People who yearn to live in Canada, people who want to work in Canada, and people who want to study in Canada often regard the "Maple Leaf Card" as a key bridge to their dream life. This card with the Canadian Maple Leaf logo gives the holder the right to legally reside in Canada. The right of a person to work legally in Canada gives the holder the right to study legally in Canada. If you want to successfully apply for a Maple Leaf Card and maintain its validity, it is extremely important to know its residence requirements. This article will give you a comprehensive analysis of the residence requirements of the Canadian Maple Leaf Card and help you master all the key information.

What is a Maple Leaf Card?

The Maple Leaf Card, also known as the Canadian Temporary Resident Permit, is issued by the Canadian government specifically to those non-permanent residents who meet the requirements. It is a multi-year multiple-entry visa. Holders of this card can travel back and forth to Canada multiple times within the validity period, and the maximum length of each stay can be up to five years, and there is no need to re-apply for a work or study permit every time they enter the country.

Maple Leaf Card Core Residency Requirements

Even though the Maple Leaf Card does not stipulate a minimum number of days of residence per year, its holder must maintain the status of a "temporary resident". Here are some key residence requirements and precautions:

The key to maintaining “temporary resident” status

To comply with visa conditions, you must comply with the corresponding conditions according to the type of visa you obtained, such as study permit, work permit, etc. In the case of unplanned long-term departure, if you plan to leave the country for more than one year within the validity period of the Maple Leaf Card, you must provide reasonable explanations and evidence to prove it. You are still a "temporary resident". If you need to stay abroad for a long time for long-term study, work or family reasons, you must prove that you have legal reasons, as well as health or humanitarian reasons and other legitimate reasons. The process of verifying temporary resident status is to provide a "Temporary Resident Departure Authorization Letter" to the Canada Border Services Agency, and then you must also show and provide that you have legal reasons for being abroad, and you must also make a commitment that you will return to Canada.

Maintain ties with Canada

Although there are no strict requirements for the length of stay, you should always maintain a connection with Canada, such as a place to live, a bank account, a phone number, and work, study or family connections with Canada.

Update Maple Leaf Card

The Maple Leaf Card is generally valid for five years. You must apply for renewal before expiration. When renewing, the immigration officer will evaluate again whether you meet the requirements for temporary resident status.

Final intention to immigrate to Canada

If you obtain a Maple Leaf Card through economic immigration, generally speaking, you must submit a permanent resident application within the validity period. Even if you do not have the idea of ​​​​final immigration, you must show to the Immigration Bureau that you will comply with the relevant regulations.

Summary and suggestions

The key to the Maple Leaf Card is to maintain the "temporary resident" status. In this regard, although the number of days of residence is not mandatory, relevant conditions must be followed. When planning to leave the country for a long time, corresponding certificates must be provided to maintain the connection with Canada. Also, before the Maple Leaf Card expires, future immigration plans must be considered. These are important points that cardholders must pay attention to.

If there are specific questions related to the Maple Leaf Card residence requirements, it is recommended to consult Canadian official agencies, or seek help from professional immigration lawyers or consultants. Only in this way can you ensure that you obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information.