Marine officer - does time on a ship count towards or against residency?

[tdawg]

Hi there...I was hoping someone here knew how to count days outside of Canada as it relates to PR status. I am Canadian citizen and my father has finally received his status and coming here this spring. My father has already purchased a house near by so he owns the property/has ties to Canada already. He is a marine officer and is planning to continue working. Obviously when one works on the ship you are not actually residing in Canada, but you are also not residing in any other country? So what do these days count towards?

In 5 years when he re-applies for his PR card, does he need to include all his contracts while onboard the ship in IMM 5444E form? Section 21 of that document specifically asks for start and end date of the period outside of the country as well as City/Country location...this obviously does not apply as most of the time you are in international waters etc...

Do you folks know if there are any regulations/rules about this?

I must also mention that the company of the ship owner is not Canadian/non Canadian employer...

Thank you kindly.

 

[steaky]

I don't think it count toward maintain PR residency obligation, unless the ship is in Canadian waters.

 

[tdawg]

Do you know if there is any information on this on GIC? I struggle to find any.

This situation may be an exception because you don't work or live or travel in any other country?...

He is planning to pay income tax here on the money earned while on the ship, etc..

Mom is going to be here in Canada most of the time. My worry is if there is a chance if he worked at sea for more than 1095 days over 5 years than mom will be allowed into the country and he'll be declined renewal of his permanent resident card?

 

[steaky]

I don't think this is an exception because once the ship enter international water, at the same time, it leaves Canadian waters.

Since he is going to have significant residential ties with Canada, his world wide income would be taxable by Canada anyways.

 

[scylla]

His time on the ship definitely won't count towards retaining PR status. The days he spends on the ship will be counted no differently than days in another country - all are outside of Canada and therefore don't count towards PR.

 

[tdawg]

Thank you folks. Unless he works for a Canadian shipping company that time will be counted as outside. Got it.

 

[scylla]

Thank you folks. Unless he works for a Canadian shipping company that time will be counted as outside. Got it.

Correct. And for the above scenario to count, he would first have to be hired by the Canadian company for a job IN Canada and then transferred at a later date to the job outside of Canada.