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).
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 (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:
Australia
(called penduduk tetap) Canada (permanent residents were known as landed immigrants before 28 June 2002)
(called 永久居留权 (yǒngjiǔ-jūliúquán), programme started from 2004) The first time that there were over 10,000 foreign permanent residents in China was in 2016.
(called sedula)
: (called Niederlassungsbewilligung) – Descriptions (B or C permit for non-EEA citizens) – Descriptions (called karta za postojanno prebivavašt v Republika Bălgarija čuždenec)
– Descriptions
(called trvalý pobyt) – Descriptions
(called permanent opholdstilladelse) – Descriptions
– Descriptions
(permit P) – Descriptions
(some types of titre de séjour, such as the carte de résident) – Descriptions
(called Niederlassungserlaubnis) – Descriptions
(called Πράσινη Κάρτα) – Descriptions
– Descriptions
(called Permanent residency card) – Descriptions
– Descriptions
(called "Uzturēšanās atļauja") – Descriptions
– Descriptions
(called résident longue durée/long-term resident)
(called Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd; class II, IV, or V permit) – Descriptions (called pobyt stały) – Descriptions (called residência permanente ) – Descriptions to non-EU citizens (called Permis de şedere permanentă) – Descriptions (called trvalý pobyt) – Descriptions – Descriptions (called Permanent Uppehållstillstånd) – Descriptions
(through the Right of Abode, regardless of citizenship) (called "Permanent Resident Status Scheme") – Descriptions (called Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap)
(the term toshav-keva refers to a permanent resident without Israeli citizenship) (called 永住許可 eijūkyoka) (called Residente Permanente, regardless of citizenship) (called pemastautin tetap)
New Zealand
(called Résidents Permanents Nicaragua) – Descriptions
(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)
– Descriptions
Republic of China (Taiwan) (called "вид на жительство" vid na žítel'stvo, or ПМЖ pe-em-žé)
(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))
(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) – Descriptions (lawfully admitted for permanent residence)