Canadian Citizenship & Permanent Residency: Protecting Your Status in Canada

Becoming a Canadian citizen or maintaining permanent residency (PR) comes with important legal responsibilities. Failing to meet these requirements can result in loss of PR status, application delays, or even denials of citizenship. Understanding these obligations and planning accordingly is crucial for a smooth and successful transition to full Canadian status.

At the Law Office of Tawfic Amandi, we assist clients in applying for Canadian citizenship, renewing PR cards, and resolving residency obligation issues to ensure their legal status in Canada remains secure.

Key Considerations for PRs & Citizenship Applicants

✔ Residency Requirement for Permanent Residents
To maintain permanent residency (PR) status, PRs must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within the last five years. If a PR does not meet this requirement, they risk losing their status. However, some time spent outside Canada may count toward residency, such as:

• Working abroad for a Canadian employer or government agency.
• Accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse abroad.
• Traveling for humanitarian or compelling personal reasons (on a case-by-case basis).

For PRs struggling to meet this requirement, we assist in residency obligation appeals and legal arguments to retain status.

✔ Canadian Citizenship Eligibility
To qualify for Canadian citizenship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Physical Presence in Canada – Must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) out of the last five years before applying.
• Tax Compliance – Must have filed taxes for at least three years during the qualifying period, if required.
• Language Proficiency – Applicants aged 18-54 must demonstrate English or French proficiency (CLB Level 4 or higher).
• Knowledge Test – Must pass a citizenship test covering Canadian history, values, institutions, and rights/responsibilities of citizenship.
• Good Character Requirement – Applicants must have no serious criminal convictions that could affect eligibility.

✔ Maintaining PR vs. Applying for Citizenship
While permanent residents enjoy many benefits, only Canadian citizens can:

• Hold a Canadian passport.
• Vote and run for political office.
• Be protected from PR revocation and removal orders.

If you meet the citizenship requirements, applying for citizenship is often the best step toward securing full rights in Canada.

How We Can Help

✔ Citizenship Applications: We guide applicants through the entire citizenship process, ensuring complete applications with strong supporting documents to avoid delays or refusals.

✔ Permanent Resident (PR) Card Renewals: We assist with PR card renewals, ensuring that residency obligations are met and that potential issues (like extended absences) are properly addressed.

✔ Residency Obligation Challenges & Appeals: If you have spent significant time outside Canada and risk losing your PR status, we help file appeals, present compelling evidence, and seek exemptions based on humanitarian grounds.

✔ Citizenship Test Preparation: We provide legal guidance and study resources to help applicants prepare for the Canadian citizenship test.

✔ Overcoming Citizenship Application Issues: If an application is delayed or refused due to residency gaps, misrepresentation concerns, or criminal inadmissibility, we take legal action to correct records, submit reconsideration requests, or appeal decisions.

Ensure Your Status in Canada is Secure—Book a Consultation Today

Whether you need to renew your PR card, meet residency requirements, or apply for Canadian citizenship, having expert legal support can prevent costly mistakes and unnecessary delays.

📞 Contact the Law Office of Tawfic Amandi today to start your application with confidence.