Difference between Citizen and Permanent Resident

Permanent residence applies to an immigrant who is granted permanent residence rights in Canada. A permanent resident isn't a Canadian citizen. And today, we will discuss the difference between citizen and permanent resident in Canada.

Permanent Resident

A lot of potential Canadian immigrants want to be Canadian citizens. For becoming a Canadian citizen, you need to be a permanent resident at first. Indeed, the outcome of every Canadian immigration program is a Canadian permanent residence, along with Provincial Pathways, such as PNPs or Quebec Immigration.

Upon becoming a permanent resident, a permanent residence (PR) card is immediately obtained. A PR card ultimately equals to the U.S green card.

When a person becomes a permanent resident of Canada, he has several privileges, such as:

Ability to the very same social advantages, like medical care, as any Canadian citizen;
The freedom to live, work and study in Canada;
Security under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in compliance with Canadian law;
The freedom to qualify for the nationality of Canada.

Some social obligations for citizenship in Canada, such as the payment of taxes and compliance with Canadian law, also share Canadian permanent residents. However, Canadians can do two things that permanent residents can't.

Permanent Residents are not eligible to vote or run for office. Many limits also extend to permanent residents holding certain positions in government that require high rates of safety clearances.

There are no Canadian passports for permanent residents. If permanent residents would like to go outside the country, they could travel with their national citizens ' passports using a valid PR card or on the Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

PR cards must be renewed regularly and have a validity time period. Furthermore, when your PR card expires, you do not immediately lose your designation as a permanent resident. You have to fulfill several residency requirements to retain your permanent resident status.

You can stay outside Canada as a permanent resident. But, for a timeframe of five years, you have to live in Canada for a minimum of two years. You might lose your privileges if you live outside of Canada longer. Indeed, there are special cases.

Citizen

So, how does permanent residence vary from Canadian citizenship? The key distinction is that they first need to become permanent residents before someone becomes a citizen.

When specific criteria for residence have been fulfilled, permanent residents can seek citizenship. You may apply for a Canadian passport and openly engage in Canadian politics as a naturalized citizen of Canada. Besides, no differences exist between people born in Canada and who are naturalized.

In addition to being able to engage in Canadian politics, permanent residence must be preserved that the most important distinction between permanent residency and citizenship.

You do not have to do anything to retain your citizenship when you are a Canadian citizen. It is only possible if you decide to give this up that you can forfeit your Canadian citizenship.

Conclusion

Eventually, we knew the difference between citizen and permanent resident. I hope it will make you clear about citizen and permanent resident.