Permanent residency


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. 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 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.
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 through its Express Entry system to invite its temporary resident for permanent residency.
The countries and territories that have some type of permanent resident status include:
  • : called residente permanente
  • Australia
  • : called Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório
  • : called penduduk tetap
  • : permanent residents, previously known as landed immigrants
  • : called 永久居留权 yǒngjiǔ-jūliúquán, programme started from 2004
  • : called sedula
  • :
  • * : called Niederlassungsbewilligung
  • * : B or C permit for non-EEA citizens
  • * : called karta za postojanno prebivavašt v Republika Bălgarija čuždenec
  • * : called stalni boravak
  • *
  • * : called trvalý pobyt
  • * : called permanent opholdstilladelse
  • *
  • * : permit P
  • * : some types of titre de séjour, such as the carte de résident
  • * : called Niederlassungserlaubnis
  • * : called Πράσινη Κάρτα
  • *
  • * : called Permanent residency card
  • *
  • * : called pastāvīgās uzturēšanās atļaujas
  • * : called Leidimas nuolat gyventi
  • * : called résident longue durée/long-term resident
  • *
  • * : called Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd; class II, IV, or V permit
  • * : called pobyt stały
  • * : called residência permanente
  • * : called Permis de şedere permanentă
  • * : called trvalý pobyt
  • * : called Dovoljenje za stalno prebivanje
  • *
  • * : called Permanent uppehållstillstånd
  • : permanent residence through the Right of Abode, regardless of citizenship
  • : called ótímabundið dvalarleyfi
  • : called Permanent Resident Status Scheme
  • : called Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap
  • : toshav-keva, which means a permanent resident without Israeli citizenship
  • : called 永住許可 eijūkyoka
  • : called Residente Permanente, regardless of citizenship
  • : called pemastautin tetap
  • : called residente permanente
  • New Zealand
  • : called Résidents Permanents Nicaragua
  • : called permanent oppholdstillatelse
  • : 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
  • : called вид на жительство vid na žítel'stvo, or ПМЖ pe-em-žé
  • : called 영주권 yeongjugwon
  • : called Settlement Permit, commonly referred to as a C Permit
  • : called посвідка на постійне проживання posvidka na postijne prozhyvannya, or ППП "pe-pe-pe"
  • : either through Indefinite leave to remain or Right of Abode or Permanent Residence for EEA nationals
  • : 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 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 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
  • A citizen of an EU country can live and work indefinitely in other EU countries and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. 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 member state 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.
Since the 1990s, some countries have begun to offer golden passports - which give citizenship as well as residency rights - to foreign nationals who invest a certain sum into the issuing country's economy. 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.
  • They may not stand for public office. 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.
  • They do not have access to the country's consular protection.
  • 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.
Permanent residents may be required to reside in the country offering them residence for a given minimum length of time. Permanent residents may lose their status if they stay outside their host country for more than a specified period of time.
Permanent residents have the same obligations as citizens regarding taxes.