A member who received PR through a PNP nomination asked how long they were required to stay in that province before being free to move elsewhere in Canada.
What the thread clarified:- You're technically free to move within Canada as a PR, but not settling in the nominating province can create real problems later, particularly when applying for citizenship, and could even risk your PR status being revoked.
- The general expectation is around 2 years of residence in the nominating province. This isn't just an informal norm — members pointed out that you acknowledge and sign a commitment to this expectation when you submit your PNP application.
- There are recognized exceptions. If you're genuinely unable to find work in the nominating province, and you can prove this if it's ever questioned, you're generally considered fine to relocate despite not meeting the typical 2-year expectation.
The practical takeaway: while you're technically free to move as a PR, the nominating province expects you to settle there for around 2 years (a commitment you sign when applying) — moving earlier without a documented reason (like inability to find work) risks complications with citizenship or even PR status.