Immigrant status

Part A - Short definition:

Not applicable

Part B - Detailed definition:

Immigrant status refers to whether the respondent is a non-immigrant, an immigrant or a non-permanent resident.

Non-immigrant refers to a person who is a Canadian citizen by birth.

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country who has a work or study permit or who is a refugee claimant, and any non-Canadian-born family member living in Canada with them.

Reported in:

2011

Reported for:

Population in private households

Question number(s):

Derived variable: Question 10 and 11

Responses:

Immigrant status is derived from the responses to the citizenship question (Question 10) and the landed immigrant status question (Question 11).

The standard classification for Immigrant status is 'Non-immigrants,' 'Immigrants' and 'Non-permanent residents.'

Remarks:

In the 2011 National Household Survey, the landed immigrant status question (Question 11) and the citizenship question (Question 10) are used to identify non-immigrants (Canadian citizens by birth), immigrants and non-permanent residents.

The landed immigrant status question (Question 11) asked: "Is this person now, or has this person ever been, a landed immigrant?" Notes accompanying the landed immigrant question stated:

• A 'landed immigrant' (permanent resident) is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.

As well, additional instructions were provided to respondents in the 2011 NHS Guide:

• For persons who are Canadian citizens by birth, foreign students, foreign workers, or refugee claimants, mark 'No.'
• For persons who are Canadian citizens by naturalization or are permanent residents under the Immigration Act (permanent residents have been granted the right to live permanently in Canada by Canadian immigration authorities but have not yet obtained Canadian citizenship), mark 'Yes.'

Respondents who mark 'Yes' to the landed immigrant status question (Question 10) are 'Immigrants.'

Respondents who mark 'No' to the landed immigrant status question (Question 11) are either 'Non-immigrants' or 'Non-permanent residents.' The citizenship question (Question 10) is used to derive the two groups. If a respondent is a Canadian citizen by birth according to Question 10, then he is a non-immigrant. If a respondent does not have Canadian citizenship and is not a landed immigrant, he is a non-permanent resident.

For further information on immigrants, non-immigrants and non-permanent residents, refer to Figures 1.5 and 1.6.

For more information on the citizenship question in the 2011 National Household Survey, refer to the definition for Citizenship.

For additional information on the collection and dissemination of immigrant status data, refer to the Place of Birth, Generation Status, Citizenship and Immigration Reference Guide, National Household Survey, 2011.