Continuing to work remotely for a company based outside Canada after you land as a permanent resident (PR) is generally legal, but it comes with tax obligations that need planning.
What group members advised:- It is not illegal to keep working for a foreign employer remotely from Canada as a PR. One member confirmed directly: you can work from Canada for your existing foreign employer.
- You must declare your global income to the CRA and may be taxed on it in Canada, in addition to any tax obligations in the country where the company is registered — plan for the possibility of paying tax in both countries depending on any tax treaty between Canada and that country.
- Structuring the arrangement as an independent contractor is a workable alternative. One member's spouse was in the same situation and worked as an independent contractor for their original employer, which they confirmed is completely legal.
- Some employers' local HR departments push back on cross-border remote arrangements over their own compliance concerns (e.g., permanent establishment risk for the company), even though it isn't illegal for the individual — this is often a company policy issue rather than an immigration law issue.
Bottom line: working remotely for your foreign employer after PR landing is legal, but you'll need to handle global income declaration and possible dual taxation, and an independent contractor arrangement can be a cleaner structure if your employer's HR resists a direct transfer.