When you think about getting “permanent residency,” you probably think about having the right to live and work in another country for as long as you want. After all, many countries distinguish between “temporary” visas and “permanent” visas, so it makes sense to assume that a permanent visa would be for life.

But the truth is a little more complicated. As we’ve seen in the U.S. in 2025, even permanent residents (i.e. “green card holders”) are afraid of being deported. And in some countries, you might be at risk of losing your permanent residency if you spend too much time abroad.

Let’s take a look at how permanent residency (PR) really works, how it compares to citizenship, and what steps you can take to protect your PR status.