Permanent Residency - Countries With Permanent Residency Systems

Countries With Permanent Residency Systems

Not every country necessarily has a facility for someone to be a 'permanent resident'. All European Union countries have a facility for someone to become a permanent resident, as EU legislation allows an EU national who moves to another EU country to attain permanent resident status after residing there for five years. Other countries have varying forms of such residency and relationships with other countries with regards to this status.

The countries that have some type of permanent resident status include:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Belize
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam (called penduduk tetap)
• Canada (permanent residents were known as landed immigrants before 28 June 2002)
• Chile
• China (called 永久居留权 (yǒngjiǔ-jūliúquán), programme started from 2004)
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• European Union:
  • Austria (called Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Aufenthaltstitel) - Descriptions
  • Belgium - Descriptions
  • Bulgaria (called karta za postoiano prebivavasht v Republica Balgariya chujdenets)
  • Cyprus - Descriptions
  • Czech Republic – (called trvalý pobyt) - Descriptions
  • Denmark - Descriptions
  • Estonia - Descriptions
  • Finland (permit P) - Descriptions
  • France (some types of titre de séjour, such as the carte de résident) - Descriptions
  • Germany (called Niederlassungserlaubnis) - Descriptions
  • Greece (called Πράσινη Κάρτα) - Descriptions
  • Hungary - Descriptions
  • Ireland (called Permanent residency card) - Descriptions
  • Italy - Descriptions
  • Latvia - Descriptions
  • Lithuania - Descriptions
  • Malta
  • Netherlands (called Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd) - Descriptions
  • Poland (called Karta rezydenta długoterminowego WE) - Descriptions
  • Portugal - Descriptions
  • Romania (called Permis de şedere permanentă) - Descriptions
  • Slovak Republic (called trvalý pobyt)
  • Slovenia - Descriptions
  • Spain - Descriptions
  • Sweden (called (Permanent) Uppehållstillstånd") - Descriptions
  • United Kingdom (either through Indefinite Leave to Remain or Right of Abode or Permanent Residence for EEA nationals) - Descriptions.
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong (either through Right to land or Right of Abode)
• Iran
• Israel (The term toshàv-kéva may refer to a permanent resident without citizenship, or to a citizen with registered abode)
• Japan (called 永住権 eijūken)
• Macau
• Macedonia
• Malaysia (called pemastautin tetap)
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Peru (A permanent residency option is available for those from countries which prohibit dual citizenship. Permanent residency only requires an annual fee, and no other supporting documents. )
• Philippines
• Russia (called "вид на жительство" vid na žítel'stvo, or ПМЖ pe-em-žé)
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Switzerland (called a C permit or Niederlassungsbewilligung (settlement permit))
• Taiwan, the Republic of China
• Thailand
• United States (called Lawful Permanent Residence)
• Ukraine (called posvidka na postijne prozhyvannya)