+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

PR Living abroad with Canada citizen wife and child.

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
Guys i have a question to ask! i am a PR married to a canadian citizen and have a son aswell who is canadian, i am currently working in dubai and my canadian wife and child are accompanying me here. I plan to move to canada next year , so in this case i would have completed 3 years out of canada. So if i move to canada and do 3 years straight without leaving can i apply for citizenship? In this case i would live 2 years and renew my PR there as it is valid for 5 years and since i lived 3 years abroad i would have to renew it ,and do an extra remaining year to total the years lived there to 3 so i can apply for citizenship.
What i want to know is if i renew my PR while living in canada for 3 years am i still eligible for citizenship ? or is i have to renew my PR first and then stay for 3 years? thnx guys!
 

Bs65

VIP Member
Mar 22, 2016
13,190
2,419
To apply for citizenship you need to show a minimum of 3 years physical presence in Canada in the 5 years citizenship preceding the application date. Time spent outside of Canada is irrelevant to count for citizenship . The date you renew your PR card is not really relevant either as long as you are still a PR of course
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
Thnx for the reply! What about if I decide to continue staying in dubai ? Will I be able to renew my PR card? And as a Pr am I supposed to pay taxes while living abroad ? Thnx
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,336
1,637
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
You need to apply the renewal of PR card in Canada. No, you are not expected to pay tax unless you have Canadian income.
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
To apply for citizenship you need to show a minimum of 3 years physical presence in Canada in the 5 years citizenship preceding the application date. Time spent outside of Canada is irrelevant to count for citizenship . The date you renew your PR card is not really relevant either as long as you are still a PR of course


Thnx for the reply i appreciate it, so once i move to canada all i need to do is do my 3 years straight and then apply for citizenship right? so im planning to move in 2021 december so i will apply for my citizenship in 2024 december? Of course in between i will have to renew my PR as it will expire in december 2023. Once i arrive Canada next year is when i am planning to start filing my taxes , so i will do that for a continuous 3 years until i apply for my citizenship.
Another question i want to ask you if by any chance i am not planning on working for the 3 years stay in canada as i am planning on just using my savings is that alright? i will be filing my taxes as zero as i will not be making any money in Canada, will that effect me applying for citizenship? thnx again
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,336
1,637
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
i will be filing my taxes as zero as i will not be making any money in Canada, will that effect me applying for citizenship? thnx again
But if you are making money outside Canada, you cannot file your Canadian taxes as zero! If your savings are outside Canada and its value exceeds a certain amount, you need declare them in your Canadian tax return and any foreign income you made, must be reported as well.
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
But if you are making money outside Canada, you cannot file your Canadian taxes as zero! If your savings are outside Canada and its value exceeds a certain amount, you need declare them in your Canadian tax return.
This is the confusing situation now, am i supposed to pay taxes for money earned outside canada even though i have no ties in canada currently? I wanted to start filing taxes only when i move to Canada next year for the next 3 years until i apply for citizenship
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,336
1,637
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
This is the confusing situation now, am i supposed to pay taxes for money earned outside canada even though i have no ties in canada currently? I wanted to start filing taxes only when i move to Canada next year for the next 3 years until i apply for citizenship
Once you move to Canada and became Canadian tax resident, you need to report your worldwide income and declare your assets if they are over a certain amount in value in the tax return.

But until then, you are non resident of Canada. You need not report your foreign income.
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
Once you move to Canada and became Canadian tax resident, you need to report your worldwide income and declare your assets if they are over a certain amount in value in the tax return.

But until then, you are non resident of Canada. You need not report your foreign income.
Alright i got it thnx, so only once i move to canada next year is when i have to report my worldwide income. I really hope they do not change the rule of getting citizenship in 3 years once i move to the country.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
53,022
12,783
Just confirming your spouse and child have been with you or they are your ties to Canada and you become a tax resident. Would add that your time abroad is not guaranteed to count since you moved because of you work not because of the Canadian citizen. This is not always enforced.
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
Just confirming your spouse and child have been with you or they are your ties to Canada and you become a tax resident. Would add that your time abroad is not guaranteed to count since you moved because of you work not because of the Canadian citizen. This is not always enforced.
Well my story is my wife sponsored me while we were both living in Dubai to become a PR , we flew together with our child to collect the PR once it was ready in Canada and then returned back to Dubai. I am currently working and paying the bills and she is at home taking care of our child, She is now pregnant with our second child. She also wants to complete her studies starting next year and this is why i decided to also move with her to Canada, in this case i will not be able to work there in Canada as i have decided to look after our 2 kids as she will be continuing her studies. Once she is done which will also be about 3 years then probably ill start looking for work or maybe she.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
53,022
12,783
Well my story is my wife sponsored me while we were both living in Dubai to become a PR , we flew together with our child to collect the PR once it was ready in Canada and then returned back to Dubai. I am currently working and paying the bills and she is at home taking care of our child, She is now pregnant with our second child. She also wants to complete her studies starting next year and this is why i decided to also move with her to Canada, in this case i will not be able to work there in Canada as i have decided to look after our 2 kids as she will be continuing her studies. Once she is done which will also be about 3 years then probably ill start looking for work or maybe she.
This is a perfect example where getting yiur PR renewed may be challenging. You have never spent any time in Canada. This is a clear situation where the move was due to the non-Canadian. Would also add that depending on where you are moving your wife may need to wait up to 3 months to get health civerage even with a valid health card. There are residency requirements to have health coverage or you can be asked to pay back your health care costs.
 

Mohamed123

Star Member
Feb 27, 2018
50
2
This is a perfect example where getting yiur PR renewed may be challenging. You have never spent any time in Canada. This is a clear situation where the move was due to the non-Canadian. Would also add that depending on where you are moving your wife may need to wait up to 3 months to get health civerage even with a valid health card. There are residency requirements to have health coverage or you can be asked to pay back your health care costs.
Yeah thnx i dont mind paying for the health coverage even if its not covered, eventually next year we will all move to Canada together as my 3 years abroad would have come to an end and i have to make sure i do the remaining 2 years plus an extra year after renewing my PR card so i can apply for my citizenship. Lets see how it goes! main thing is that even if i do not find a job for the 3 years in canada i am eligible to apply for citizenship right?