Hopefully this won't cause too much debate

[the luckiest guy]

I've searched the archives and no one has given a straight enough answer so I'm asking
I am a Canadian citizen. I was born there, my parents were born there, my grandparents were born there, even some of my great grandparents were born there...(you get the point). So on form IMM5540 'Are you a naturalized Canadian or a permanent resident of Canada?' should I answer 'No' and attach a sheet explaining that I'm a Canadian citizen or 'Yes' and put my DOB when they ask which would be a lie because it asks 'When did you become a permanent resident?' and I've never become a PR, I've always been one.

my next question and if all goes well my last:
How do we know if my wife needs an exit visa? She's Chinese. If she needs one when do we get it? What is an exit visa? Do we go to the Canadian embassy and ask for a visitors visa and show her passport and PR's card.

 

[minna]

you aren't a naturalized citizen, so put "no". no need to attach an explanation.

if you weren't ever a pr, then that question does not apply to you.

 

[tgchi13]

You should answer no, you are not a naturalized citizen as you are not. There should not be the need for any further explanation.

I hope someone else can advise on your second item.

 

[steaky]

my next question and if all goes well my last:
How do we know if my wife needs an exit visa? She's Chinese. If she needs one when do we get it? What is an exit visa? Do we go to the Canadian embassy and ask for a visitors visa and show her passport and PR's card.

I'm also Canadian and my wife Chinese. I too never heard of exit visa. When entering Canada for first time, she just bring her passport and landing papers. No need to ask for a visitor visa in the Canadian consulate.

 

[javcil]

When my husband left Turkey to come to Canada for the first time, he was turned around at the Passports counter and had to go through another line to obtain a stamp to exit the country. The stamp was exactly like the entry visa I usually got when I was visiting Turkey, except it doesn't say 'single-entry' or 'multiple-entry'. They just ink-stamped it when he went back through the Passports counter, and we never used it again. I assume this is an 'exit stamp' ???

 

[BeShoo]

... 'When did you become a permanent resident?' and I've never become a PR, I've always been one.

"Permanent resident" has a very specific meaning here. If you were born in Canada, you are not a PR and you never have been one. The only thing you can write for this sext of questions is "not applicable". I'm sure they can see that you were born in Canada, so there is no need to explain.

How do we know if my wife needs an exit visa?

Some countries issue exit stamps when you leave the country. Canada doesn't do that.

 

[ariell]

my next question and if all goes well my last:
How do we know if my wife needs an exit visa? She's Chinese. If she needs one when do we get it? What is an exit visa? Do we go to the Canadian embassy and ask for a visitors visa and show her passport and PR's card.

That would be a Chinese Govt. issue, not a Canada Immigration issue so you'll have to check with the Chinese authorities. Some countries do require you to get an exit permit but that is a requirement of the country in question, not Canada. My husband had to get an exit permit to leave India and had to show it to the airport authorities before he could leave.