Right of residence and residence permit for foreign nationals : permit P : some types of , such as the Welcome to France: Resident card : called Settling in Germany : called Greek Visas and Residency Permits for U.S. Citizens Residence Permits Embassy of Hungary in Washington : called Permanent residency card Residency and Citizenship How to Obtain Permanent Residence in Italy: Lexia Avvocati : called Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs : called Ilgalaikis gyvenimas : called /long-term resident
: called ; class II, IV, or V permitWanneer heb ik recht op een verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd? : called Pobyt stały- małżonek obywatela polskiego : called EGovernment Portugal: Residency for non EU Citizens : called Permisul de sedere : called : called Slovenia: Entry and Residence Permanent residence (more than five years) : called Kunskapskrav för permanent uppehållstillstånd
: permanent residence through the Right of Abode, regardless of citizenship : called Permanent residence permit : called Permanent Resident Status SchemePermanent Residency Status to Foreign Investors Embassy of India- Seoul : called
: toshav-keva, which means a permanent resident without Israeli citizenship : called eijūkyoka : called Residente Permanente, regardless of citizenship : called : called New Zealand : called United States Embassy: Nicaraguan Immigration Laws
: called
: a permanent residency option is available for those from countries which prohibit dual citizenship. Permanent residency only requires an annual fee, and no other supporting documents
Qatar Ministry of the Interior: Permanent Residency
: called vid na žítel'stvo, or pe-em-žé
: called yeongjugwon : called Settlement Permit (, or ), commonly referred to as a C Permit (, or )Permit C (settlement permit) – Federal Office for Migration
Ministry of National Security – Immigration Division : called posvidka na postijne prozhyvannya, or "pe-pe-pe" : either through Indefinite leave to remain or Right of Abode or Permanent Residence for EEA nationals Live permanently in the UK : lawfully admitted for permanent residence
Non-standard forms of permanent residency
Former citizens or persons of origin Some countries grant residency and other specific rights to former citizens or persons of origin in the country:
India does not permit dual citizenship, but former Indian citizens, and persons of Indian origin, are eligible to apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card that allows them to live and work freely in India, apart from running for certain political office posts and occupying constitutional posts. They also cannot vote or buy agricultural land. Spouses who have no other connection to India other than being married to someone with or eligible for OCI can also apply for OCI if they have been married for at least two years. If the marriage be dissolved, OCI status would be automatically lost for the spouse with no connection to India. In 2016, India allowed Permanent Resident Status to foreigners with some conditions.
Turkey allows dual citizenship, and former Turkish citizens by birth who have given up their Turkish citizenship with permission (for example, because they have naturalized in a country that usually does not permit dual citizenship) and their descendants subject to certain conditions, can apply for the Blue Card (), which gives most of the citizens' rights back, e.g. the right to live and work in Turkey, the right to possess land or the right to inherit, but not the right to vote or the right to be employed as a public servant.
Treaties Some countries have made treaties regulating travel and access to the job markets (non-government/non-military-related work)
A citizen of an EU country can live and work indefinitely in other EU countries and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (and citizens of these countries can live and work in EU countries). Permanent residence is acquired automatically after five years of residence. The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between Australia and New Zealand allows citizens of the two countries to live and work indefinitely in the other country, but the status is distinct from permanent residence in the country and expires each time a holder leaves the country. Despite this, the time a New Zealander spends in Australia on a Special Category Visa may count as permanent residence the purpose of acquiring citizenship. A citizen of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) can live and work in other member states.
However, for voting, being voted and working for the public sector or the national security in a country, citizenship of the country concerned is almost always required.
Investments A "golden visa" is a permanent residency visa issued to individuals who invest, often through the purchase of property, a certain sum of money into the issuing country. Dating back to the 1980s, golden visas became much more popular and available in the 21st century. Golden visas require investments of anywhere from $100,000 in Dominica up to £2,000,000 in the UK. The most common method for obtaining a golden visa is through the purchase of real estate with a minimum value. Some countries such as Cyprus and Malta also offer golden passports to individuals if they invest a certain sum. The issuing of so-called "golden visas" has sparked controversy in several countries.Canada kills investor visa popular with Chinese, by Sophia Yan @sophia_yan March 25, 2014: 2:21 AM ET, CNN,
Since the 1990s, some countries have begun to offer golden passports - which give citizenship as well as residency rights - to foreign nationals who invest (often through the purchase of real estate properties) a certain sum into the issuing country's economy.The Oxford Handbook of Citizenship, Ayelet Shachar, Chapter 35, Citizenship For Sale?, pg. 790, Oxford University Press, 2017 The issuing of EU passports by Cyprus and Malta has sparked controversy but is expected to produce billions of euros in revenue for the issuing countries.
Limitations of permanent residents Depending on the country, permanent residents usually have the same rights as citizens except for the following:
They may not vote (though in some cases such as the UK's Commonwealth citizens, and in New Zealand voting is allowed. Hong Kong and Macau allow permanent residents to vote regardless of nationality). They may not stand for public office (except European Union citizens permanently residing in other EU member states who may stand in local and European elections). UK's Commonwealth citizens can stand for public office if they have Indefinite Leave to Remain. In most cases, they may not hold public sector employment. Canada and New Zealand allow this; some countries, such as Brazil and Portugal, allow it only for permanent residents holding citizenship of certain countries. They may not usually apply for employment involving national security. In Singapore, male PRs who have been granted PR before the age of 18 have to serve national service. Most first-generation males are exempted. They may not own certain types of real estate. They are not issued the passport of that country (unless otherwise stateless or unable to obtain a passport from their country of nationality, in which case they may be entitled to a certificate of identity instead). They do not have access to the country's consular protection (some countries such as Australia allow this). They may qualify to apply for citizenship after meeting a specified period of residence.
Obligations of permanent residents Permanent residents may be required to fulfill specific residence obligations to maintain their status. In some cases, permanent residency may be conditional on a certain type of employment or maintenance of a business.
Many countries have compulsory military service for citizens. Some countries, such as Singapore, extend this to permanent residents. However, in Singapore, most first generation permanent residents are exempted, and only their sons are held liable for national service.
In a similar approach, the United States has Selective Service, a compulsory registration for military service, which is required of all male citizens and permanent residents ages 18 to 26; this requirement theoretically applies even to those residing in the country illegally. Applications for citizenship may be denied or otherwise impeded if the applicant cannot prove having complied with this requirement.