Lawful permanent resident (LPR)
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · English
Definition
A person legally allowed to live and work permanently in the U.S.
Lawful permanent resident (LPR) in plain English
A lawful permanent resident is someone who isn't a U.S. citizen yet but has official permission to live and work in the United States for as long as they want — this is the status you have when you hold a "green card." It's a major step: you can build a life, take almost any job, and stay indefinitely, though you still can't vote in federal elections and could lose the status for certain serious problems. Most people must be an LPR for several years before they're allowed to apply to become a citizen. Think of it as having a permanent membership that gives you nearly all the day-to-day rights, with full citizenship as the final level you can later earn.
Also called: LPR
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