Are you a Canadian citizen who is planning to travel abroad for an extended period of time? If so, you may wonder how long you can stay outside Canada. Whether you are taking a long-term vacation or plan to live abroad for an extended period, there are important rules and regulations you need to know about. In this blog post, we will discuss the rules for Canadian citizens staying outside Canada.
It is a common misconception among people who think they are not allowed to leave the country as they please in order to maintain their citizenship or permanent residency status. Because they can! As a Canadian citizen, you have no such restriction or rule that prevents you from leaving Canada to stay in another country for an extended period. The Canadian government does not require you to spend a certain number of days or maintain a physical presence in the country in order to keep your citizenship status.As per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ section 6, any citizen of Canada has the liberty to come and go as they please.
If you are a citizen of Canada living in the country and have plans to visit another country for an extended period of time and plan to return to Canada, you must carry your proof of your status as a Canadian citizen with you. It is a mandatory condition for all travellers regardless of how long they have been living in the country. As proof, they must have their valid Canadian passport with them. A valid passport is the only universally accepted identification document or Canadian citizenship application checklist, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada as per the law.
Other documents that may be accepted to prove your citizenship in Canada besides the passport are a citizenship certificate, citizenship card or Canadian birth certificate. However, it is subject to certain conditions.
Additionally, as a permanent resident of the country, you must meet certain requirements to maintain your status as a Canadian citizen. The law states that you must meet the residency obligation, according to which you must stay in the country for a minimum of 730 days in the last five years. The citizens have the liberty to fulfill this requirement at their convenience. They are not obligated to spend 730 days continuously. Another condition that must be met in order to maintain the residency obligation is proof of permanent resident status. For that, you must have a permanent resident card.
If you are considering a long-term stay outside of Canada or have any questions about maintaining your citizenship status, it is best to contact experienced immigration lawyers. Immigration lawyers can provide invaluable advice on the best steps to take and assist in navigating the complexities of immigration laws.
An immigration lawyer can help you understand the implications of staying outside of Canada for an extended period and assist with any issues that arise. We have helped countless people navigate the process of immigration.
Having a lawyer on your side can make the process much easier and reduce the risk of being denied re-entry or rejecting your citizenship application. Lawyers also help ensure that your Canadian citizenship applications are properly filled out and submitted in a timely manner. In addition, they can provide guidance and assistance when applying for dual citizenship or applying for Canadian citizenship after a prolonged absence.
Whether you’re looking for information about how long you can stay outside of Canada as a citizen or how to apply for re-entry after an absence, we can provide helpful advice and support. Contact us today to get the answers you need.
