What Are the Rights and Obligations as a Permanent Resident?
You and your dependents have the right to live, study, and work for as long as you remain permanent residents in Canada, and are entitled to most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens. When you have met citizenship requirements, you may apply for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport. There are a few limitations on permanent residents: (a) You cannot vote in certain elections; (b) You may be ineligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances; and (c) As a permanent resident, you also have the same legal obligations as Canadian citizens, such as paying taxes and respecting other laws. You remain a permanent resident until you become a Canadian citizen or abandon Canada as your place of residence. Short term vacation and business trips outside Canada will not normally affect your permanent resident status. However, if you have frequent and/or lengthy absences from Canada, you may be considered to have abandoned Canada and will lose your permanent resident
