Leaving Canada temporarily

[marta cocchi]

My husband is Canadian and is sponsoring my PR in BC.
I got my PR in March 2017 and I have been in Canada the whole time except for 110 days.
We have a two year old daughter who was born in BC and has a canadian passport.

We are considering going to Italy for an extended period of time because my mom and dad live there and are quite old and I would like for them to spend some time with their granddaughter. We would like to stay up to one year but before I buy the ticket I would like to ask you:

Is my daughter allowed to stay out of the country and how long for? We will still be paying taxes and MSP in Canada but we would like for her to still have medical coverage and get the child benefit check.

Am I allowed to leave and how long for? I wouldn't want to lose my PR.

Thanks for your time and patience.

 

[ContactFront]

You have to stay in Canada for at least 730 days between March 2017 and March 2022. So do your own calculation.

Your daughter is a citizen. There's no restriction on her. She can go anywhere.

 

[mad_hatter]

My husband is Canadian and is sponsoring my PR in BC.
I got my PR in March 2017 and I have been in Canada the whole time except for 110 days.
We have a two year old daughter who was born in BC and has a canadian passport.

We are considering going to Italy for an extended period of time because my mom and dad live there and are quite old and I would like for them to spend some time with their granddaughter. We would like to stay up to one year but before I buy the ticket I would like to ask you:

Is my daughter allowed to stay out of the country and how long for? We will still be paying taxes and MSP in Canada but we would like for her to still have medical coverage and get the child benefit check.

Am I allowed to leave and how long for? I wouldn't want to lose my PR.

Thanks for your time and patience.

If you maintain significant ties in Canada and continue to file Canadian income tax, then you are a factual resident for tax purpose. You continue eligible for CCB.

Your daughter can retain MSP coverage during her stay in Italy, however, the expenses covered are limited. In any case, you need to contact MSP to confirm.

Have you retained your Italian citizenship? If you have, don't your daughter also automatically has Italian citizenship? She would qualify for Italy government health care, wouldn't she?

 

[jddd]

You still need to report to CRA that you will not be present in Canada. Failure to do so may cause you problems.

 

[canuck78]

It will be up to CRA to determine whether you will continue receiving child benefit. Will also depend on your ties to Canada. You will have to buy health coverage for your trip abroad. After being away for 1 year your whole family likely needs to reapply for MSP. As others have mentioned you need to call MSP and inform them of your travel plans. You will likely be asked to pause your MSP until you reapply when you return. You can't always get what you want. Living in Italy while collecting child benefit and retaining MSP is a lot to ask.

 

[mad_hatter]

OP may be able to retain coverage for their stay in Italy, see the following brochure: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/medical-services-plan/leavingbc_brochure_web.pdf

 

[canuck78]

OP may be able to retain coverage for their stay in Italy, see the following brochure: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/medical-services-plan/leavingbc_brochure_web.pdf

We have very little information on their plans and current situation so they should call MSP and CRA. Given the small amount of coverage they may receive abroad it might actually make more sense not to pay for MSP for a year. They will need private coverage because coverage is pretty minimal outside Canada unless they qualify for Italian coverage.

 

[Angalfaria]

You have to stay in Canada for at least 730 days between March 2017 and March 2022. So do your own calculation.

Your daughter is a citizen. There's no restriction on her. She can go anywhere.

Yes, I agree with you. It is really a perfect suggestion for all who have the same question.
Thanks

 

[mpsqra]

My husband is Canadian and is sponsoring my PR in BC.
I got my PR in March 2017 and I have been in Canada the whole time except for 110 days.
We have a two year old daughter who was born in BC and has a canadian passport.

We are considering going to Italy for an extended period of time because my mom and dad live there and are quite old and I would like for them to spend some time with their granddaughter. We would like to stay up to one year but before I buy the ticket I would like to ask you:

Is my daughter allowed to stay out of the country and how long for? We will still be paying taxes and MSP in Canada but we would like for her to still have medical coverage and get the child benefit check.

Am I allowed to leave and how long for? I wouldn't want to lose my PR.

Thanks for your time and patience.

Traveling With a Spouse or Partner or Parent Who is a Canadian Citizen

If a Permanent Resident accompanies a spouse or partner who is a Canadian citizen outside of Canada, then each day outside Canada is considered to be a day physically present in Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
https://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-immigration-residency-obligations.html#gs.js0od6
https://www.ackahlaw.com/blog/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas/

 

[mad_hatter]

We have very little information on their plans and current situation so they should call MSP and CRA. Given the small amount of coverage they may receive abroad it might actually make more sense not to pay for MSP for a year. They will need private coverage because coverage is pretty minimal outside Canada unless they qualify for Italian coverage.

If I were them, I will buy private insurance and at the same time retain MSP. Stating 2020, MSP is going to be free and by retaining MSP coverage they do not have to wait three months to renew MSP benefits.

 

[Angalfaria]

You still need to report to CRA that you will not be present in Canada. Failure to do so may cause you problems.

What kind of problem kindly tell me please, sir?

 

[marta cocchi]

You have to stay in Canada for at least 730 days between March 2017 and March 2022. So do your own calculation.

Your daughter is a citizen. There's no restriction on her. She can go anywhere.

FYI, the requirements of the PR are more complicated than that. I'm also required to live together with my sponsor for 2 years, so your quick reply may result incomplete. Also, I know my daughter can leave but as you can see from the other responses things are way more complicated than you lay them out to be.

 

[marta cocchi]

If you maintain significant ties in Canada and continue to file Canadian income tax, then you are a factual resident for tax purpose. You continue eligible for CCB.

Your daughter can retain MSP coverage during her stay in Italy, however, the expenses covered are limited. In any case, you need to contact MSP to confirm.

Have you retained your Italian citizenship? If you have, don't your daughter also automatically has Italian citizenship? She would qualify for Italy government health care, wouldn't she?

I have retained my Italian citizenship, this entitles my daughter to apply for italian citizenship. She would qualify for health care if I were resident in Italy and paying Italian taxes, which I'm not.

 

[marta cocchi]

Yes, I agree with you. It is really a perfect suggestion for all who have the same question.
Thanks

I disagree, as you can see in my reply to that post.

 

[marta cocchi]

Traveling With a Spouse or Partner or Parent Who is a Canadian Citizen

If a Permanent Resident accompanies a spouse or partner who is a Canadian citizen outside of Canada, then each day outside Canada is considered to be a day physically present in Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
https://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-immigration-residency-obligations.html#gs.js0od6
https://www.ackahlaw.com/blog/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas/

I think every day counts as half a day if accompanied by sponsor. And when I enquired about possibly applying for citizenship I was advised not to count on those days because they usually send applications back without even opening them. It's better to have enough days in the country before applying.