Permanent residency refers to a person's visa status. The person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident.

Permanent residency itself should be distinguished to right of abode, which waives the immigration control for such persons. Persons having permanent residency still requires immigration control if such persons do not hold a right of abode. However, a right of abode automatically grants persons a permanent residency. This status also gives permission to work in most cases.