Permanent residency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Permanent residency refers to a person's visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country despite not having citizenship. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident.
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[edit] Countries with permanent residency systems
Not every country has a facility for someone to be a 'permanent resident'.[citation needed] Those that do include:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada (permanent residents were known as landed immigrants before 28 June 2002)
- Chile
- China (Program started from 2004)
- Hong Kong (either through Right to land or Right of Abode)
- Macau
- Denmark
- Germany (called Niederlassungserlaubnis)
- Israel (The term toshàv-kéva may refer to a permanent resident without citizenship, or to a citizen with registered abode)
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Netherlands (called Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd)
- Russia (called Vid na zhitelstvo)
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland (called a C permit)
- United Kingdom (either through Indefinite Leave to Remain or Right of Abode)
- United States of America (colloquially called "Green Card")
[edit] Rights of permanent residents
Depending on the country, permanent residents usually have the same rights as citizens except for:
- the right to vote (some countries allow this)
- the right to stand for public office
- the right to apply for public sector employment (some countries allow this)
- the right to apply for employment involving national security
- the right to hold the passport of that country
- the right to access the country's consular protection (some countries allow this)
[edit] Obligations of permanent residents
Permanent residents may be required to fulfill specific residence obligations to retain their status. In some cases, permanent residency may be conditional on a certain type of employment or maintenance of a business.
Some countries have compulsory military service for Permanent Residents and Citizens. For example, Singapore requires all males who are citizens and permanent residents to complete a compulsory 2 years of service in the army known as National Service (NS) upon attaining 18 years of age. Subsequently, they are required to attend annual in-camp training and can be called on for operationally ready service until the age of 40. Failure to register for or complete National Service can result in heavy penalties.
In a similar vein, 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; curiously, this requirement applies even to those residing in the country illegally.[1] Applications for citizenship may be denied or otherwise impeded if the applicant cannot prove having complied with this requirement.
[edit] Loss of status
Permanent residents may lose their status if:
- they fail to comply with residence or other obligations imposed on them
- if they commit crimes they may be subject to deportation or removal from the country
[edit] Access to citizenship
Usually permanent residents may apply for citizenship by naturalisation after a period of residence in the country concerned. In many nations an application for naturalisation can be denied on character grounds sometimes resulting in individuals that are not in danger of being deported but may not proceed to citizenship. In the United States, the residency requirements for citizenship may vary according to the basis for residency; for example, those who achieved legal permanent residence by marriage may apply for citizenship three years after residency was granted, while others must wait five years. Those who have served in the armed forces may qualify for an expedited process allowing citizenship after only one year.[2]
[edit] Automatic entitlement
Full permanent residence rights are granted automatically between:
- the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom
- the states of the Nordic Council
Rights conferred under the European Union Treaties do not extend to full permanent residence, but in practise there is little difference.
Australian and New Zealand citizens have significant rights of residence in each other's nations under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
[edit] Proof of permanent residency
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 would merely stamp 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 (known in the United States as a "green card") or would issue a visa sticker in the person's passport or present them with letter to indicate their permanent resident status.
In Singapore, permanent residents are issued a blue identity card with their photograph, thumb print and other personal particulars.
Loss of the identification document and/or the possession of a stolen document are major crimes in many countries.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.sss.gov/QA.HTM#quest7 "Are illegal alien males required to register?," Selective Service System: Registration Information (accessed August 14, 2006)
- ^ General Naturalization Requirements
