Is getting a Canadian Maple Leaf Card equivalent to immigrating?

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Holding a Maple Leaf Card is a permanent resident of Canada, which is not the same as a Canadian citizen. Holding a Maple Leaf Card is a permanent resident of Canada, but this is not the same as a Canadian citizen. Being a permanent resident of Canada with a Maple Leaf Card is not the same as being a Canadian citizen.

Although in fact, if you hold a Maple Leaf Card, you can enjoy the same treatment as Canadian citizens in most cases, such as social welfare, medical security, and various policies and rights enjoyed by legal residents of Canada.

Can I become a Canadian citizen if I get a Canadian Maple Leaf Card? In fact, this understanding is wrong. Obtaining a Maple Leaf Card only means that you have successfully immigrated and officially become a permanent resident of Canada. However, this does not mean that you become a Canadian citizen. According to the regulations established by the Canadian government, if you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must go through naturalization. And, as for the question of whether to apply for naturalization, it involves many issues about your rights and obligations, as well as whether your Chinese citizenship can be retained.

1. Maple Leaf Card = Canadian permanent resident

According to the relevant laws and regulations in Canada for adjustment, as a permanent resident of Canada, you must meet the specified residence conditions, that is, you must live in Canada for two years within a five-year period. Otherwise, you may not be able to apply for the Maple Leaf Card extension, and you may even lose your permanent resident status.

To put it simply, as long as you have a Canadian green card, you have permanent residence in Canada. However, you are still a Chinese citizen and the document you hold is a Chinese passport. You do not need to apply for a visa to return to China.

In fact, the residence requirements for permanent residents stipulated by the law are that they must have lived for two years in any five-year period. The starting point of these five years is not the day when the new Maple Leaf Card is received or the new Maple Leaf Card becomes effective, but any day after the new immigrants land.

2. Maple Leaf Card = Canadian permanent resident ≠ Canadian citizen?

On October 11 last year, a new Canadian naturalization law was officially implemented. This new law relaxed the requirements for naturalization application and shortened the time required for naturalization. Before this new law came into effect, naturalization applicants had to live in Canada for 4 years within 6 years. However, the current new naturalization law clearly stipulates that applicants only need to live in Canada for 3 years within 5 years.

That is to say, within five years, if you have completed two years, you will only be required to renew your Maple Leaf Card and retain your permanent resident status. If you want to naturalize in Canada, you must have lived in Canada for three years in five years!

If immigrants choose to naturalize, it is equivalent to giving up their Chinese nationality, but they no longer belong to Chinese citizens. If they want to return to China, they must apply for a visa.

Canadian naturalization means choosing to become a Canadian national and give up Chinese nationality.

To put it simply, once naturalized, the person becomes a Canadian citizen, holds a Canadian passport and Canadian ID card, and can enjoy all the rights of Canadians.

So the question comes again, should you choose the Maple Leaf Card or immigration and naturalization?

1. Who is suitable for naturalization in Canada?

(1) Immigrants who want to participate in politics

Applying for naturalization is the first priority for these immigrants, because only after naturalization will you have the right to participate in politics. Some people are worried that it will be particularly difficult for foreigners to govern in Canada, or that they will suffer discrimination. There is absolutely no need to worry about this. It is not uncommon for Chinese people to achieve success in politics after becoming Canadian citizens. For example, in 2016, there was an Asian member of the Canadian Parliament named Tan Geng, who is from Hunan, China. So if you want to make a difference in Canadian politics, you must choose naturalization.

(2) People who like to travel

As we all know, the number of countries where Chinese passports are visa-free is relatively small. For those who often travel abroad, they have to issue various certificates, and the whole process is extremely complicated. However, if you are holding a Canadian passport, the situation is completely different. Canadian citizens can actually travel to more than 150 countries without a visa, and basically can enter and exit freely in mainstream countries around the world. So if you want to make your trip ready to go at any time, then go for naturalization and get a Canadian passport.

2. What kind of immigrants are not suitable for naturalization?

If you frequently travel between China and Canada, you must carefully consider whether to become a Canadian citizen, such as engaging in purchasing activities, or having business needs to be taken care of in both countries. You must carefully consider whether to become a Canadian citizen. The Chinese visa is one of the most difficult visas to apply for in the world. After becoming a Canadian citizen, you have to apply for a Chinese visa every time you return to China. Such difficulty will definitely make you regret why you wanted to become a Canadian citizen in the first place.

If you have more specific questions about Canadian immigration, you are welcome to contact us. At the same time, this contact method is equivalent to WeChat, and we can provide you with VIP-level personalized services exclusive to you at any time! !