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Can time abroad count for PR status (while employed for a Canadian business)

AkkiV

AkkiV

Star Member
Dec 3, 2017
70
8
Hi everyone,
I am employed by a Canadian business in Canada and wanted to know if I go overseas for vacation or work from overseas for a short period, will that time be counted towards my PR status (residency requirement of 730 days)?
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
The above link says it may if I work outside Canada for a Canadian business. However, in my case, I currently work inside Canada for a Canadian business and so I am concerned if me being away from Canada on leave or even working from overseas for a short period will not count towards my PR status.
Would appreciate if someone could help me understand this better.
Thanks!
 
If you are assigned to their overseas office from the Canadian head office, then it is possible. Remote work, no.
 
Naturgrl said:
If you are assigned to their overseas office from the Canadian head office, then it is possible. Remote work, no.
Click to expand...
@Naturgrl I am just curious to know about the time spent on leave abroad.
Anyways, regarding remote work, is it mentioned somewhere that it won't be counted even if one is employed full time by a Canadian business?
 
AkkiV said:
@Naturgrl I am just curious to know about the time spent on leave abroad.
Anyways, regarding remote work, is it mentioned somewhere that it won't be counted even if one is employed full time by a Canadian business?
Click to expand...
So are you taking an inter company transfer from the Canadian office to its overseas office? If so that may count. As for time of leave abroad, if you mean vacation that would not count.
 
Naturgrl said:
So are you taking an inter company transfer from the Canadian office to its overseas office? If so that may count. As for time of leave abroad, if you mean vacation that would not count.
Click to expand...
No I am based in Canada and will continue to work from our Canada office only. It is just that for some personal reasons I might need to take leave and be away from Canada for a month or so (while still being a part of the Canada office). I may take a few days holiday and work remotely for a few days. If that time is included too, I need not worry about satisfying the 730 day criteria...if not, it might get too tight.
The link below which says that even time spent on vacation abroad will be counted as well towards PR status if employed by Canadian business. Is this not true?
https://www.ackahlaw.com/news/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas
If you have any source which says otherwise, could you please share that too?
 
AkkiV said:
No I am based in Canada and will continue to work from our Canada office only. It is just that for some personal reasons I might need to take leave and be away from Canada for a month or so (while still being a part of the Canada office). I may take a few days holiday and work remotely for a few days. If that time is included too, I need not worry about satisfying the 730 day criteria...if not, it might get too tight.
The link below which says that even time spent on vacation abroad will be counted as well towards PR status if employed by Canadian business. Is this not true?
https://www.ackahlaw.com/news/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas
If you have any source which says otherwise, could you please share that too?
Click to expand...

Even your source does not say that either. It says "This would entail working for a Canadian company with overseas offices that you were assigned to from the head office in Canada."

The reference to holidays is only in context of a PR accompanying a spouse.

Also note: you cannot get any approval in advance. So you bear the risk.

Overall: do not count on this working for you. The policy is absolutely not intended to cover remote work and vacations and almost certainly won't.
 
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@armoured @Naturgrl Thank you both for your comments. I understand what you mean. This clause is for the spouse and not for the person himself/herself. I actually found another page which clearly mentions the criteria under "Working for a Canadian Business or the Canadian Government Overseas"...one has to be assigned to work overseas by the Canadian company (no remote work, no holiday)
https://prcardcanada.ca/faqs/what-is-the-residency-obligation/
 
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AkkiV said:
No I am based in Canada and will continue to work from our Canada office only. It is just that for some personal reasons I might need to take leave and be away from Canada for a month or so (while still being a part of the Canada office). I may take a few days holiday and work remotely for a few days. If that time is included too, I need not worry about satisfying the 730 day criteria...if not, it might get too tight.
The link below which says that even time spent on vacation abroad will be counted as well towards PR status if employed by Canadian business. Is this not true?
https://www.ackahlaw.com/news/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas
If you have any source which says otherwise, could you please share that too?
Click to expand...
No. It says the following.
  • First, you must be a full-time employee of a Canadian business or the public service with the head office in Canada that controls assignments overseas. This would entail working for a Canadian company with overseas offices that you were assigned to from the head office in Canada.
You need to be transferred to the Canadian overseas office from the Canadian head office. So if you are not then working remotely or on vacation don’t count. Vacation doesn’t count and remote work doesn’t count.
 
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