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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. In the United States, such a person is referred to as a green card holder but more formally as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).[1]
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.[1] 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.
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.
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.
The countries and territories that have some type of permanent resident status include:
Argentina
Australia
Bahrain
Belize
Brazil
Brunei (called penduduk tetap)
Canada (permanent residents were known as landed immigrants before 28 June 2002)
Chile
China (called 永久居留权 (yǒngjiǔ-jūliúquán), programme started from 2004)[3]
Costa Rica
Curaçao (called sedula)[4]
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
European Union:
Austria (called Niederlassungsbewilligung) – Descriptions
Belgium (B or C permit for non-EEA citizens) – Descriptions
Bulgaria (called karta za postojanno prebivavašt v Republika Bălgarija čuždenec)
Croatia
Cyprus – Descriptions
Czech Republic (called trvalý pobyt) – Descriptions
Denmark (called permanent opholdstilladelse) – Descriptions
Estonia – Descriptions
Finland (permit P)[5] – Descriptions
France (some types of titre de séjour, such as the carte de résident)[6] – Descriptions
Germany (called Niederlassungserlaubnis) – Descriptions
Greece (called Πράσινη Κάρτα) – Descriptions
Hungary – Descriptions
Ireland (called Permanent residency card) – Descriptions
Italy – Descriptions
Latvia (called "Uzturēšanās atļauja") – Descriptions
Lithuania – Descriptions
Luxembourg (called résident longue durée/long-term resident)
Malta
Netherlands (called Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd; class II, IV, or V permit) – Descriptions
Poland (called pobyt stały) – Descriptions
Portugal (called residência permanente ) – Descriptions to non-EU citizens
Romania (called Permis de şedere permanentă) – Descriptions
Slovakia (called trvalý pobyt)
Slovenia – Descriptions
Spain – Descriptions
Sweden (called Permanent Uppehållstillstånd) – Descriptions
Ghana
Guatemala
Hong Kong (through the Right of Abode, regardless of citizenship)
India (called "Permanent Resident Status Scheme") – Descriptions
Indonesia (called Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap)
Iran[7]
Israel (the term תושב קבע toshav-keva refers to a permanent resident without Israeli citizenship)
Japan (called 永住許可 eijūkyoka)
Macau (called Residente Permanente, regardless of citizenship)
Malaysia (called pemastautin tetap)
Mexico
New Zealand
Nicaragua (called Résidents Permanents Nicaragua) – Descriptions
North Macedonia
Norway[8]
Panama[9]
Peru (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[10])
Philippines
Qatar – Descriptions
Republic of China (Taiwan)[11]
Russia (called "вид на жительство" vid na žítel'stvo, or ПМЖ pe-em-žé)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Switzerland (called Settlement Permit (Permis d'établissement, Niederlassungsbewilligung or Permesso di domicilio), commonly referred to as a C Permit (Permis C, C-Ausweis or Permesso C)[12])
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago[13]
Ukraine (called "посвідка на постійне проживання" posvidka na postijne prozhyvannya, or ППП "pe-pe-pe")
United Kingdom (either through Indefinite leave to remain or Right of Abode or Permanent Residence for EEA nationals) – Descriptions
United States (lawfully admitted for permanent residence[1])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. Once the marriage is dissolved, OCI status is automatically lost for 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 who have given up their Turkish citizenship (for example, because they have naturalized in a country that usually does not permit dual citizenship, such as Austria, Germany, Japan or South Korea) can apply for the "Blue Card" (mavi kart), which gives them some 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.[citation needed]
Some countries have made treaties regulating travel and access to the job markets (non-government/non-military-related work)
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.[citation needed]
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.[14] Some countries such as Cyprus and Malta also offer "golden passports" (citizenship) to individuals if they invest a certain sum.[15] The issuing of so-called "golden visas" has sparked controversy in several countries.[16][17]
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.[18] The issuing of EU passports by Cyprus and Malta has sparked controversy but is expected to produced billions of euros in revenue for the issuing countries.[19]
Depending on the country, permanent residents usually have the same rights as citizens except for the following:
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.[23]
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.[24] 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 (as in Australia and Canada). Permanent residents may lose their status if they stay outside their host country for more than a specified period of time (as in the United States).
Permanent residents have the same obligations as citizens regarding taxes.
Permanent residents may lose their status if they fail to comply with residency or other obligations imposed on them. For example:
Usually, permanent residents may apply for citizenship by naturalization after a period of permanent residency (typically five years) in the country concerned. Dual/multiple citizenship may or may not be permitted.
In many nations, an application for naturalization can be denied on character grounds, sometimes allowing people to reside in the country (as non-domiciled) but not become citizens. In the United States, the residency requirements for citizenship are normally five years, even though permanent residents who have been married to a U.S. citizen for three years or more may apply in three years. Those who have served in the armed forces may qualify for an expedited process allowing citizenship after only one year, or even without any residence requirement.[25]
Full permanent residence rights are granted automatically between the following:
In some cases (e.g. the member states of the European Union), citizens of participating countries can live and work at will in each other's states, but don't have a status fully equivalent to that of a permanent resident. In particular, under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, Australia and New Zealand grant each other's citizens the right to reside permanently and work in each country; however, the rights and entitlements of New Zealanders living in Australia under this arrangement (the so-called Special Category Visa) are somewhat short of those of Australian permanent residents, in particular with respect to unemployment benefits and similar benefits.
People who are granted permanent residency in a country are usually issued some sort of documentary evidence as legal proof of this status. In the past, many countries merely stamped the person's passport indicating that the holder was admitted as a permanent resident or that he/she was exempt from immigration control and permitted to work without restriction. Other countries would issue a photo ID card, place a visa sticker or certificate of residence in the person's passport, or issue a letter to confirm their permanent resident status.
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Main article: European Union Settlement Scheme |
The European Union Settlement Scheme is a scheme launched in 2019 by the UK Home Office to process the registration of EU citizens resident in the United Kingdom prior to its departure from the European Union.
Successful applicants receive either 'Pre-settled status' or 'Settled status', depending on the length of time they have been resident in the United Kingdom.[32]
